Madden: Baseball's top 10 turkeys  —  Leftovers anyone?  Fortunately, baseball once again had a plentiful supply of turkeys this season.  Here's our annual Daily News top 10, completely basted.  —  10. ROGER CLEMENS  —  Okay, he didn't make another comeback in '08 …

Where are they now?  Former Met Jon Matlack  —  Many of the pitchers Jon Matlack works with now as the minor-league pitching coordinator for the Detroit Tigers have no idea how good Matlack was as a vital member of a sparkling Met rotation in the 1970s.  One former pupil who had been traded came running …

AMAZIN' SURPRISE STAR TATIS BUILDS CHURCH  —  Earlier this week, Fernando Tatis walked into a church in his Dominican Republic hometown of San Pedro de Macoris and gave thanks.  This was not just any church and not just any thanks.  —  This was the Jerusalem First Church …

Sources: Orioles revisit trade talks for Pie  —  Team could land Cubs outfielder in three-way deal with Padres, who would send RHP Peavy to Chicago  —  The Orioles have revisited trade talks with the Chicago Cubs about multi-tool outfielder Felix Pie, according to industry sources …

Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2009  —  Hank Sauer, my mother-in-law Gwen's favorite player as a kid.  —  Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2009  —  All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.  Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get out of the top 10.

When Maddux says goodbye, he'll do it quietly  —  On the cell from his home in Las Vegas, Greg Maddux sounded as though he probably has made a decision.  But there are more important things in life, like the game of golf he just played with son Chase.  —  “I'll figure it out soon, one way or another,” said dad.

With Several Bullpen Spots to Fill, Mets Are Making Sure to Explore All Options  —  The Mets remain interested in the free-agent closers Francisco Rodríguez and Brian Fuentes, but they will continue to scour the trade market for relievers before engaging in substantive discussions with either pitcher …

Happy Birthday, Minnie, No Matter Your Age  —  Depending on the source, Minnie Miñoso either turns 83 or 86 years old today.  —  Miñoso's actual age may or may not matter at this point.  What's most important is that he's alive and apparently doing well.

Red Sox acquire right-handed pitcher Wes Littleton from Texas Rangers  —  For two players to be named later or cash considerations  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox today acquired righthanded pitcher Wes Littleton from the Texas Rangers in exchange for two players to be named later or cash considerations.

A few Thankgiving leftovers - tidbits from a slow off-season  —  It just seems quiet on the baseball front.  Look around hard enough, there's always tidbits.  —  Here are a few of interest.  — Raul Ibanez remains high on the list of at least three playoff-caliber teams, with the Cubs …

The stove has been working overtime in recent years  —  With Thanksgiving — a day in which the full limits of our kitchen stoves were pushed to the test — having come and gone, it is only appropriate the baseball Hot Stove be running at full force.  —  And if the big free-agent signings …

King George  —  Every city in the country, I suppose, has its own relationship with New York City — you know, much the same way that every college basketball team in the old ACC had a rivalry with North Carolina.  The City is just omnipresent in American life.

Pirates plan patience with offseason moves  —  Wilson, Grabow, Paulino discussed in trades; little in free agency  —  The way general manager Neal Huntington sees it, the Pirates' coming winter could be downright tumultuous.  —  Or not.  —  “It could be an offseason where there is a significant change …