Top News:
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.
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
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 …
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Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Bidding for pitcher has begun — Major League Baseball ordered teams late Monday afternoon not to comment on whether they submitted bids to win exclusive negotiating rights to Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. — Before the edict was issued, however, two Rangers officials said the team had entered the bidding process.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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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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Megan Finnerty / Arizona Republic:
New threads boast aggressive look — Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Conor Jackson looked hot in his new uniform. — Truthfully, he is pretty model-esque, but the new Sedona Red, Sonoran Sand and black uniform definitely helped. — Wednesday night, Jackson, Orlando Hudson …
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Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs unveil new colors, new look — Four combinations of jerseys feature three fresh shades — PHOENIX — The D-backs' new look was on full display Wednesday night as the club unveiled its new uniforms and colors at an event attended by local celebrities as well as team members.
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.
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Barry Witt / Contra Costa Times:A's clinch deal with Cisco for ballpark in Fremont
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
GM: Swap 'perfect fit' with Indians — The Padres said they found a long-term answer at third base yesterday when they traded second baseman Josh Barfield to the Indians for right-handed slugger Kevin Kouzmanoff, a hitting star from the Cleveland farm system.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
McClendon shifted to hitting coach — Former Bucs manager was Tigers' bullpen coach in '06 — DETROIT — Lloyd McClendon is getting the call out of the Tigers' bullpen with a bat in his hands. — Manager Jim Leyland on Thursday shifted McClendon, Detroit's bullpen coach this past season …
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 …
Discussion:
the metropolitans
Ben Murphy / Baseball Prospectus:
Predictatron Recap — We Have a Winner! — friendly — Contact — Just as I did last year, I'm here to follow up the HACKING MASS Wrap with a look at this year's Predictatron results. This is the second year we've done the Predictatron contest, and it continues to be popular …
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Hot Stove Report: Talking 'bout Willis — Familiar Dontrelle-to-Mets talk begins anew — Approaching last July's non-waiver trading deadline with a gaping NL East lead and an aching starting rotation, the New York Mets enthusiastically inquired into the availability of Dontrelle Willis.
Sports Illustrated:
The edge of reason — Long-term contracts for pitcher seldom pan out — For three consecutive winters, beginning in 2002, signing a free-agent starting pitcher to more than a four-year contract was simply crazy talk. Nobody did it. Going beyond that conjured up images of Darren Dreifort …
Phil Wallace / MLB.com:
Q&A with Gerry Hunsicker — A chat with the Rays' senior VP of baseball operations … Wallace: So, we've learned that you own a few racing horses. Who are some of your top thoroughbreds? When will we see you in the Winner's Circle at the Kentucky Derby? — Hunsicker: First of all, I'm in the Minor Leagues of horse racing.
Discussion:
DRays Bay
Don Burke / New Jersey Online:
Glavine still weighing his options — While the Mets busied themselves with their pursuit of Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka yesterday, the agent for pitcher Tom Glavine said his client will make no decision about his future until some time after Friday's deadline for him to exercise …
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
