Geovany Soto hit a grand slam and a solo shot, and Carlos Zambrano pitched effectively into the fourth inning Wednesday, helping the Chicago Cubs to a 8-8 tie with the Oakland Athletics. 

What do Beyonce, Bobby Valentine and the Royals have in common? Ken Rosenthal can envision them contributing to a Yankees fiasco. 

Their top three starting pitchers are all nursing injuries. 

2009 Oakland Athletics ScheduleAll Times EDTApril 6 at L. 

2009 Oakland Athletics ScheduleAll Times EDTApril 6 at L. 

2009 Oakland Athletics ScheduleAll Times EDTApril 6 at L. 

--RHP Joey Devine, one of Oakland's two potential closers, will begin the season on the disabled list due to an ongoing elbow problem. 

The A's injury situation began to look up toward the end of the spring, with often injured 3B Eric Chavez and 2B Mark Ellis close to ready to go to start the season. 

Oakland's offense is greatly improved from last year, when the A's had the worst batting average in the league. 

Sidney Ponson didn't do much to help his bid for a spot in the Kansas City Royals' rotation. 

Manny will be a pain. 

Joey Devine will start the season on the disabled list because of a recurring elbow problem, leaving the Oakland Athletics without one of their two closers. 

Eric Chavez says he's ready for opening day. 

Frustrated at the Oakland Athletics' inability to get a new ballpark, baseball commissioner Bud Selig has appointed a committee to analyze the team's hopes of obtaining a stadium in its current territory. 

Frustrated at the Oakland Athletics' inability to get a new ballpark, baseball commissioner Bud Selig has appointed a committee to analyze the team's hopes of obtaining a stadium in its current territory.