Silver Sluggers a mix of old and new  —  Eight incumbents and eight first-timers among 2009 winners  —  The Silver Slugger Awards distributed early this evening went to a perfect mix of the old guard and new guard, as players with established reputations and others starting to earn theirs shared honors …

Cops summoned to rescue Yanks' 1996 Series hero  —  John Wetteland — MVP of the 1996 World Series for the Yankees — was rushed to a hospital yesterday after police responded to a woman's frantic call from his Texas home that he might have been suicidal.  —  Cops rushed to the 43-year-old …

Brewers do not pick up Looper's option  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  I was just informed that the Brewers have decided not to pick up the $6.5 million option for 2010 on the contract of right-hander Braden Looper.  —  Instead, the Brewers will pay a buyout of $1 million to Looper.

Ben Sheets' agent expects strong market for pitcher  —  Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin caught reporters slightly off-guard at the GM meetings in Chicago this week when he observed that “no one has heard from” former Brewers right-hander Ben Sheets.  More than one media outlet took …

Rockies decline Betancourt's option  —  The Rockies announced this afternoon they declined the contract option for right-handed reliever Rafael Betancourt.  —  The move, which was not unexpected, makes Betancourt a free agent, meaning he can negotiate with any team.

Yankees could try to make deal for Granderson  —  Tigers may try to move All-Star outfielder, who hit 30 homers last year and is only 29.  —  The Tigers' cost cutting has  —  altered the landscape of the baseball industry, as the Yankees now will investigate another intriguing option in Detroit's Curtis Granderson.

Jeter plays a Bronx bummer for movie  —  Give that man an Oscar!  —  No, Derek Jeter hasn't blown through his fortune al ready — he's playing a be draggled bum in a movie.  —  The Yan kees captain and five-time world cham pion is play ing a fictionalized version of himself in the upcoming …

LeBron James planning to give up No. 23 out of respect for Michael Jordan, urges others to do same … Miami — Basking in the glow of a victory over the Heat, Cavs superstar LeBron James looked over at his idol sitting in the stands at AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday night and made a command decision.

Mets renovating bullpen area at Citi Field … NEW YORK — For those of you who might be curious to see what Citi Field looks like on a chilly, overcast day in November, here are a couple pictures I shot Friday.  Not a whole lot going on outside of the team office building just beyond right field.

AP Interview: Chapman says no drama in defection  —  Buzz up!  —  NEW YORK (AP)—Aroldis Chapman simply left his room at the Domina Hotel in Rotterdam last July and went down to the lobby.  —  The Cuban pitcher's defection during a tournament in the Netherlands lacked any of the drama a movie script writer would want.

Breaking News: Wally Backman gets Brooklyn Job  —  Breaking News from NYBD's Mike Silva: The Mets will announce in a press conference on Tuesday that Wally Backman will be back in the organization to manage the Brooklyn Cyclones for the 2010 season.  Wally is part of the Mets apparent plan …

Uggla doesn't want to change positions  —  , being shopped by the Florida Marlins, will resist plans to move him to third base or the outfield, his agent said Friday morning.  —  Uggla has corner infield and outfield pop, hitting at least 31 home runs in each of the past three seasons …

The significance of the Mauer market  —  The agent for Joe Mauer wouldn't characterize the state of the catcher's negotiations with the Twins on Thursday, or discuss them in any way, which isn't a surprise.  That's not really Ron Shapiro's style.  We are accustomed to hearing a lot …

All about the high inside fastball  —  What exactly is a high inside fastball?  —  “Well, duh, Nick.  A high inside fastball is a pitch that is high and... wait for it... inside, hence the name.  You don't seem to be very sharp, I think I'm going to stop reading now.”