Bad karma continues for Yankees  —  Once, it seemed, Jim Leyritz was destined to be remembered for being in the right place at the right time, hitting that famous home run off Mark Wohlers that turned the 1996 World Series around and launched a new championship era in the Bronx.

Best pitcher of the 1980s ...  I'm not going to lie to you here — I hate the Jack Morris Hall of Fame campaign.  Hate it.  Despise it.  Loathe it.  And it isn't just because there are a few people who will put Jack Morris on their ballots but leave off Bert Blyleven …

Pedro Martinez proud he's stayed clean  —  Unlike his contemporary Roger Clemens - who is in the midst of damage control after being identified as a steroid user in the Mitchell Report - Mets ace Pedro Martinez says he is most proud of having remained “clean” during baseball's steroid era.

Report: Juan Gonzalez Signs With Yankees?  —  El Vocero, one of the bigger newspapers in Puerto Rico, is reporting that the Yankees signed Juan Gonzalez to a two-year, $2MM deal.  This report definitely makes me raise an eyebrow, for three reasons:  — In both 2006 and 2005 …

Villarreal gets security with Astros  —  Recently acquired reliever signs two-year deal with option  —  HOUSTON — When the Astros traded for Oscar Villarreal in November, the right-hander's agent, Oscar Suarez, approached the club about exploring a long-term deal.

McNamee's Legal Team Adds Power to Lineup  —  Richard D. Emery is a prominent New York lawyer who has made his mark in the area of civil liberties.  Two months ago, he prevailed in a case against New York City's Department of Correction, which agreed to settle a lawsuit that Emery had filed …

Twins GM has ‘one big issue’ still to resolve  —  The issue, of course, is two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, who will demand far more than the Twins can pay.  —  The Twins have a tradition of closing down their offices from Christmas Eve until after New Year's.

Raines: ‘I played the game with excitement, focus’  —  Tim Raines scored more runs in his career than Tony Gwynn.  He owns a higher on-base percentage than Willie Mays.  He's one of only five players ever to steal 800 or more bases, and no one with 300 or more attempts owns a higher success rate than Raines' 84.7 percent.

Boston Red Sox  —  Predicting the top five MLB teams for 2008 is an all-American enterprise. ...  Team Injuries  —  Player  —  Status  —  Injury  —  B. Donnelly RP  —  60-day  —  Right elbow surgery - out for season  —  Red Sox Community  —  Latest Team Photos  —  view image

LaTroy Hawkins is cool with hitters juicing up  —  New Yankee LaTroy Hawkins appeared on Sirius Satellite Radio and had an interesting take on the steroids saga in MLB:  —  Host Jason Page: “You're stepping into this Yankee fray.  It's going to be kind of an awkward time.