My shoulder  —  Speculation is rampant right now.  I see the Sox just released a statement.  —  At the time we negotiated the 2008 contract I passed all physical exams and testing, as well as the MRI the club required me to take.  I knew in my heart of hearts that the extra time I was giving …

Pirates take a look at Colon in Dominican  —  But team not yet seen as suitor for free-agent starter  —  The Pirates are one of three teams scouting former Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon in the Dominican Republic, but there was no indication yesterday that their interest extended beyond window-shopping.

Yanks to keep Stadium's hallowed name  —  Team announces its rejection of corporate appellation  —  NEW YORK — No one does the Yankees as well as the Yankees.  No professional sports franchise carries itself so consistently, so majestically and, at the same time, so simply.

Pedro's cockfighting comes home to roost  —  Animal rights groups are accusing Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez and Hall of Fame hurler Juan Marichal of fowl play after both were shown attending a cockfight in the Dominican Republic in a video posted on YouTube last week.

King Kaufman's Sports Daily  —  Texas Rangers hire Nolan Ryan.  Either he's joking around or he'll need help finding the stadium.  —  Let's just say for the sake of argument that you're a Texas Rangers fan.  I know it's all about the Lansing Lugnuts for you but go with me for a minute.

It's the Hardball Times Season Preview 2008!  —  About a year-and-a-half ago, I spent a good number of hours trying to convince Dave Studeman that publishing book a year wasn't enough, that in addition to The Hardball Times Annual, our annual review of the previous season …

New Mariner R.A. Dickey committed to knuckleball  —  Every major-leaguer thinks he can throw a knuckleball.  Watch the players in front of the dugout before a game dueling with their knucklers, trying to handcuff each other with their best butterflies.  —  Bret Boone threw one before games.

Joba off to pen; Yanks should leave him there  —  New York bullpen needs Chamberlain to bridge the gap to Rivera  —  Joba Chamberlain posted a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings out of the bullpen last year.  That's one reason Mike Celizic says he should stay in the pen.

Clemens and McNamee Take Stories to the Hill  —  WASHINGTON — The photograph of Brian McNamee's evidence shows a crushed can of Miller Lite, some gauze and cotton pads and a single hypodermic needle.  —  The detritus, along with other needles stored inside the beer can …

Team Offense, San Francisco Giants  —  We continue to look at team offenses for 2008 with the San Francisco Giants. … In 2007, the Giants scored 4.22 runs per game.  —  I plugged in a likely lineup to the Lineup Analysis Tool, using the Marcel the Monkey predictions from Tom Tango.

Marlins bring back Super Saturdays  —  Caravan under way as club prepares for Saturday's FanFest  —  MIAMI — Attending a Saturday night game at Dolphin Stadium in 2008 once again will feature an event-like atmosphere.  —  For the second straight season, the Marlins will showcasing Super Saturdays …

Phillies, Bruntlett reach accord  —  The big one still remains.  —  The Phillies and first baseman Ryan Howard appear headed to a salary arbitration hearing Feb. 20 in Florida, but yesterday the Phillies avoided arbitration with utility infielder Eric Bruntlett when they agreed to a one-year …

Santana will look to help his own cause  —  Mets' new ace looks to add offense as well as arm  —  NEW YORK — They live with an unsettling awareness that they are one poor start and a hanging slider removed from a 5-point-ugly ERA.  So pitchers rarely brag among themselves, not about their pitching anyway.

Church, Mets agree on contract  —  After right fielder settles, Perez lone arbitration-eligible Met  —  NEW YORK — The Mets are down to one potential salary arbitration case after they settled their case with their outfielder Ryan Church.  The right fielder agreed to a $2 million salary …