Miffed Torre fans shut out of bookstore … It was worse than Mariano Rivera blowing a save, or watching Kyle Farnsworth get the ball with a four-run lead.  —  Disgruntled Yankee fans gave Borders bookstore a Bronx cheer after waiting in line for more than three hours Wednesday afternoon …

Teammate: Dodgers can win with or without Manny Ramirez  —  LOS ANGELES — Russell Martin says he and his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates want Manny Ramirez [stats] to return, but the slugger “isn't necessarily the difference between us winning or losing.”  —  Ramirez has rejected three offers …

Major League Snitch  —  Unmasked: How a white-collar Baltimore swindler turned secret FBI informant and ignited a Major League Baseball steroid scandal  —  Even a casual sports fan is by now aware of the key personalities and events of Major League Baseball's ongoing steroid scandal …

Yankees trade for Brewers OF  —  But it's not Mike Cameron.  —  This from the Yankees:  —  The New York Yankees today acquired outfielder/catcher Eric Fryer from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Chase Wright.  —  Fryer, 23, batted .335 (129-for-385) with 26 doubles …

Bonds Documents  —  For those interested — especially fellow shysters with a PACER login and password — here's the mother lode of US v. Barry Bonds documents, pleadings, etc.  I haven't had a chance to really go over them in any detail, but my cursory review of it confirms what has been obvious …

Why Roger Clemens Isn't Barry Bonds  —  No matter what the outcome of the tests now being conducted on the Roger Clemens-Brian McNamee syringes and no matter what the outcome of the anti-defamation suits Clemens and McNamee have filed against each other and no matter whether the government finds grounds …

Don't expect Sheets  —  Two weeks ago, free agent pitcher Ben Sheets and his agent, Casey Close, had dinner with the Rangers.  Rangers owner Tom Hicks was at the dinner, which suggested things were getting serious.  —  Two weeks later, Sheets remains unsigned.  —  All signs points to him not being with the Rangers in 2008.

2009 World Series Odds  —  With pitchers and catches set to report soon to Spring Training, it's once again time to check out the updated 2009 MLB World Series odds to win.  —  Bet MLB Future Odds  —  Oddsmakers from online sportsbook Sportsbook.com have made the New York Yankees 5/2 favorites to win the 2009 World Series.

Happy birthday, Hammer!  Aaron celebrates 75 years  —  ATLANTA—Happy birthday, Hammer!  Hank Aaron's family and friends are throwing him a 75th birthday party Thursday night at a downtown Atlanta hotel.  Among those scheduled to attend are former President Bill Clinton …

Mets now targeting righthanded hitter for bench  —  The Mets, their major offseason goals achieved, will next target a righthanded hitter for their bench, a person familiar with the situation said yesterday.  —  Some Mets officials like free agent Rich Aurilia, who has ties to both New York and general manager Omar Minaya.

Blue Jays claim Burres off waivers  —  Left-hander has starting and relieving experience with Orioles  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays' search for inexpensive ways to improve their roster this offseason has included scouring the waiver wire for possible additions.

The Yaz family craft  —  Sox legend boosts grandson's budding baseball career  —  Carl and Mike Yastrzemski were all business in North Andover.  (Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff)  —  NORTH ANDOVER - When Carl Yastrzemski slips quietly through a back door of DB's Baseball and Softball Instructional Academy, the baseballs stop bouncing.

2009 Projections with Hit Tracker  —  Oh, no, not another projection system!  Why would someone want to join the logjam of current systems?  In no particular order, we have ZiPS, CHONE, Oliver, Marcel, Bill James, PECOTA and no doubt some others I haven't stumbled across (sorry).

Epstein interview  —  Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein offered some candid insights, particularly concerning the club's ill-fated pursuit of Mark Teixeira and his admiration for John Smoltz, during an interview this afternoon on sports radio WEEI's “Dale and Holley” show.

Designing the perfect keeper league  —  In trying to set up the first keeper league I've ever been a part of, I'm a little daunted by the challenges it presents.  I've tried to stick to the most common settings out there (standard BA, R, HR, RBI, SB, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP, $260 per team) …

How to measure a player's value (Part 3)  —  I have defined what I mean by player value and why I believe that in parts One and Two.  Now it's time to get down to brass tacks, to apply principles to practice and see how they look in action.  —  This is not the most in-depth or accurate method of calculating a player's value.

Kotsay expected out at least until May after back surgery  —  With the news coming today that Mark Kotsay had back surgery on Jan. 29 to remove a displaced disc fragment, the decision by the Red Sox to sign Brad Wilkerson (pending a physical) makes more sense.