Top News:
New York Times:
Pettitte Asks to Be Excused From Hearing — WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Oversight Committee is supporting Andy Pettitte's request not to have to testify publicly against his former teammate Roger Clemens at a public hearing on Wednesday, a congressional staff person said Monday.
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Trachsel returns with Minor League deal — O's invite righty to Spring Training to compete for rotation spot — BALTIMORE — The Orioles welcomed Steve Trachsel back into the fold with a Minor League contract Monday, marking the second straight season that the veteran has signed with Baltimore shortly before Spring Training.
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Baltimore Sun:
O's sign Trachsel to minor league deal — Veteran pitcher will compete for one of two open spots in starting rotation — Three days after Orioles president Andy MacPhail stated that finding a starting pitcher for the rotation was a priority after the Erik Bedard trade, he reached into the club's recent past and snatched one.
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
First mate: Mientkiewicz inks in Minors — Veteran Gold Glover invited to compete for spot in spring — PITTSBURGH — The Pirates will have yet another veteran in spring camp after the team announced on Monday that it had signed first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz to a Minor League contract …
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Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates sign former Yankee Mientkiewicz — The Pirates signed free agent first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz today to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, General Manager Neal Huntington said. — Mientkiewicz , 33, spent most of the 2007 season with the New York Yankees …
Discussion:
Blue Collar Baseball
ESPN.com:
Rocker: Selig knew he was on steroids in 2000 — Former major league pitcher John Rocker said Monday that baseball commissioner Bud Selig knew he failed a drug test in 2000 and that doctors for the “league” and the “players association” advised him and several Texas Rangers teammates on how to effectively use steroids.
Peter Abraham / The Journal News:
Girardi begins ‘no-win’ job with Yankees — The Yankees haven't had a new manager since 1996, when an affable broadcaster named Joe Torre replaced Buck Showalter. Bill Clinton was in the White House. Michael Jordan was running with the Bulls, and the Dow Jones industrial average had yet to crack 6,000.
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John Mutka / NW Indiana Post-Tribune:
Table-setter Theriot has speed Cubs need — CHICAGO — Baseball is a contact sport with shortstop Ryan Theriot. — The 28-year-old Cub, coming off his first full season in the majors, seldom strikes out (50 in 537 at-bats). That makes him an ideal No. 2 hitter, but he's versatile enough to lead off …
Discussion:
FIRE JOE MORGAN
Associated Press:
Pitcher Tony Armas agrees to minor league contract with Mets — NEW YORK (AP) — Right-hander Tony Armas agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets on Monday. — Armas was 4-5 with a 6.03 ERA in 15 starts and 16 relief appearances last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
At camp, all eyes will be on Santana — Prized acquisition's every move will be scrutinized, celebrated — The scars had begun to fade on their own. And they might have vanished without assistance in another four or five decades. Time takes its sweet time, doesn't it?
Discussion:
the metropolitans
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Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Early Draft Preview Chat With Jim Callis — Looking Ahead To The 2008 Draft — Moderator: Jim Callis will chat about the draft at 2 p.m. ET. — Q: … A: — Jim Callis: Sorry about the slightly late start, got caught on the phone . . . Scouting directors are enthused about this year's draft …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Morning at the Fort — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Just got back from a morning spent at the Sox minor league complex, where we spotted Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Hideki Okajima, among numerous minor leaguers. — Beckett wasn't quite in the mood to talk …
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins single-game tickets on sale — Club may play July 28-30 series against Mets in Puerto Rico — MIAMI — Individual game tickets went on sale for the Marlins' 2008 regular-season games on Saturday morning. For now, however, one series remains in limbo.
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Terence Moore / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
No successor-in-waiting planned for Braves, Cox — Since the incomparable Bobby Cox is entering his 27th year as a manager in the major leagues, including more than two decades with the Braves, it's logical to wonder if his bosses are tempted to lose their minds.
Eric Wilbur / Boston Globe:
Radio team announced — Entercom Boston announced its Red Sox radio team today for the 2008 season, a quartet of talent that includes WEEI midday host Dale Arnold. — Veteran play-by-play man Joe Castiglione is set to begin his 26th season of calling Red Sox games, while Dave O'Brien enters …
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan …
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
San Diego Padres — One Padre watcher tells me that some of the problems that the Pads had last season resulted from Kelly Calabrese's pregnancy. Calabrese, the team's massage therapist and an extension of the medical staff, is a trusted therapist who did a lot to keep some of the players healthy.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
