Happy New Year!

We wish a joyous and Happy New Year.to you and yours!

BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot Counter

UPDATED AS THEY COME IN!

% on 71 Full Ballots

  98.6 - Rickey Henderson
  83.0 - Jim Rice
  77.5 - Bert Blyleven
----------------------------------------
  67.6 - Andre Dawson
  49.3 - Jack Morris
  32.4 - Lee Smith
  26.8 - Tim Raines
  26.8 - Alan Trammell
  26.8 - Tommy John
  21.1 - Mark McGwire     

After 87 Partial/Full HOF Ballots  (71 Full & 16 Partials)

83 - Rickey Henderson                              
67 - Jim Rice
57 - Bert Blyleven  
52 - Andre Dawson
40 - Jack Morris
24 - Lee Smith
19 - Mark McGwire
19 - Tim Raines
19 - Tommy John
18 - Alan Trammell
 8 - Dale Murphy
 6 - Don Mattingly
 5 - Harold Baines
 4 - Dave Parker
 1 - David Cone
 1 - Matt Williams
 1 - Mark Grace
 1 - Pete Rose (Write-In) 

Sherman: Yankees set to lower offer to Pettitte

And if that doesn’t bring him back, they’ll lower it even more.

Andy Pettitte’s chances to return to the Yankees New York Yankees have dropped precipitously because in the aftermath of the Mark Teixeira signing the organization is now strongly inclined to lower the $10 million offer that the lefty already has been resistant to all offseason, the Post has learned.

Pettitte recently rejected the Yankees’ latest $10 million overture, and now - barring a wave of sentimentality by the Yanks or significant change of strategy by either side - that dollar figure very likely will not be offered again.

Multiple sources refused to divulge if the offer had been lowered already. But one executive briefed on the matter described both the chances of making a deal and the $10 million bid as on life support. Another executive said he did not believe that the $10 million offer was there to be taken any longer. A lowered offer almost certainly would assure the end of the prideful Pettitte’s second tour with the Yankees.

Sources: Giants can’t afford Manny

As hard as Scott Boras may be trying to portray the San Francisco Giants as serious bidders for Manny Ramirez, it’s even harder to find executives in baseball who believe that.

According to one source familiar with the Giants’ thinking, just about every recent rumor connecting the Giants with Manny is “unfounded” or “baloney.”

“If a million things came together over the next few weeks, would it be possible? Maybe,” the source told ESPN.com. “But for where [Boras] is right now and where the team is right now, it doesn’t make sense economically and it doesn’t make sense for how the team fits together.”

Sources tell ESPN.com that in a conversation with the Dodgers last Friday, Boras continued to talk about five-year and four-year deals worth upward of $25 million a year. That caused the Dodgers to turn their attention away from Ramirez and back to the bullpen market, where they’re pursuing a group that includes Trevor Hoffman, Juan Cruz, Dennys Reyes and Guillermo Mota.

Teixeira: ‘In the back of my mind, the Yankees were always the top’

The Yankees officially introduced first baseman Mark Teixeira at a press conference at the old Yankee Stadium this afternoon. Here are few notable comments from the 28-year-old slugger, who agreed to an eight-year, $180 million free agent contract with New York Dec. 23, jilting the Red Sox, who were thought by many to be his first choice:

On whether he planned on signing with the Yankees all along:

“The whole process was confusing. Sometimes I’d tell Scott to stop calling me, then I’d call him five times a day saying, ‘Tell me what you know!’ Two weeks before Christmas, I talked to [my wife] Leigh about it again, and we kind of decided that, hey, the Yankees are where we want to be. Cash [Brian Cashman] might want to give Leigh a hug, because when I asked her during the process, ‘Where should I go, where should I go?,’ she’d always say, ‘I just want you to be happy.’ Finally she said, ‘I want you to be a Yankee,’ and it was a done deal. Once we got the contract figured out, it was a no-brainer for me.”

It’s interesting to note that the Red Sox’ visit to Teixeira’s home in Texas came on Dec. 18, which is just a week before Christmas. If Teixeira’s comments can be taken at face value, he made his mind up a week before the Sox’ trip.

Or as BDD pumps...Boras, Leigh Duped Sox.

O’s, Uehara agree on two-year deal

Ue’hara, U.S. Treasury.

The Orioles appear to have filled one vacant spot in their wide-open rotation while at the same time officially opening the door to the Far East.

Two industry sources have confirmed that the Orioles have agreed in principle on a two-year deal with Japanese right-hander Koji Uehara.

The deal is pending specific contract language and a physical, which is expected to occur possibly later this week, though an appointment in Baltimore has not been scheduled.

