Steroid Cloud Stops McGwire From Entering Hall  —  Cal Ripken was the ironman who played in 2,632 consecutive games, Tony Gwynn was the hitting machine who won eight batting titles, and yesterday both were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in near-unanimous votes.

Hall voting will always be subjective  —  First of all, don't rip the eight voters who failed to vote for Cal Ripken and the 13 who failed to vote for Tony Gwynn.  It's a free country, last time anyone checked.  Solicit the opinions of 545 people on any issue, and it's doubtful they will be in unanimous agreement.

Cardinals await Mulder's decision  —  The Cardinals could learn as early as today whether free agent lefthander Mark Mulder will accept their modified two-year proposal potentially worth about $18 million.  —  General manager Walt Jocketty met with Mulder and agent Gregg Clifton in Scottsdale …

Sources: Schoeneweis close to 3-year deal with Mets  —  The New York Mets are on the verge of signing free-agent pitcher Scott Schoeneweis to a three-year deal, major league sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.  —  Schoeneweis has experience as a starter and a reliever …

Grace will be back at Cubs Convention  —  When he told us last March that he was ready to come home, the Cubs weren't sure whether to believe him.  —  Well, they can believe it now.  —  Mark Grace has set aside six years of animosity and will return next week to the Cubs Convention …

Kornheiser back on Monday Night Football  —  After an inaugural season in which ESPN's "Monday Night Football" drew mixed reviews but strong ratings, the network plans to have analyst Tony Kornheiser back in 2007.  —  And Kornheiser is all for it.  Early yesterday, he told Newsday …

Giants sign free-agent pitcher Russ Ortiz  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Adding a veteran arm in the form of a familiar face, the San Francisco Giants have signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Russ Ortiz to a one-year contract for the 2007 season, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced today.

Pirates' Gerut still not ready to run  —  Recovery from knee surgery could carry into spring  —  Jody Gerut is still recovering from surgery on his right knee in June.  —  Anyone imagining that outfielder Jody Gerut might be the Pirates' answer for that coveted left-handed power bat should know this:

Sammy Sosa-San Could Rack Up The Yen  —  While his old "pal" Mark McGwire is battered about on every cable channel, Sammy Sosa continues to cast about to find somewhere to peddle his wares.  With the major leagues, uh, unlikely, it is only natural that he would look eastbound.

Maine gets a head start  —  In previous winters, John Maine would have agonized over the Mets' pursuit of various big-name pitchers.  Would the possibility of a new star coming to Shea mean Maine would be bumped out of a place in the rotation?  —  By his own admission, Maine has a track record of fretting over such things.

Photos: Mets Mini Camp  —  I pulled out my trusty camera phone at today's mini camp in Port St. Lucie...  (David Wright)  —  Another after the break (and check back here later as I'll try to add more) ...

Tumor removed from Murcer's brain was malignant  —  NEW YORK — The tumor that was removed from Bobby Murcer's brain during surgery last month was malignant.  —  "As we begin a new year, I find myself facing a new challenge — the biggest of my life so far.

Mixed Up Sox  —  [Editor's note: Patrick Sullivan has agreed to join Baseball Analysts as a regular contributor.  Sully, as he is known throughout the baseball blogosphere, joins us from The House That Dewey Built.  He should be familiar to our readers, both as a guest columnist …

Rockies sign Javy Lopez  —  Signing strengthens competition at catcher  —  In the Rockies, Javy Lopez saw an opportunity.  In Lopez, the Rockies saw someone who has faced adversity.  —  Lopez's desire to revive his career led Colorado to sign the veteran catcher Tuesday …

Steve Garvey Gets No Respect  —  A couple of days ago, I wrote a quick take on 18 of the players on the 2007 Hall of Fame ballot.  That meant I ignored 14 others, including such legendary figures as Bobby Witt and Scott Brosius.  —  I also neglected to discuss Steve Garvey.

Rock, Sox, and a hot time  —  Sunday night's Hot Stove, Cool Music benefit concert and auction was the best in the event's seven-year history.  —  Why?  In addition to Kay Hanley, Bill Janovitz, and a who's who of local musicians that have brought Boston's signature indie rock to Hot Stove stages …