Top News:
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
The Hall call arrives for Gwynn, Ripken — First ballot players to be inducted into Hall of Fame on July 29 — NEW YORK — As anticipated, the dynamic duo of eight-time National League batting champion Tony Gwynn and Iron Man Cal Ripken Jr. earned election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday …
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baseballhalloffame.org:
2007 Hall of Fame Voting Results — Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. elected to Hall of Fame by BBWAA — COOPERSTOWN, NY: Cal Ripken, holder of one of baseball's most cherished records, and Tony Gwynn, among the game's most prolific hitters, were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame …
Associated Press:
Gwynn, Ripken elected to Hall of Fame — NEW YORK — Mark McGwire fell far short in his first try for the Hall of Fame, picked by 23.5 percent of voters while Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. easily gained baseball's highest honor. — Tarnished by accusations of steroid use …
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Gwynn joins Ripken in Cooperstown — Tony Gwynn is a Hall of Famer. — The eight-time National League batting champion and Baltimore's Cal Ripken Jr. received confirmation this morning that they have been voted into the Hall of Fame. — Gwynn received 532 votes on the 545 ballots returned …
Associated Press:
No surprise: Gwynn, Ripken voted in, McGwire left out — NEW YORK — Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr., baseball dinosaurs who spent their entire major-league careers with one team, have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. — But former Cardinals slugger and home-run champion Mark McGwire …
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Gwynn anxiously awaiting official call — For most of the past week, Tony Gwynn has been fielding calls from well-wishers. — "It's flattering," said Gwynn on the eve of the announcement of his Hall of Fame vote. "Everyone thinks it is a forgone conclusion . . . that I'm in."
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Gwynn, Ripken await call from Hall — Cooperstown's class of 2007 to be unveiled Tuesday — NEW YORK — The much-heralded Hall of Fame class of 2007 will be announced at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and as the moments tick toward that conclusion, it's not getting any easier, even for the main participants.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Sean Smith / Hardball Times:
Randy Johnson Isn't Dead Yet — It's all but final, but Randy Johnson is headed back to Arizona after two disappointing years in the Big Apple. It's not that Johnson pitched poorly; he won 17 games each year, and while his 5.00 ERA in 2006 was bad, it was in a league with an average ERA of 4.56.
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Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Mulder's time in St. Louis may be marked over — This is the week that could help define the defending world champion St. Louis Cardinals in 2007: Free-agent pitcher Mark Mulder will decide whether he will pitch this summer for the Cardinals, Texas or Cleveland by Wednesday or Thursday, his agent, Gregg Clifton, said Monday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Todd Jacobson / Free Lance-Star:
Nats: No role for Robinson — The Washington Nationals and former manager Frank Robinson are parting ways, Robinson said in an interview last night, a move that could signal the end of the Hall of Famer's long and storied career in baseball. — Robinson was fired as the Nationals' manager …
Discussion:
District of Baseball
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Mike A. / mvn.com:
Igawa: The Real Deal — As you may remember, a couple months ago I enlisted Mike Plugh of Canyon of Heroes to write a piece on Dice-K, giving you more insight into the guy than any of the Japarazzi have done. Well despite being sidetracked by the birth of his son, Mike was kind enough …
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Dan McLaughlin / Hardball Times:
The Path to Cooperstown Through the Middle Infield — This afternoon, the baseball writers will announce their votes for the Hall of Fame. One middle infielder, Cal Ripken, will surely be inducted. Three others—Alan Trammell, Dave Concepcion, and Tony Fernandez—are on the ballot.
Discussion:
Baseball Crank
Rob Biertempfel / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Bucs conduct informal workouts — Manager Jim Tracy didn't see the need for a structured minicamp this offseason, so the Pirates yesterday began holding informal workouts at PNC Park. — "You've got to give (the players) some rope," Tracy said Monday. "I want them to be very, very fresh on Feb. 16."
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Barrett learning from a Cubs great — Current Chicago backstop training with former catcher Davis — Michael Barrett was talking to former Cubs catcher Jody Davis about how he wanted to be able to start 130 games in the upcoming 2007 season. — Davis just laughed.
Discussion:
GROTA
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Categorizing Pitchers (Part Two): Relievers — As a follow-up to yesterday's Categorizing Pitchers by Batted Ball Types and Strikeout Rates (which focused on starters), today's article is devoted exclusively to relievers. — The graph below includes strikeout and groundball data …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Littlefield: Trade for bat still possible — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — They are, without question, the burning questions of the Pirates' still-sleepy offseason: — Will they acquire that coveted left-handed power bat? — And might it be Atlanta Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche?
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Karim Garcia chooses Phillies — Less depth and a chance to be closer to his young son motivated Karim Garcia to agree to a minor-league deal with Philadelphia on Monday, rather than the Rockies. — Garcia, 31, has spent the past two seasons in Japan, but caught scouts' eyes with his strong play in Mexico this winter.
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