Talking Baseball With Mets GM Omar Minaya  —  The general manager of the Mets, Omar Minaya, was the guest speaker at the ninth annual “21 Days of Clemente” sponsored by Latino Sports Ventures, Inc. The event is a remembrance by the South Bronx community of the legendary Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder …

Budding slugger may be reined in by squeeze play  —  When the Red Sox acquired Jeremy Hermida early this offseason, they believed they were getting a young outfielder with great upside.  To develop that upside, however, Hermida needs at-bats, especially against lefthanded pitching …

Prospectus Q and A: Jim Riggleman by David Laurila  —  Jim Riggleman … David Laurila: How would you describe yourself as a manager?  —  Jim Riggleman: Oh boy, that's an interesting question.  I don't really have a concrete way to answer it other than to say that, like most managers …

Making my case for the Hall of Fame  —  Numbers stack up well with others from my era already in Cooperstown  —  Bert Blyleven was 287-250 in 22 seasons, but his career was about more than wins and losses.  —  Voting for the Hall of Fame is currently underway.

Bauman: Selig proud of ‘wonderful year’  —  Challenging economy doesn't deter Commissioner, game  —  Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig sums up the game's 2009 experience by saying: “It was a difficult year, but a wonderful year.”  —  That's a broad spectrum of experience for the national pastime.

Diamondbacks, Bob Howry agree to terms on one-year deal  —  The Diamondbacks continued to address their porous bullpen by agreeing to terms with free-agent reliever Bob Howry on a one-year deal that includes a team option for 2011.  —  The value of the deal is unknown, but it is said to be worth between $2 million and $3 million.

Baseball Stars Blinked Before the Unblinking Eye  —  It was not a game, but it featured marquee athletes on national television.  It took place in a hearing room, not a stadium.  C-Span, not ESPN or Fox, produced it, with relatively few cameras and no slow-motion or stat graphics.

World renowned: Yanks achieve their goal  —  Bombers return to playoffs in '09, win 27th Fall Classic title … January:  —  The year opened with a final event at the old Yankee Stadium, as the Yankees formally introduced Mark Teixeira as the club's new first baseman.

Inbox: Pondering some offseason moves  —  Beat reporter Marty Noble answers Mets fans' questions  —  Shouldn't the Mets try to build a team around speed, defense and pitching?  Why Jason Bay?  Why not Mark DeRosa, Xavier Nady and Jon Garland or Joel Pineiro instead?