Hearing of Special Interest to an I.R.S. Special Agent  —  When Barry Bonds stood up in federal court in San Francisco in November to plead not guilty to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, Jeff Novitzky was sitting in the front row.  —  Novitzky was in the first row again …

Projecting the '08 Yankees  —  Baseball Prospectus' projection system looks at the prospects key players  —  Jorge Posada enjoyed a career year in 2007.  —  For baseball fans, there's no darker period than the 3 ½ months between the final pitch of the World Series and the day players start reporting to Spring Training.

Schilling receives shot of cortisone  —  Curt Schilling was given a cortisone shot in his right shoulder yesterday, the first step of a conservative treatment plan laid out by the Red Sox medical staff, which believes surgery probably would end Schilling's season, and quite likely - given his age (41) - his career.

Rangers talking with Mench  —  Club discussing Minor League deal with former outfielder  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers are talking with outfielder Kevin Mench about a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training, but want to make sure he is willing to go to Triple-A Oklahoma if he doesn't makes the team.

Blass once and always a Pirate a  —  Some honeymoon.  —  The day after Karen Blass pledged to honor her new husband through sickness and health in the fall of 1963, he packed her off to the Dominican Republic.  Dictator Rafael Trujillo had been assassinated and the country was in a state of armed chaos.

Baseball's Devil May Not Be in the Details  —  WHEN the House Oversight Committee convened recently to discuss baseball and steroids — another hearing is scheduled for Wednesday — Representative Mark Souder, an Indiana Republican, injected a specific proposal.

Will Scott Olsen Learn his Lessons?  —  VENTURA- — The maids have just left, and Scott Olsen's condo is sparkling.  —  The sun is reflecting off a spotless Mexican-tile floor.  On a shelf full of DVDs, under a flat-screen TV, framed photos of his mother are dust-free.

Easy on arm, tough on team  —  New closer Troy Percival, shown here with Rays Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, right, plans to conserve energy during Spring Training and be an active force in the Rays clubhouse.  —  ST. PETERSBURG - New closer Troy Percival …

Great expectations  —  Brewers await Weeks' breakout  —  Because of his immense potential and the fact he finally got past a wrist injury to make an impact offensively over the final two months of last season, Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks is considered a prime candidate to “break out” in 2008.

Dodgers headed way off-base  —  The original barracks housing was left over from a World War II-era Navy base that previously occupied the site.  The barracks were torn down in the early 1970s, replaced by what the team called villas.  Jim Murray called the barracks “Cellblock 7.”

Famed Mets ‘Sign Guy,’ 83, signs off  —  The Queens man who became famous for holding up signs in the stands at Shea Stadium - praising or tweaking the Mets and their opponents - died last week.  —  Karl Ehrhardt, 83, who was better known as “the Sign Man,” was found in his Queens home on Monday, said his daughter, Bonnie Troester.

Jim Zorn To Be The Next Head Coach  —  Just got off the phone with sources with knowledge of the situation.  Zorn will be the next head coach.  He spent a lot of time with Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder the past two days, team sources said, and the brass - Cerrato in particular - “fell in love with him.”

A's sign Foulke  —  (02-08) 12:39 PST — Keith Foulke's best season came during his only year in Oakland, 2003.  He led the league in saves, with 43, and he put up an ERA of 2.08.  —  Now, Foulke is back for another go-round with the A's, signing a $700,000 one-year major-league deal …