Brewers tab Randolph as bench coach  —  Former Mets skipper was finalist for managerial opening  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers were looking for experience in their bench coach, and they found it in one of their managerial candidates.  —  Former Mets manager Willie Randolph …

Former Yanks help lay dirt in Stadium  —  Crew from '98 teams up with area kids in symbolic ceremony  —  NEW YORK — Paul O'Neill strode down a flight of concourse stairs at the new Yankee Stadium on Saturday, set his feet on the warning track — a rough, dirt expanse …

Sox focus on Cuban 3B Dayan Viciedo  —  MLB gives green light for teams to make offers to Viciedo  —  The White Sox are poised to put the Joe Crede era behind them and become players in the first big acquisition of the offseason.  —  Agent Jaime Torres was informed by Major League Baseball …

That Awful Mets Bullpen May Return Intact  —  Most witnesses of the Mets' bullpen meltdown last season, those who can still see crucial victories squandered night after September night, would probably just as soon not see the names responsible for another missed postseason — Heilman …

Pettitte says he's fine with a 1-year deal  —  Andy Pettitte said Friday night that he is not angling for a multiyear deal from the Yankees and hopes to return on a one-year contract.  —  Pettitte spoke as he entered the gala for Joe Torre's Safe At Home Foundation at Chelsea Piers, at which the 1998 championship team was reunited.

YANKEES TOP 10 PROSPECTS 2009 PER BASEBALL AMERICA  —  One of the rare times that the print version of Baseball America provides the news before it's on their site...as per the Nov 17-30, 2008 edition found in my mail box today...here are the Yankees “Top 10″ Prospects for 2009, according to Baseball America:

Padres cut Peavy finalists to 3 teams  —  Cubs, Braves, Dodgers in the hunt  —  Padres general manager Kevin Towers was back home in San Diego on Friday, sifting through the possibilities that will allow him to trade former Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy to the Cubs, the Atlanta Braves or …

Madden: Obama makes White Sox America's team  —  For over 100 years, the Chicago White Sox have had to live as second-class citizens to the Cubs in the Windy City while, nationally, they had a fan base and recognition factor the equivalent of the Houston Astros or San Diego Padres.  —  No more.

Bucs fill out staff with Hill at first base  —  Veteran big league coach will also serve as infield instructor  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pirates filled the final vacancy in the Major League coaching staff on Friday, naming Perry Hill as the team's first-base coach for 2009.

Spaceman missing Manny Ramirez  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  There really is no justice in a world where Bill “Spaceman” Lee and Manny “Being Manny” Ramirez never got to be Red Sox [team stats] teammates.  —  Last night, just before he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame …