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.
ESPN:
Remember The Hammer — Glorifying the historic career of Hall of Famer Hank Aaron would be an ideal way to view Barry Bonds' chase for the all-time home run record in 2007. Tim Kurkjian explains. Story — Not Quite An Offseason — Spring training is two weeks away, but for Randy Wolf …
Discussion:
Baseball Etc.
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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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.
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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
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
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 …
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Sanchez, Pirates agree to deal, avoid arbitration … National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for next Thursday. — Sanchez, 29, is coming off …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
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.
Discussion:
Bucco Blog
Larry Stewart / Los Angeles Times:
Baseball TV deal contested — MLB is trying to move Extra Innings package exclusively to DirecTV, but there's resistance. — Red Sox Nation has spoken. A pending deal by Major League Baseball to put its Extra Innings pay package exclusively on DirecTV may have to be put on hold now …
Discussion:
It's Mets For Me
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
Kevin Kennedy / Fox Sports:
Boys of winter have plenty to keep them busy — Even though spring training is not yet upon us, people in baseball are already hard at work getting ready for the new season. — General managers are still trying to fill out rosters, looking at the few remaining free agents, and discussing possible trades.
Discussion:
FIRE JOE MORGAN
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.
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
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 …
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
Marty Noble / mlb.mlb.com:
Mets coaches receive new contracts — Peterson signed through 2009; rest of staff also ink deals — NEW YORK — Ten days after the Mets extended the contract of manager Willie Randolph through the 2009 season, they announced they have signed pitching coach Rick Peterson for the same period.
