Chamberlain Tells Cashman He Could Be Back in July TAMPA, Fla. - Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman visited the injured pitcher Joba Chamberlain in the hospital Friday and reported that Chamberlain was optimistic, suggesting that he could be back on a mound throwing pitches in July. "That's what he told me the doctors told him," Cashman said. That, obviously, would be the best possible outcome of the open dislocation of Chamberlain's ankle that he sustained Thursday while playing on a trampoline with his 5-year-old son at a children's play center here. If an infection develops in the bone, however, it could be career-threatening, so it is still too early to tell if Chamberlain is out of danger. Cashman said that Chamberlain, who had surgery Thursday night, told him he was hopeful he could be released from the hospital Saturday. That would indicate that the situation was headed in a positive direction. The next few days will be critical to determining whether an infection has developed. "My heart and my gut tell me things will go in the best-case scenario," Cashman said. Meanwhile, Cashman said he had not yet contemplated whether to discourage players from visiting such places with their children in the future. "It's hard to tell a group of people not to be a father," he said. "How do you tell a guy, "Don't take your kid fishing because you're a pitcher and you might take a hook and you could hook your finger by accident?" " BRAVES" JONES SIDELINED Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones will miss the start of his farewell season. Two days after Jones announced this would be his final year, Braves General Manager Frank Wren said Jones would have arthroscopic surgery to repair torn meniscus in his left knee. The procedure is scheduled to be performed Monday. Jones, who turns 40 next month, will open the season on the disabled list, but the team expects him to miss only the first six games. Jones missed two weeks last season after having arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. This is the latest in a string of injuries that persuaded him to retire after one more season. MADSON OUT FOR YEAR Cincinnati Reds closer Ryan Madson, who signed a one-year contract in January, has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow and will miss the season.