Uehara, who turns 34 in April, will become the first Japan native to play for the Orioles in their big league history.

Milwaukee J-S blog: Brewers targeting Hoffman

The Brewers didn’t seem too thrilled with Hoffman earlier in the winter, but that was before the available closer market started to dry up.

The Brewers need a closer and general manager Doug Melvin has targeted all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman as his choice to fill that role. I just spoke on the phone with Melvin, and he said he’s trying to find out as soon as possible—perhaps even by the end of today—what the chances are of signing Hoffman.
...
“Right now, he is (our top choice),” said Melvin, who spoke with Hoffman’s agent, Rick Thurman, yesterday and plans to do so again today. “We’ve talked parameters. I’d like to know sooner than later.”

Milwaukee J-S blog: Hoffman has “mutual interest”

I just got off the phone with Rick Thurman, the lead agent for free agent closer Trevor Hoffman. Thurman assured me that Hoffman has “mutual interest” in the Brewers, who have targeted the all-time saves leader as their top choice to fill their vacant closer’s role.

Thurman and Hoffman apparently have been doing their due diligence on the Brewers, talking to folks in the organization to gauge the atmosphere, plans for 2009, etc. Hoffman went as far as talking to new manager Ken Macha.

Indians sign Carl Pavano

In case Jake Westbrook feels lonely in his rehab assignment…

The Cleveland Indians signed free-agent pitcher Carl Pavano to a one-year contract Tuesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Pavano, 32, is looking to rehabilitate his career after suffering numerous injuries in four seasons with the Yankees. He posted a 9-8 record in 26 starts after signing a four-year, $39.95 million contract with New York in December 2004.

It’s believed that Pavano is looking for a contract with a low base salary and incentives based upon his workload. The deal could be similar to Mike Hampton’s recent contract with the Houston Astros, which will pay Hampton a guaranteed $2 million and an additional $2 million in potential bonuses.

T.J. Simers: Mike Scioscia isn’t the only thing that weighs on him

She was so cute. I remember waiting eagerly for the day when the granddaughter might speak and I might understand what she has to say.

Then she does speak, giggling at the same time, “G.P. silly,” she says, while announcing in front of everyone at a restaurant that her G.P. has placed a balloon under his shirt just to tease her.

OK, I’m fat, you little whippersnapper. Why don’t you say it louder, and when we go home I’ll tell you how “Marley & Me” ends.

It just happens. I weighed 150 pounds when I went into the Army and now I’ve got a leg that weighs that much.

Tell me it isn’t a great day when you notice the vending machine stocked with packages of miniature chocolate doughnuts? Probably cost me any chance I had with Salma Hayek,but it’s no balloon. No kid, just lots of me. Wanna see?

I had no idea a little girl could shriek like that, although she wasn’t any louder than her grandmother the first time I asked her whether she wanted to see it.

Now I know there’s nothing wrong with being fat, which reminds me before I forget: There were reports Monday the Angels were doing a deal to extend Mike Scioscia’s contract somewhere into the next century.

blog maverick: Cuban: The Cubs

Then the credit crisis hit and hit hard.

All of the sudden, what seemed like a sane business decision, didnt seem so sane any longer. In particular, the financial participations I had been discussing with my bankers were for shorter term loans. Just refinance at the end of the term. Its what everyone is doing. Except that it no longer seemed like a safe bet that I could refinance in a few years. I didnt want to be caught with a Sumner Redstone margin call, and for better or worse, the banks were getting worried about staying in business and the idea of matching the asset to the term wasnt something they were ready to do, unless of course they could convince 30 other banks to do the same thing.  I thought about writing to Congress to get a bailout…just kidding.

...So there was the issue of valuation.  There was also the issue of the economy. It was impossible to predict the full impact of these tough times on any sports team. That uncertainty created two issues. The first of course was valuation.  How much would I be willing to pay for the team ? I wasn’t sure. More important to me was the cash flow.  If the economy had a significant impact on future revenues, it would also impact how much I could invest in players.  The absolute last position i wanted to be in was paying so much for the team, that if revenues fell off, I couldnt play to win.

So when it came down to it, I did what I thought was the only smart thing to do. I asked for an extension. I knew that if they got the money they wanted for the team, well my bid was not going to be high enough anyway. If they didnt, or the other bidders couldnt come up with their money, they would come back to me.

I’m still waiting

Much like Ralph Drollinger waiting for his first start…

Gussie Busch was a Pimp (Video)

and David Eckstein was Dolemite!

Back in 1987, the St Louis Cardinals were going to the World Series … and the Cards’ 88-year old owner August (Gussie) Anheuser Busch, Jr. was living it up.

