The hot topic  —  Forget all other analysis.  When your mother weighs in, as Sheila Papelbon did on the fine Web site Soxprospects.com, than the definitive word has been said.  —  Wanted to weigh in on some observations from the previous post:  — First off, I really wanted to address this comment from Griffin:

Orioles claim Tracey off waivers  —  Righty added to 40-man roster; Benson shifted to 60-day DL  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Orioles claimed pitcher Sean Tracey off waivers Friday and made room for him on the 40-man roster by shifting Kris Benson to the 60-day disabled list.

Notes: Williams helps his cause  —  Righty nears solid rotation spot with another impressive outing  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Right-hander Jerome Williams inched closer to joining the Nationals' starting rotation on Thursday.  Williams had his second consecutive solid outing …

Selig hedges slightly on retirement  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig hedged slightly on his retirement plans Thursday, saying he intends to leave in 2009 but that he's learned "never to say never."  —  The 72-year-old Selig has been in charge of baseball since 1992, when he became acting commissioner.

Mariners' Guillen starts over - for the ninth time  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Seattle Mariners right fielder Jose Guillen, sitting on the floor in front of his locker looking at the schedule, breaks into a wide, devilish grin.  —  Here he is, with another new team, his ninth in nine years and another chance to prove he's a model teammate.

All-Unlucky Team looking to rebound  —  Members could benefit from reversal of fortune in '07  —  Over the past five years, PROTRADE has mapped out every inch of the baseball diamond, charting the location of every batted ball and calculating the probability that — given their distance …

SWEET DEAL FOR DARLING  —  RON IS SET TO RE-UP AT SNY  —  Ron Darling is close to a three-year contract extension with SportsNet New York, NYP TV Sports has learned.  —  The deal would keep Darling as a game analyst on Mets telecasts through the 2010 baseball season, sources said.

Questions remain about fourth starter  —  Left-hander Rodriguez has edge over Sampson, Moehler  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — To the critics who wonder why manager Phil Garner is still giving Wandy Rodriguez that "leg up" for the No. 4 starter job, even though the left-hander has had less than a stellar spring …

Erstad teaching — and winning  —  Veteran lending hand to Anderson despite battle for CF job  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Darin Erstad and Brian Anderson don't talk about ''the situation.''  —  Why should they?  —  ''Things work out the way they work out'' is Erstad's philosophy.

Mets Have More Very Young Phenoms  —  Last year, the Mets were aggressive and sent not one but two 17-year-old prospects to make their pro debuts at low Class A Hagerstown.  Outfielder Fernando Martinez and righthander Deolis Guerra didn't just survive-they thrived.

Five Questions: Colorado Rockies  —  1. Are the Rockies rebuilding yet again?  —  How many rebuilding plans have the Rockies had?  Too many to count, for sure, at least not without upsetting every baseball fan in the state of Colorado.  And it seems like yet again, the Rockies have decided to wait 'til next year.

'October' finds comedy in Cubs' futility  —  The docu-comedy "Chasing October" is a timeless proposition.  Being a Cubs fan goes beyond October, November and into a burden that becomes Wrigley gum on life's shoe.  —  Inspired by a ghostly visit from Harry Caray, filmmaker Matt Liston set …

Figgins out with fractured finger  —  Third baseman hopes to be ready Opening Day  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Angels third baseman Chone Figgins has a fracture near the tip of his right middle finger and will be examined on Friday in Los Angeles at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic by Dr. Steve Shin, an orthopedic hand specialist.