Will Bonds Break Hammerin' Hank's Record?  —  It doesn't take a clairvoyant to prophesize that one of the media events of 2007 is the likely celebration/opprobrium when, or if, Barry Bonds clubs home runs numbers 755 and 756 out of the yard.  —  But is such a celebration likely to happen?

Interview with Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News  —  Adam Rubin, who covers the Mets at the New York Daily News and runs the great and informative NY Mets Blog, answered some of my questions on the Mets upcoming season.  —  Pat Andriola: What do you make of the Mets rotation this year?

Cubs open checkbook, raise expectations … Was there any event that summed up baseball's wacko winter better than this:  —  A general manager's signing a free-agent pitcher to a $40-million contract while hooked up to an EKG machine?  —  This actually happened, you know.  In real life.

Hill climber in Chicago  —  Cubs believe Milton pitcher can reach top  —  Baseball officials are known to gush about their pitching prospects almost as if they were speaking about their own children.  Such is the case with lefthander Rich Hill.  For while the Cubs spent zillions this offseason …

Can an American coach and a book deliver success in English football?  —  It's been called the most influential sports book ever.  David Runciman, in this remarkable report, explains how Moneyball transformed American sport and is doing the same here  —  Observer Sport Monthly

Mets' Johnson looking for chance to play  —  Ben Johnson, a stranger in his new town, was eager for the opportunity to spend one of his dwindling days before spring training teaching kids how to swing a bat.  —  "I feel as a major-league player, I should give something back," …

The truth according to Sosa  —  Sammy Sosa signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers on Tuesday.  Here's what he said to the Rangers and their fans via a conference call with reporters:  —  "I am not going to let you guys down.  So trust me."  —  Because Sosa feigned having …

Why Sinatra Missed Bobby Thomson's Legendary Homer: Interview  —  Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) — The day after Bobby Thomson hit his pennant-winning home run for the New York Giants on Oct. 3, 1951, the story got bigger headlines in some newspapers than the Russians conducting their second nuclear test.

Williams' moves head lengthy list of worries for Sox  —  With Super Bowl XLI history, it's time for Chicago fans to refocus on the team that produced the city's last parade: The MMV White Sox, champions of World Series CII.  —  Yes, spring training is bearing down on fans preoccupied …

Magadan keepin' score  —  Lest anyone forget, pitching was not the only problem for the 2006 Red Sox [team stats].  The Red Sox finished a relatively mediocre sixth in the American League in runs scored and ranked 11th after the All-Star break, the latter of which undoubtedly had a great deal …

Guardado, Reds agree to minor league contract  —  CINCINNATI — Cincinnati relief pitcher Eddie Guardado, recovering from surgery on his throwing arm, agreed to a minor league contract, the Reds said Monday.  —  The 36-year-old Guardado was invited to the Reds' major league training camp.

Hot Stove: Altoona to reap talent curve  —  Pine-Richland graduate and former No. 1 pick Neil Walker figures to open 2007 at Class AA Altoona.  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Neil Walker has spent the past month enduring two-a-day workouts as part of a clinic at Arizona State University.

Former Orioles pitcher Steve Barber dies at 67  —  BALTIMORE (TICKER) — Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Barber died Sunday night due to complications with pneumonia, the team announced Monday.  He was 67.  —  Barber became ill last week and passed away at a hospital in Henderson, Nevada.

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.