It the club’s sixth NL Championship (1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1985, 1987) and another chance to add a fourth World Series Title to the three (1964, 1967, 1982) acheived under his leadership as owner from 1953 to 1989.

It’s always awesome to see a 88 year old man partying in the locker room.

But it’s even better when he’s wearing a red pimp suit.

Will Carroll: Romero’s Chemist

J.C. Romero was suspended for fifty games under terms of MLB’s drug policy. Just before it was handed down, Romero made his case public, the same one that the arbitrator rejected. With the NFL’s drug policy currently under attack in the Starcaps case, where six players took a supplement that was tainted with a diuretic but unknown to the players, this type of defense might hold water.

Until you learn what Romero tested positive for. According to multiple sources, Romero tested positive for 6-OXO Extreme, a product that enhances testosterone production in ways very similar to anabolic steroids. While legal and still available at your local GNC, 6-OXO Extreme* has always carried a warning that it could result in positive tests. If you look at the above link, you’ll be able to find the same warning in the online information.

But it gets better, or worse, if you’re Romero. 6-OXO is a product of Ergopharm. Ergopharm is owned and operated by a guy you might remember: Patrick Arnold. Yes, that one. Arnold was the source for the THG used by BALCO. Arnold served several months in jail due to his involvement and is now back in business.

If Romero didn’t know what he was taking, he sure got unlucky in picking the product marked “for hardcore users only” and with a connection that baseball fans would rather forget.

Q&A: Scott Mortimer of the 1983 Fleer autograph project

LS: You mention a few players have seemed to “simply disappear.” Who’s your biggest white whale? Has the thought crossed your mind that you might not be able to find everyone?

SM: Well, there’s Omar. But perhaps the player I want to track down the most doesn’t even have a standard issue card in the 1983 Fleer set. Terry “Bud” Bulling appears on a 1983 Fleer Super Stars Special card with Gaylord Perry (#630). Last I read he doesn’t have a permanent address but lives in an RV on the west coast. I’ve even gone as far as sponsoring his page on baseball-reference.com looking for leads.

Since I sent the answers back to you I’ve since had an opportunity to get the Terry “Bud” Bulling autograph I’ve been looking for! I could hardly believe it. Last night an individual contacted me via Baseball Reference saying his mom is Bulling’s cousin.

Everyone loves a happy ending…

Verducci: Old guard squeezed in new market

Look a there, look a there, look a there, look a there
Joel Youngblood, 57?

The baseball actuarial tables have been rewritten. As clubs continue to place greater value on young players under control (witness the new religion about not losing compensatory draft picks), the older free agent is being severely devalued. What has been a slow market for almost every player not negotiating with the New York Yankees has become downright cruel for the aging position player.

The old-guard glut includes former stars Moises Alou, 42, Garret Anderson, 36, Ray Durham, 37, Jim Edmonds, 38, Cliff Floyd, 36, Nomar Garciaparra, 35, Jason Giambi, 37, Luis Gonzalez, 41, Ken Griffey Jr., 39, Mark Grudzielanek, 38, Jeff Kent, 40, Ivan Rodriguez, 37, Frank Thomas, 40, and Omar Vizquel, 41. Like or not, some of them may be forced into retirement rather than taking a cut-rate deal. The same scenario played out last year for Barry Bonds, 43, (excess baggage contributed mightily to his unemployment), Steve Finley, 43, Kenny Lofton, 40, Mike Piazza, 39, and Sammy Sosa, 39.

The Mets cut against the trend last winter by counting on Alou to play leftfield, and wound up getting burned by his predictable breakdown. Almost no team wants to take that kind of gamble these days.

SNY: Berg: Great as-yet-unused closer songs, Nos. 1-5

DeBerge is back with more…

3. 4’33” - John Cage: Cage’s piece, for the unfamiliar, consists of four minutes and thirty three seconds of no music at all—not to be confused with complete silence, since Cage intended his audience to focus on the concert hall’s ambient sound. It’s a groundbreaking work in avant-garde music, and one Cage called his most important. But that’s not why it’s listed here.

This would require a whole lot of fan participation. If everyone—every fan, every vender, every usher, every bathroom attendant—could remain silent while the pitcher walked in from the bullpen and threw his warm-ups, well, that’d be about as badass an entrance as I could imagine. Is it too much to ask? Hardly. We already keep mum for the Star-Spangled Banner.

Think about how completely overwhelming it would be to an opponent watching the fireballer in question get ready, the only noise in the entire stadium the sound of fastballs smacking the catcher’s mitt. Could the outlook be any more bleak?

