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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Pavano Hopes His Pitching Will Silence His Critics  —  Off-season conference calls with most baseball players take on a casual mood.  Questions about a player's credibility in his clubhouse or the public perception that he is a loafer are hardly staples.  —  But welcome to the world of the Yankees right-hander Carl Pavano.