Odds and ends from today's Sabean/Bochy news conference, plus a not-so-crazy, crazy idea for shortstop  —  My story from today's annual postmortem news conference is on the Gate and linked here.  Actually, I don't know if you can call it a postmortem if the Giants won the World Series.

Yankees will be ‘in early’ on Cliff Lee, source says, will face competition from Angels and Rangers  —  Two years ago, the Yankees started the free agency period with a blockbuster offer to CC Sabathia that helped pave the way to signing the big lefty.  After the clock strikes midnight Saturday night …

Astros Tell Berkman's Agent They Will Not Pursue Lance  —  HOUSTON - Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade told FOX 26 Sports Friday he informed the agent for free agent first baseman Lance Berkman that the Astros will not pursue their former star.  —  Berkman's agent, Mike Moye …

Sources: A's target Japanese pitcher  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  Follow him on Twitter.  —  The A's could be on the verge of pulling off the first major surprise of the offseason.

Source: Collins top Amazin' candidate  —  Mets on Twitter  —  Tweet  —  When Mets general manager Sandy Alderson explained last week that “I think that a fiery manager is actually quite desirable,” the sense was he was sending out a message at his introductory press conference that the door was open to Wally Backman.

‘Out.  The Glenn Burke Story’ aims to strike out intolerance  —  Comcast SportsNet Bay AreaGlenn Burke, mid-1980s, openly gay and out of baseball.  —  If the celebration of Fernando Valenzuela was a highpoint in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers and baseball, an exhilarating transcendence …

Gambling probe reveals Charlie Samuels' relationship to Francisco Rodriguez, Jeff Francoeur, others  —  Charlie Samuels, the Mets clubhouse manager ensnared in an investigation into mobbed-up gambling, has been a trusted confidant and friend to scores of Mets players over the years …

Where did all the runs go?  —  The following is an excerpt from the introduction to the Hardball Times Annual 2011:  —  The Hardball Times Annual proudly displays statistics you won't find anywhere else, Batted Ball Stats.  Even web sites like FanGraphs and Baseball Reference don't provide what you can find in the Annual.

Oliver Perez on His Contract, 2010, Jerry, the Fans, etc.  —  Last month, Oliver Perez spoke with Hector Meza from Territorioscore.com about a variety of topics in the Q&A below:  —  HM: In your opinion what went wrong this year?  —  OP: Well, remember that I had surgery in September …

Gregg could return to Blue Jays  —  Toronto Blue Jays closer Kevin Gregg may be gone for now but still could be brought back into the fold, general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on Friday.  —  The American League club declined the two options it held on Gregg's contract late Thursday night …

First base tops Cubs' offseason priority list  —  Dunn, Huff, Martinez possibilities; Hendry also seeking starting pitcher  —  Washington's Adam Dunn rounds third base on the game-winning home run.  (Evan Vucci, Associated Press / September 28, 2010)  —  The Cubs need to make a splash …