The obvious downside to this choice, of course, would be when it started going wrong. Just a few boos would echo throughout the stadium if the loyalists remained silent, so Cage’s work should be reserved for a true shutdown guy.

Yankees RHP Sergio Mitre suspended 50 games

New York Yankees pitcher Sergio Mitre has received a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy. Like Philadelphia Phillies reliever J.C. Romero, Mitre claims he had no desire to break baseball rules and that he took the banned substance unwittingly after purchasing a legal supplement at a GNC store in Florida.
Mitre

The commissioner’s office on Tuesday officially announced Mitre’s suspension.

Mitre told ESPN.com that while he takes “full responsibility” for his actions. He said he failed a drug test because a trace amount of androstenedione appeared without his knowledge in a nutritional supplement that he bought at GNC.

THT: Smith: Who was better? Brian Downing vs. Jim Rice

Roy White.

Very close, but we aren’t done yet. There’s still position difference and runs vs. replacement.

I consider a replacement level player to be about 20 runs below average per season. To convert runs over average to runs over replacement, Downing gets another 302 runs, and Rice, with a slightly shorter career, gets 292. In this case, the career lengths are close to equal, so the difference is not great if you compare them by runs above average instead of runs above replacement.

For position adjustment, I use –7.5 runs per year for a left fielder and –15 runs for a designated hitter. Downing played most of his career at these two spots, while Rice played those two spots almost exclusively. Downing also caught 675 games, and I give catchers a +10 per season adjustment, as it is a premium defensive position. Prorating these adjustments by each player’s games/innings played, Downing receives a –75 run positional adjustment while Rice gets a –130.

Downing’s total is now 488 runs, giving him a comfortable edge on Rice, at 419. Converting these to wins, based on the runs per win value for each season, Downing’s career was worth 49.7 wins and Rices’s 43.2

Rosenthal: Manny in L.A. still makes sense

The benefits of multiple Robothal reports goes beyond productivity!

A recent conversation between Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and agent Scott Boras produced no progress in the team’s effort to retain Manny Ramirez, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.

Boras still is intent on landing Ramirez a deal of at least four years and $100 million, the source said. The Dodgers offered Ramirez a two-year, $45 million contract in November, then withdrew it two weeks later.

As for the Giants, the other supposed suitor for Manny, rival executives are skeptical that they could pay Ramirez, Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand a combined $45 million to $50 million in a single season when the team’s payroll never has exceeded $90 million.

Ramirez also is cool to the idea of playing in San Francisco, according to one source. The cool weather in the city and pitcher-friendly qualities of AT&T Park is a turnoff to other free-agent hitters as well.

The Dodgers, then, remain the most logical fit for Ramirez, especially now that the team has restructured outfielder Andruw Jones’ contract, a move that will lead either to Jones’ release or a trade.

Marchman: A theoretical Hall of Fame ballot, pt. 2

Dan Plesac—No, though if there were a prize for having the best ERA+ from 1986 to 1989 among all pitchers with at least 275 innings pitched he would have won it. Of course if there were such a prize the person handing it out would be too busy getting punched in the face to actually award it. But it’s hardly nothing. Plesac’s broadcast work in Chicago was notable for his high coming off as a nice guy:saying interesting things ratio; I understand he’s now with the MLB Network but I wouldn’t know as the demonic figures who run Comcast refuse for some reason to make it available in my house.

Tim Raines—Yes, of course. I doubt it’s an original point, but Raines is one of the Hall candidates who suffers most from circumstances entirely out of his control. I think what’s hurt his case more than anything is that if you look over his Baseball Reference page, it looks as if he broke in as a part timer in 1981 at 21, had a nice five year run, began to break down, and then finished out his career as a part-timer. This just isn’t true. 1981 was a strike year, in which his 88 games were the equivalent of 136; in 1987 he missed the first month of the year, and quite possibly an MVP award, due to collusion; in the 1994 and 1995 strike years he wasn’t at the top of his game, but he was a full-timer, playing the equivalent of 149 and 144 games.

It isn’t just that the strikes and collusion cost him nearly a full season of playing time, but that they shape the statistical narrative of his career so much. Of course Raines also spent his prime in a pitcher’s park in Canada in an era of moderate offense, played left field not because he couldn’t handle center but because the Montreal Expos had a star incumbent at the position, and was overshadowed through his whole career by the similar but even better Rickey Henderson. Despite all this he’s still an obvious pick, but it shouldn’t be surprising that a lot of people can’t see it.

BTW...Raines has now climbed up to 27.9%.

Primer Dugout 1-6-09

Happy Birthday to Early Wynn.

