Top News:
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Uggla wins Players Choice Award as top NL rookie — As far as his peers are concerned, Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla is the National League's top rookie. — Uggla, who set the major league record for homers by a rookie second baseman (27), was tabbed for the honor Wednesday, when the Players Choice Awards were announced.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Howard dual Players Choice winner — Slugger voted Player of the Year, NL Outstanding Player — PHILADELPHIA — Just like the home runs he bashed over the past week in Japan, the postseason accolades keep coming for Phillies slugger Ryan Howard. — After tantalizing the Far East …
Discussion:
Liberty Ball
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Verlander receives rookie honor — Pitcher recognized by peers with MLB Players Choice Award — DETROIT — The second of what will likely be a triple crown of rookie honors for Justin Verlander came Wednesday, when he was honored as the American League's Outstanding Rookie as part of the MLB Players Choice Awards.
Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Indians get Barfield from Padres — CLEVELAND (AP) — Just like his dad, Josh Barfield made it to the big leagues. Now, he's following his father to the American League. — Barfield, who as a rookie second baseman helped San Diego win a division title, was acquired Wednesday by the Cleveland Indians …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
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Vincent M. Mallozzi / New York Times:
Business or Personal? Sheffield Says It's Both — Gary Sheffield played only 39 games for the Yankees in the 2006 season because of wrist surgery. He said last night that the wrist was "healthy now," and that he was ready to resume his baseball career in, or most likely out, of pinstripes.
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Sheff is hot, hot, hot — Rips Cashman, Abreu as Yanks seek sendoff — Midway through a scheduled appearance in which his charitable foundation was to receive a donation, it appeared Gary Sheffield would be a no-show. Perhaps he simply didn't want to say anything controversial about his pending divorce from the Yankees.
Associated Press:
Lions have been notified of highest bid for pitcher — NEW YORK — The waiting began Wednesday for teams that bid for Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. — His Japanese club, the Pacific League's Seibu Lions, said they have been notified of the highest bid for the 26-year-old right-hander.
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Barry Witt / Contra Costa Times:
A's clinch deal with Cisco for ballpark in Fremont — Sponsorship hinges on city approving a development plan — The Oakland A's have reached a real estate and sponsorship agreement with Cisco Systems to move the team to Fremont and name a new ballpark Cisco Field, A's owner Lew Wolff told members …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Barry Witt / Mercury News:
A's reach deal with Cisco Systems to move team to Fremont — BALLPARK WOULD BE NAMED `CISCO FIELD' — The Oakland A's have reached a deal with Cisco Systems to build a new ballpark — dubbed Cisco Field — on company-held land in southern Fremont, A's owner Lew Wolff told select city officials Wednesday.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Zito contacts new Rangers skipper — Washington says the lefty is considering Texas this offseason — ARLINGTON — New Rangers manager Ron Washington has been hearing from many old friends since being hired on Sunday. — Among those who called was free-agent pitcher Barry Zito.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
New hitting coach wants Cubs in a zone — Another Lou Piniella protégé was brought into the organization on Wednesday when the Cubs named Gerald Perry to replace Gene Clines as hitting coach. — Perry, who started out as a hitting coach under Piniella in Seattle from 2000-02 …
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Left Coast is clear for clearing his head — LOS ANGELES — Picked-up pieces while touring the Left Coast and praying that Keith "I Hate Baseball" Foulke takes the buyout . . . What was most annoying about NBC's telecast of the Patriots and Colts last Sunday night?
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Jim Reeves / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Integrity, Bonds do not mix — The buzzword around The Ballpark on Monday afternoon while the Rangers were proudly introducing new manager Ron Washington was a good one: Integrity. — Good word. Good feelings. Good vibrations. — Right up until the name Barry Bonds came …
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians grab Barfield from Padres — Tribe gives up Kouzmanoff, Brown to get second baseman — CLEVELAND — Mere days into the Hot Stove season, the Indians have addressed one of their most glaring holes. — The Tribe acquired 23-year-old second baseman Josh Barfield from the Padres …
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Reyes ends with a blast — FUKUOKA, Japan - Halfway around the world, they still know the "Jo-se, Jo-se" song. And fans gleefully chanted the soccer-style tune yesterday, after Jose Reyes capped the MLB All-Star tour of Japan with a two-run, game-ending homer in the 10th to complete …
MLB.com:
D-backs shed their skin after unveiling new uniforms, colors on runway — Team embraces "D-backs" nickname on home, alternate jerseys — (SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) — The Arizona Diamondbacks tonight unveiled their new uniforms and logos featuring new colors — Sedona Red, Sonoran Sand and black …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Brett Cyrgalis / New York Post:
LA RUSSA: METS ON RIGHT TRACK — Tony La Russa respects Omar Minaya. — After being a major-league manager for 27 years, La Russa said he understands the importance of a good general manager and does not underestimate the job that Minaya has done with the Mets.
Discussion:
It's Mets For Me
