Top News:
Rich / Baseball Analysts:
The Internet Zealot Responds — One Blyleven Internet supporter is such a zealot that he has guessed as to the motives for the non-support, and even on occasion taken to outing non-supporters or ridiculing them, perhaps in an attempt at persuasion. Let me just say that I have nothing against Blyleven …
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Lifting a bit of weight — The Hall of Fame ballot goes in the mail today with check marks next to the names of Bert Blyleven, Roberto Alomar, and Jack Morris. — We won't know who's in until January, but this year's ballot has some new challenges because the Steroid Boys are stepping forward in large numbers.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and It's About The Money
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Five votes for the Hall of Fame
Discussion:
ESPN, The House That Dewey Built, Bleed Cubbie Blue, HardballTalk and YFSF
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Vinas, one of 'Hank's Yanks,' gets Minors deal — Ace of Steinbrenner's youth ballclub has chance at pro career — NEW YORK — For Leonel Vinas, it had been enough to spend a summer wearing a uniform for “Hank's Yanks,” the youth ballclub sponsored by Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner.
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Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Brian Cashman needs a new plan to help the Yankees rotation …
Discussion:
New York Times and BronxBanterBlog.com
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Rothschild will work with A.J. on fixes
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, The Sommer Frieze and Boston Herald
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Yankees, Red Sox hit with luxury tax — Only two teams — the Red Sox and Yankees — will be forced to pay Major League Baseball's luxury tax. — The Associated Press reported Tuesday that New York and Boston have exceeded the league's payroll threshold and will be charged an additional tax …
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Associated Press:
Yankees hit with $18M luxury tax
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, ESPN and It's About The Money
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Jenks finalizes two-year deal with Red Sox
Discussion:
Boston Dirt Dogs, Boston Globe, Over the Monster, joy of sox and Yahoo! Sports
Aaron Fitt / Baseball America:
Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe) — For the first time since the franchise arrived in Washington five years earlier, Nationals fans had legitimate reason to be excited in 2010. The team still finished in last place for the fifth time in six seasons since moving from Montreal …
Discussion:
Nationals Journal and NATS INSIDER
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
O'Dowd, Rox patient in pursuit of relief help — DENVER — It looks as if Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd will wait until after the holidays to continue his shopping for a relief pitcher — the last big-ticket item on the club's list. — The Rockies have been exploring free agency …
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner and MLB Rumors
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Revenue-Sharing in Major League Baseball Totals $404 Million for 2010 — The amount of money that moved from haves such as the Yankees and Red Sox to have-nots such as the Athletics and Padres in Major League Baseball totaled $404 million for 2010, according to league sources.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Rangers eye Brandon Webb — The Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals continued to show strong interest in Brandon Webb on Tuesday, while a third reported suitor, the Chicago Cubs, fell off the pace in their pursuit of the free-agent starter. — A source confirmed that Webb …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Projo Sox Blog, Federal Baseball, OMGreds, Postcards from Elysian Fields, mlbbuzz and MLB.com
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Star-Telegram / Foul Territory:
Rangers' interest in Brandon Webb intensifies
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Postcards from Elysian Fields
Jason Wilde / 540 ESPN Milwaukee:
Rodgers: 'I'm baaaaaaacckkkk' — GREEN BAY - The text message was brief and to the point, and the only thing easier to read Tuesday evening was the excitement coming from Aaron Rodgers' iPhone. — I'm baaaaaaacckkkk. — Yes, after seeing his 46-game consecutive starts streak …
ESPN:
Auto Update: Off — Welcome to ESPNNewYork.com! On Tuesday, New York Mets writer Adam Rubin will stop by to take your baseball questions. — Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Discussion:
Kranepool Society, MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online and Mets Fever
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Phillips, Stubbs likely leadoff candidates — CINCINNATI — This month's search for a true leadoff hitter by the Reds essentially concluded in a cul-de-sac that brought them to exactly where they were when they started. — “We haven't found anybody available that is to our liking,” …
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
Sabernomics:
What's Wrong with Replacement-Level Valuing of Players — In my previous post on 15 tenets of sabermetrics, my response to one tenet received the bulk of the comments. I showed that the talent of the league is distributed normally, and the assumption that there is an abundance …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Patterson among six to sign with Blue Jays — Club brings aboard outfielder with Minors deal, spring invite — TORONTO — The Blue Jays completed some last minute holiday shopping Tuesday morning by signing outfielder Corey Patterson and five other players to Minor League contracts with invites to Spring Training.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Batter's Box Interactive …
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Rany / Rany on the Royals:
Greinke. Gone. — I've got to hand it to Dayton Moore - I didn't think he could do it. I didn't think he could find anyone to take Yuniesky Betancourt off his hands, and I didn't think he had it in him to admit he made a mistake in acquiring Yuni in the first place. And he did.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and baseballmusings.com
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