Top News:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Sunday reading: Mark McGwire, Derek Lowe, John Lackey and Nick Johnson — In the absence of real baseball news going on, and with space to fill in our newspaper, I decided to divulge a decision that I've made, that probably won't shock the regulars: I'll be voting for Mark McGwire on this year's Hall of Fame ballot.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Commissioner plans to step down after 2012 — Bud Selig, 75, wants time for other projects — On Baseball — When Bruce Springsteen played the Bradley Center in Milwaukee earlier this month, he led into his encore with “No Surrender,” sending its haunting refrain of “no retreat, no surrender” echoing around the arena.
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Selig reiterates plans to retire in 2012 — Commissioner reportedly unswayed by inquiry to stay on — Commissioner Bud Selig has said for months that he plans to retire from Major League Baseball's highest post when his current term expires in 2012, and he reportedly made that clear …
MLB:
Report: Bud Selig to step down as commissioner in 2012, resists efforts to extend deal again — Bud Selig has declined an overture from a group of baseball owners asking him to stay on after his contract ends in 2012, the Chicago Tribune reported, citing unnamed sources.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Bud Selig Plans To Step Down After 2012 — Sources have indicated to Phil Rogers of The Chicago Tribune that commissioner Bud Selig plans to step down after the 2012 season, when his contract is up. The current CBA expires after the 2011 season, so negotiating the next pact will likely be Selig's last act as baseball's commissioner.
Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
Marco Scutaro confirms Mariners have approached him — ADDITIONAL NOTE 8:03 p.m.: It seems that today's story is causing all kinds of fuss down in Texas, where fans are wondering why the Rangers would be pursuing Marco Scutaro at third base when they already have Michael Young.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Fenway West, The iYankees Blog, Hot Stove Blog, NESN.com, Lone Star Ball, Full Count, Boston Globe, Circling The Bases and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Evan Grant / Texas Rangers:
Saturday afternoon rumor control: Texas Rangers have no interest in Marco Scutaro at third base — Checked my email in between shopping expeditions this afternoon to find a link from Adam Morris of Lone Star Ball. The link is to a Seattle Times blog that paraphrases an article and some tweets …
Gordon Edes / ESPN:There's one problem with the Red Sox trading Mike Lowell
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Group fights New York City to keep original Gate 2 of Yankee Stadium — 'If you want something from the '20s, it's got to be that exterior wall,' said John Trush of the Save the Yankee Gate 2 Committee. New York City's Department of Parks and Recreation thinks differently.
NY Daily News:
Plenty of foul picks for dubious award as News picks Top Ten baseball Turkeys of 2009 — No shortage of turkeys in baseball this year. All season long, into the postseason and even beyond, it was a smorgasbord of monumental ineptitude, intolerable bad behavior and insufferable arrogance.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Lowe prefers not to be spun out of Braves' rotation — Derek Lowe acknowledges he was “horrible” the last two months of the season and that the Braves have a plethora of starting pitching, but does that mean he is going to be traded after one season in Atlanta?
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Richard / SportsJustice:
Let's build the 2010 Astros. Together. Like friends. — You don't like my ideas. You don't like Tal and Ed's ideas. You don't think Drayton ever had a good idea, which is ridiculous because I have inside knowledge he's working on a plan to add corny dogs to the menu at Minute Maid Park.
New York Post:
Son of former Yankee has shot to follow father's footsteps to the big leagues — When Ron Davis' major league career came to an end at age 32, he thought it was the worst thing that could have happened to him. — Turns out, it was the best move, because he walked away from baseball and into his life.

