Ex-Sox pitching coach Berres dies  —  Pierce: Kenosha native 'never wanted to take credit for anything'  —  Ray Berres, the pitching professor whose "doctorate" in mechanics helped the White Sox staff to rank consistently among the best in baseball for nearly two decades, died Thursday in Kenosha after a lengthy illness.

Morneau, Punto, Ford agree with Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — AL MVP Justin Morneau agreed Friday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins, who also settled their salary arbitration cases with third baseman Nick Punto and outfielder Lew Ford.

Rockies keep Fogg for $3.6 million  —  After severing one relationship, the Rockies renewed their commitment to another this afternoon.  —  On the same day that outfielder Choo Freeman was released, Colorado agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.625 million contract with starter Josh Fogg …

Nationals lock up Kearns  —  Another young cornerstone of the Washington Nationals future is under contract to play in the District for at least the next three years.  —  Yesterday, the Nationals signed right fielder Austin Kearns to three-year, $16.5 million deal with a team option for the 2010 season …

Altered Deal Hardly a Done Deal  —  It would seem that a player would be delighted if the commissioner's office struck from a contract he signed a clause that benefited the club and not the player.  That's what happened with the contract that Barry Bonds signed last Monday with the San Francisco Giants.

Ringolsby: Rockies on need-to-owe basis  —  Too much has been made of the Rockies' payroll.  It's projected to be $54 million in 2007.  —  It will be among the lowest in the big leagues.  —  So?  —  Question: Which player who might have made the Rockies a markedly better team did they miss …

Curt answers given  —  Schill and Me.  Like Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.  Like Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump.  —  Cheap shots have flown back and forth.  Immaturity has ruled.  So many insults.  So little time.  —  And now that the Big Lug is back in the news again …

Dark Days Follow Hard-Hitting Career in N.F.L.  —  Ted Johnson helped the New England Patriots win three of the past five Super Bowls before retiring in 2005.  Now, he says, he forgets people's names, misses appointments and, because of an addiction to amphetamines, can become so terrified …

Committee's stance should surprise no one  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — We just hope Ron Santo and Tony Oliva didn't carve a lot of time out of their day Wednesday for their long-awaited Hall of Fame election celebrations.  —  Because they had no shot.  —  And it's clear now they'll never have any shot.

Spring Training Fan Guide: Mets  —  Tradition Field, Port St. Lucie, Fla.  —  For the first time since 1988 — the same year the Mets moved their Spring Training home to Port St. Lucie — the Mets head to camp as the reigning National League East champions.

Men not discriminated against in tote bag giveaway  —  SANTA ANA, Calif. — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming the Angels discriminated against men by giving tote bags to women during a Mother's Day baseball game.  —  Orange County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Cannon ruled Thursday …

Pirates sign Armas, spur competition  —  GM says Chacon, Youman, McLeary also in mix for rotation  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Go figure ...  Four of the Pirates' five starting pitchers, all too young for arbitration, will make something close to Major League Baseball's minimum wage of $380,000 this season.

Column comes out of left field—literally  —  MIAMI — If the Bears win the Super Bowl on Sunday, Bears coach Lovie Smith will be so popular that another prominent Chicagoan should worry about keeping his job.  —  "You know who should be worried?  Barack Obama should be worried," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen joked on Thursday.

Caribbean Series revs up in Carolina  —  At Roberto Clemente Stadium in the Hall of Famer's hometown of Carolina, Puerto Rico, the 2007 Caribbean Series is under way today with Venezuela facing the Dominican Republic and Mexico taking on the host country.  WATCH LIVE >