Top News:
Jesse Sanchez / mlb.mlb.com:
Juan Gonzalez eyes return to Majors — Coming back from injuries, slugger sets sights on 500 homers — CAROLINA, P.R. — For eight seconds about every other inning, the boisterous crowd at Estadio Municipal Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium gets silent. The horns cease and the chants …
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Derek Jacques / Baseball Prospectus:
Caribbean World Series — Day One — Oh. My. God. — There was a point in the first game of yesterday's Caribbean World Series doubleheader—men on second and third, two outs, 16th inning, Gregor Blanco swinging right out of his socks on the first pitch, and whiffing two pitches later—when I thought, this game will not die.
T.J. Quinn / NY Daily News:
Ya Ghana believe! — MLB looks to expand national pastime into West Africa — TEMA, Ghana - The greatest baseball player 11-year-old Derrick Seperu ever saw was Inocent Abu. The great Abu, a shortstop, plays on this very field, all dust and divots between two broken soccer goals, with no shade from the African sun.
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TJ Quinn / Associated Press:
Ghana's 'Old School' Little Leaguers — iTeam correspondent T.J. Quinn is in Ghana, traveling with Mets GM Omar Minaya, Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, former Yankees GM Bob Watson, former Giants and Cubs manager Dusty Baker, and former major leaguers Reggie Smith and Al Jackson (an original Met) …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates agree to terms with Kolb, Sanchez — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates today agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with free-agent reliever Dan Kolb and avoided arbitration with third baseman Freddy Sanchez by agreeing to a one-year contract.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:Sanchez, Pirates agree to deal, avoid arbitration
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Salary stance ties Rockies to the "Menudo rule" — It's hard to say what's more chilling: the latest cold front or the Rockies' future without their best young players. — Owner Charlie Monfort told me recently that it's unlikely Colorado will keep its kids beyond arbitration, replacing the most pricey with a new wave of Toddlers.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Relief need remains as Kolb rejects bid — Maybe the Rockies' complementary setup man will come from within. On Saturday, Colorado was left without Dan Kolb. — The Rockies could not bridge a salary gap as Kolb signed a one-year, $1.25 million, minor-league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Far Away, Super Bowl's Losers Will Be Champs — In some parts of the world, the Seattle Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Buffalo Bills are the last great football dynasty and Tom Brady is some frustrated quarterback from New England who can never win it all.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Hiring of minorities rising into major issue — Dusty Baker appeared tranquil Thursday at the SNY studios, speaking with reporters and joking around with some fellow ex-players. Later that day, he was leaving for Ghana with those ex-players and Mets general manager Omar Minaya, and he mentioned …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
For any role, he's on call — Papelbon prepared to start or relieve — As host of the New York Baseball Writers dinner last Sunday at the New York Hilton, Newark Star-Ledger columnist Dan Graziano was pointing out celebrities in the crowd when one introduction struck a chord.
Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
Lies, Damned Lies — PECOTA Takes on Catching Prospects — Catching prospects are sort of like pitching prospects. There are a few guys who distinguish themselves, but mostly you're left with an unwashed mass of players with some residual value by virtue of the fact that there are just 60-70 catchers …
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
On Baseball | Waiting for that other game, here are XLI diamond tidbits — Super Bowl XLI will be played tonight in Miami, in the same stadium (it's had so many names, why bother listing them?) in which Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini once wanted to kick butt on the organist …
Discussion:
Philliesflow
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays not rushing to restock bullpen … ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays likely are going to have to wait a while to get any relief. — The Rays - most likely - will open spring training on Feb. 17 with the 57 players they now have on the roster. — Team officials remain committed …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
