Top News:
T.J. Quinn / Sports Illustrated:
Speed trap — Bonds failed amphetamine test, blamed teammate — Barry Bonds, already under investigation for lying under oath about his steroid use, failed a test under Major League Baseball's amphetamine policy last season and then initially blamed it on a teammate, the Daily News has learned.
RELATED:
Yahoo! Sports:
Report: Barry Bonds failed amphetamines test last season — NEW YORK (TICKER) — Barry Bonds keeps getting his name in the news for all the wrong reasons. — Bonds, a seven-time MVP and 21 home runs shy of tying Hank Aaron's all-time record, apparently tested positive for a substance banned …
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
Report of Bonds' failed amphetamine test might hinder negotiations — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Barry Bonds' reported positive test for amphetamines last season could be another snag in contract negotiations with the San Francisco Giants. — News of the failed test, reported Thursday in the Daily News …
Fox Sports:
Dodgers to institute all-you-can-eat section — At first glance, the cheap seats at Dodger Stadium don't seem all that cheap anymore, as a ticket in the right-field pavilion will cost you $40 for the 2007 season. — But if you're a big fan of ballpark concessions, that might be a decent deal.
Discussion:
Bucs Trade Winds
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Fans get right to be stuffed — Dodgers converting right-field pavilion into an all-you-can-eat section and raising the cheapest seat to $10. — You won't be able to buy a ticket for under $10 on game day at Dodger Stadium next season, but you will be able to pay $40 for a bleacher seat and an endless supply of Dodger Dogs.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Cardinals sign Mulder to two-year deal — Club also locks in Franklin, inks Ankiel, Cabrera to Minors pacts — ST. LOUIS — Familiarity bred content for Mark Mulder. The left-hander, recuperating from late-summer shoulder surgery, agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with St. Louis on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mulder decides to stay in town — Mark Mulder could not pinpoint the day, but he remembered precisely the sentiment. It was late in the season, September maybe, and he was at dinner talking with Walt Jocketty and Tony La Russa. He told them he would like to come back to the Cardinals.
Baseball America:
Going Deep: Manny Acta and Fredi Gonzalez — The National League East is feeding upon itself. The Marlins canned Joe Girardi as manager and hired Braves coach Fredi Gonazlez. The Nationals said goodbye to Frank Robinson and grabbed top managing prospect Manny Acta from the Mets.
RELATED:
Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com:
Duo hopes to crack Mets' rotation — As spring nears, Maine, Williams not taking anything for granted — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — John Maine and Dave Williams both insist their presence at the Mets' annual minicamp has everything to do with getting some early work in and nothing to do with trying …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Red-letter day — What Beckham's arrival will mean for MLS, U.S. soccer — Mark it down: Jan. 11, 2007 will forever be known as the day that Major League Soccer truly arrived on the world stage. — David Beckham, the world's most recognizable soccer star, is leaving Real Madrid …
RELATED:
Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com:
Pena ready to follow family footsteps — Son of former Major Leaguer working out at Mets' minicamp — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Francisco Pena grew up hanging out in clubhouses and on the fields of Major League parks watching his father, Tony, play and manage with and alongside some of the game's best players.
Discussion:
NY Mets Blog
Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com:
Smith unfazed by hiccup — Statistics don't tell whole story of rookie season — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The numbers suggest that Joe Smith struggled with the big leap he made in 2006. The numbers, however, are wrong. — Oh, sure, the Wright State product had a bit of a hiccup …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Bryan Smith / Hardball Times:
Ten Prospects to Watch in 2007 — This season, I'm not going to make the same mistake. I'm not going to call them "breakout" prospects. Every year I write this article, and every year, I get dozens of semantics-based hate e-mails. — After a 4.43 ERA in his first professional season …
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Worrell reaches end of road with Giants — MOVE OPENS ORTIZ'S ROSTER SPOT — One day after the Giants welcomed back Russ Ortiz, one of his 2002 World Series teammates volunteered a roster space for him. — Right-hander Tim Worrell announced his retirement because of neck and shoulder issues …
Discussion:
El Lefty Malo
Marc Jimenez / MLB.com:
Rivera shines in winter ball playoffs — Former Major Leaguer heats up in Mexican Pacific League — Coming off a successful regular season in the Mexican Pacific League, where he batted .282 with 21 home runs and 58 RBIs, former Major Leaguer Ruben Rivera is batting .300 with four RBIs …
Ian Begley / NY Daily News:
Back to the Boogie Down — Former South Bronx star Sanchez hopes to make mark with Bombers — Humberto Sanchez made his annual appearance at South Bronx High School late last month to provide some of the Phoenix baseball players with perspective and instruction from a professional pitcher.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Rocket set for return, says agent — It is "more than 50-50" that Roger Clemens will return to the mound this season, according to Randy Hendricks, one of the Rocket's Houston-based agents. — Hendricks, in a question-and-answer session with the Houston Chronicle published …
