In Case You Had Any Doubt, MLB Doesn't Care About You At All  —  We are not against corporations, inherently; we spend most of our days enjoying products of the Coca-Cola Company and the Philip Morris Corporation, and if they do an excellent job mass-producing consumables that we keep on buying, hey, that's the American way.

Rejuvenated Sosa poised for comeback  —  He's hit 588 career home runs.  Only Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays have more.  He's also driven in nearly 1,600 runs and has a respectable career batting average of .274.  —  On top of that, he's the only player in baseball history …

Athletics agree to terms with Justin Duchscherer  —  A's pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 16  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics announced Monday the club has agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Justin Duchscherer on one-year contract for the 2007 season, avoiding arbitration.

Mets host blood drive at Shea  —  Club draws hundreds to event held at Diamond Club  —  NEW YORK — The Diamond Club at Shea Stadium looked like a hospital emergency ward on Monday, with nurses scrambling around attending to the constant flow of patients filling two dozen gurneys.

Dodgers, Rudy Seanez agree to terms  —  Right-hander Rudy Seanez and the Dodgers have agreed to a minor league contract that could pay the veteran relief pitcher $1.2 million if he meets performance incentives.  —  Seanez, a 15-year veteran who split last season with the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres …

Twins' mastermind has enviable track record  —  On June 11, the Minnesota Twins were off.  Francisco Liriano had blanked Baltimore the day before, and the Boston Red Sox, as fearsome as any team in the majors at that time, were due the next day for a three-game series.

Lawrence signs with Rockies  —  Former Padres pitcher agrees to one-year contract  —  DENVER (AP) — Right-hander Brian Lawrence, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies that guarantees him $750,000.

McPherson opts for back surgery  —  Procedure to remove disk will likely sideline infielder 6 months  —  Dallas McPherson will have surgery Tuesday to repair a lower-back condition that has not improved through rehab.  —  The power-hitting third baseman will undergo a procedure to remove …

Question #1  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates recently experienced a shift in power amongst its ownership group.  What changes does Bob Nutting, the new face of the team, have to make in order to field a competitive ballclub in Pittsburgh?  Should Pirate fans anticipate the emergence of a successful team in the near future?

Schuerholz tops list of general managers  —  This winter's round of signings and trades are, for the most part, over and done with.  So the time for assessment has arrived.  —  It's not hard to find opinions on how each team's general manager has fared throughout the most recent Hot Stove season …

The Good, the Bad, and the Cheap: The Cost Efficiency of 162 Starts  —  In today's game, teams break Spring Training camp with 162 games ahead of them and plan for a five-man rotation to cover all the starts in those games.  Of course, teams know there will be injuries, trades …

Twins sign RHP Ortiz for $3.1M  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Right-hander Ramon Ortiz and the Minnesota Twins agreed Monday to a $3.1 million, one-year contract.  —  Ortiz went 11-16 with a 5.57 ERA with 64 walks and 104 strikeouts in 190 2-3 innings over 33 starts last season for the Washington Nationals.

Mailbag: Who will fill the 'pen?  —  Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers fans' questions … Will Frank Francisco be back in the bullpen this year?  — Jim S., Birmingham, Ala.  —  The Rangers will have some serious competition in the bullpen this spring.

Mailbag: Will Clement, Beckett rebound?  —  Red Sox beat reporter Ian Browne answers fans' questions  —  Where is Matt Clement?  How is he progressing from his right shoulder surgery?  Should we have any expectations?  —  Clement, from what I can gather, is at his Pennsylvania home rehabbing his surgically repaired right shoulder.

Mailbag: What's going on with Gibbons?  —  Orioles reporter Fordin answers fans' questions  —  What are the team's long-term plans for Jay Gibbons?  I have always appreciated his bat and defense as well as his ability to fight through injuries.  —  Baltimore signed Gibbons …