Top News:
A.S. / East Windup Chronicle:
Yankees After Darvish For 2009? — I'm surprised it took this long, but the Yu Darvish to MLB rumors may have just officially kicked off right along with the new year. A Sports Hankook (Korea) report, relying on a Japanese source, says that the Yankees plan to nab Darvish following the 2008 season.
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NY Daily News:
You pay for Yanks' parking deal — The Yankees and hundreds of their VIPs will get free valet parking for the next 40 years, courtesy of New York taxpayers. — The startling revelation of yet another subsidy for the richest team in baseball is buried deep in the fine print …
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Giles may add to mix at second — Creating competition will be a common thread as the Rockies iron out their final roster wrinkles before the start of spring training. — Free agent Marcus Giles is emerging as a strong possibility to push rookie Jayson Nix for the second base job.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
National intrigue — New vibe surrounds DC following busy offseason — WASHINGTON — There's a good reason the Nationals are excited about the upcoming season — they're going to play in a brand-new ballpark and bring more excitement to the diamond, especially after general manager Jim Bowden …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
What's past is past — Mets try to expunge 2007 season from their memory — NEW YORK — The flip of the calendar has moved the Mets merely one day further from their September downfall, but it has also replaced the four-digit number that marks the point of the greatest bringdown in the 46-year history of the franchise.
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Interview: Bob Bowman - President and CEO - MLBAM — At the beginning of this interview, I mention that Bob Bowman is the most influential person in sports that no one has heard of. If you have your finger on the pulse of sports business, that really could not be further from the truth.
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Fountain of youth — Marlins move on with top prospects, young stars in 2008 — MIAMI — Instead of growing another year older, the youthful Marlins have gotten a bit younger once again. — At least, they're greener when it comes to experience. — The Marlins made the biggest splash …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox in position to build on success — Veteran leadership around young core gives club balance — They did it again. But can they do it again and again? That's the big question entering 2008. — The Red Sox are already the first team in the 21st century to win multiple World Series, doing it twice in a span of four years.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
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Steve Treder / Hardball Times:
Re-imagining the Big Zone Sixties, revisited: part one — Away back in 2004 (it really doesn't seem that long ago!), in the dim dark early months of THT, we presented a couple of articles that examined the impact that the expanded strike zone of 1963 through 1968 had on our perception of the best batting performances of the era.
Ben Platt / MLB.com:
Dodgers parade into New Year's Day — Lasorda, Scully, players begin celebration of 50 years in LA — PASADENA, Calif. — The Dodgers got the new year and their 50th anniversary celebration off to a rousing start as players past and present joined employees on the organization's …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers achieve main offseason goals — Texas adds depth to outfield, first base, bullpen for 2008 — ARLINGTON — Eddie Guardado and Kazuo Fukumori have been added to the bullpen, Milton Bradley and Josh Hamilton have been added to the outfield and Ben Broussard and Chris Shelton are ready to form a possible platoon at first base.
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NY Daily News:
Leyritz sends his sympathy — Jim Leyritz seen leaving with friends at his home in Davie, Fla. — Former Yankee slugger Jim Leyritz expressed condolences Monday to the family of a Florida woman he allegedly killed in a drunken driving crash. — Leyritz released a statement through his lawyer …
Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times:
Hillenbrand's life away from baseball is wild with animals — The two-time All-Star and his wife have opened a farm and stables in Arizona full of creatures, some rare and exotic, with hopes of opening a petting zoo for needy children. — GILBERT, Ariz. — Don't get Shea Hillenbrand wrong.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
THE FACE OF THE TIGERS: Brandon Inge is pillar in community, but he's likely to be traded — Coffee tables are crowded at this time of year. They are popular hangouts for greeting cards, holiday decorations and photographs of second cousins you rarely see. Space can be scarce.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Lawyer for Clemens Explains Strategy — In a lengthy conversation Friday with Rusty Hardin, Roger Clemens's lawyer, I was particularly interested in his answers to two questions. To Hardin's credit, he answered both candidly with no attempt to obfuscate the answers with typical lawyerly prattle.
Discussion:
Pinstriped Scranton
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
White Sox hope to rise from ashes in '08 — Acquisitions of Cabrera and Linebrink should improve club — Given the chance to heap some form of thinly-veiled, added criticism upon Ken Williams before the end of 2007, designated hitter Jim Thome instead chose to view their aggressive general …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
