Top News:
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Mitchell Report not affecting baseball ticket sales — Major League Baseball has always had its doomsayers. Well, maybe not always, but certainly in the past several decades. For one reason or another, baseball has been a dying sport. Except it has never died.
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New York Times:
Clemens's Legal Team Adds Private Investigators — Roger Clemens's lawyer has hired private investigators to try to challenge the credibility of Brian McNamee, the trainer who told federal agents and former Senator George J. Mitchell that he had injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
ESPN.com:
Clemens, lawyers launch probe of Mitchell Report — NEW YORK — Roger Clemens' lawyers are investigating accusations in the Mitchell Report that say the star pitcher used steroids and human growth hormone. — Clemens was the biggest name in this month's report by former Senate majority …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, The GYS Network, Sliding Into Home, Scott Proctor's Arm and Oriole Post
ESPN:
Debate: Is Mark McGwire a Hall of Famer? … The deadline for baseball's Hall of Fame voters to submit their 2008 ballots is Dec. 31, and once again they must consider the candidacy of Mark McGwire. In his first year of eligibility a year ago, Big Mac garnered only 23.5 percent of the vote …
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Prior to pitch close to home, agrees with Padres … Mark Prior, cut loose by the Cubs earlier this month, has agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres. — An announcement is expected to come sometime Wednesday. — Prior, 27, last pitched in the big leagues in 2006, and had shoulder surgery in April of 2007.
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
This is Rice's year — Planets seem to be aligning for Rice's election to the Hall — This is Jim Rice's 14th appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot. He only gets one more audition before he's turned over to the veterans committee. But he won't need year No. 15, or the smoke-filled room of the old-timers' group.
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Bill Conlin / philly.com:
No steroid taint on this year's Hall ballot — EITHER THE GUY is really innocent or he's one helluva liar. — Roger Clemens has vehemently and unequivocally declared that he has never been injected with or used any performance-enhancing substances. — But the above lead sentence …
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Santana smatterings — The Twins checked in with the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets just before everyone split for the holidays but nothing major appears to be heating up. — Yes, you just read the word Mets. Indications are that the Mets remain a viable destination for ace Johan Santana …
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
$23.88 Million Tax? That's Life, Not Luxury, for Yankees — The problem with doing business on the Yankees' lofty economic level is the cost of doing business. — This past season, the Yankees signed Roger Clemens to pitch for them for 60 percent of the season, and it cost them just under $25 million …
Athooks / Cardinals Diaspora:
Cardinals Front Office = Liars — All we can do is go by facts. Others can choose to disagree about the nature of the business. Frankly, we feel very fortunate to have a payroll in the $90 million range. It's a great baseball town but it's not a huge market.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
30 Rock — Four years ago yesterday, I wrote my first article on Bert Blyleven. It was designed to raise the awareness of Blyleven's qualifications for the Hall of Fame. I have added about 20 pieces since then, including more statistical evidence, interviews with Blyleven and voters, and responses to naysayers.
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
A Detailed Look: Drug Suspensions in MLB's Testing Era — It's been a mind-numbing experience... Since the Mitchell Report was released (and really, before that), I decided it might be interesting to look at all suspensions that have been doled out in what I am deeming to be the “Testing Era” …
Discussion:
ShysterBall
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Anderson has Hall supporter in Ripken — Orioles star lands on ballot one year after legend is inducted — BALTIMORE — Perhaps it's fitting that Brady Anderson goes on the Hall of Fame ballot one year after one of his closest friends, Cal Ripken Jr., achieved baseball's greatest honor.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets' hopes dashed in one fell swoop — Year with so much promise comes to an unceremonious end — NEW YORK — Perhaps hindsight isn't all it's cracked up to be. Not 20-20 certainly, maybe it's 27-27. When the Mets looked back at the All-Star break, that's what they saw.