Oswalt is in, Collins is China’s skipper and Tom Trebelhorn are in this morning’s WBC news

(link: Oswalt article)

Oh my god! An American SP has said yes!. USA! USA! USA!

Terry Collins has a mission. That mission is to prepare Team China (low A-ball on it’s best day) to face Team Samurai Japan, in Tokyo, and not get their asses kicked. He has a little under two months. Good luck with that.

Tom Trebelhorn will be Italy’s third base coach. Rounding third and heading for home!

Until next time!

Consistency meter: Joe Mauer

The catcher position is probably the hardest to draft in fantasy leagues. Your choices: Either take an elite specimen in rounds three to four or accept mediocre production from a later pick. A few catchers go in the middle rounds and every few years you will catch lightning in a bottle with a late pick; but primarily you either reach or wait for catchers.

Problem is, in recent years the elite catchers have not been the most consistent bunch. Victor Martinez, Jorge Posada, Kenji Johjima, Ramon Hernandez, Jason Varitek and Michael Barrett are some catchers considered elite in recent years who fell off badly in either 2007 or 2008 due to injuries or simply poor play.

Joe Mauer, however, is one catcher who has lived up to his elite status over the past several years.

+------+-----+-------+-----+-------+----+-----+----+----+
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | AB | BA | HR | RBI | R | SB |
+------+-----+-------+-----+-------+----+-----+----+----+
| 2005 | 21 | Twins | 489 | 0.294 | 9 | 55 | 61 | 13 |
| 2006 | 22 | Twins | 521 | 0.347 | 13 | 84 | 86 | 8 |
| 2007 | 23 | Twins | 406 | 0.293 | 7 | 60 | 62 | 7 |
| 2008 | 24 | Twins | 536 | 0.328 | 9 | 85 | 98 | 1 |
+------+-----+-------+-----+-------+----+-----+----+----+

Mauer’s biggest asset is his ability to hit for a great average. Ranging from just below .300 to almost .350, his average makes up for his slight shortcoming in home runs. Like his batting average, Mauer’s power totals have varied somewhat in past years, from seven to 13. Surely a Mauer who hits close to 15 home runs is more valuable to one who will hit a little more than five, and may make the difference on whether you should draft him in the fourth round.

You’ll also notice his steady decline in stolen bases in recent years. What’s up with that? We will look at Mauer’s speed stats to see if we can expect a resurgence in stolen base totals from Mauer in 2009. Getting steals from your catcher is like getting a “piece of the game” baseball card from a cheap pack—it rarely happens, but when it does it’s awesome.

Tim Brown: Insider information, around the horn

It doesn’t include Manny Ramirez yet, but the market for outfielders is coming around.

Pat Burrell agreed Monday to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays and Milton Bradley to three years and $30 million with the Chicago Cubs, leaving Ramirez, Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn still out there, and Garret Anderson and Ken Griffey Jr. even farther out there. Jason Giambi reportedly is nearing a deal with the A’s as well, probably for something close to the same annual value as Burrell.

Abreu is looking for a hefty $48 million over three years, a source said, which explains the tepid market for a guy who has driven in 100 or more runs six years in a row and scored 98 or more 10 years in a row.

The Rays hope Burrell will find happiness (and contact) as a DH. They’d also love to have Rocco Baldelli back, which would allow them to move Burrell in and out of the outfield as Baldelli’s lingering illness dictates. He’s not Manny, but Burrell does improve the Rays’ offense, which was middle of the road in runs and slugging in the AL last season.

The Dodgers, Orioles, Nationals and Mariners seem to have the most interest in adding an outfielder, and the Giants are at least sniffing around on Ramirez, if not yet totally gonzo on the idea of introducing the Bay Area to another big-headed left fielder.

Of course, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti and owner Frank McCourt still have Manny on their minds. Despite reports to the contrary, they are sitting on their original offer of two years and $45 million guaranteed. It is the only concrete offer Ramirez has. Agent Scott Boras continues to ask for four or five years and $25 million or so per.

Mitchell: Lee Smith fuming over lack of Hall of Fame votes

A very slow burn, I would imagine.

“They’re holding out on me,” Smith said from his home in Castor, La. “I have, like, 200 more saves than two or three guys who are in there. Dennis Eckersley (390 saves, 197 wins) is the only Hall of Famer who has a better save opportunity [percentage] than I do (84 to Smith’s 82). I don’t understand, man.

“And Eck had unbelievable numbers as a starter,” Smith added, referring to Eckersley becoming the first pitcher with 20-win and 50-save seasons. “The man has 100 complete games. I have no problem with him. But Goose and Sutter … they were on the ballot for a long time.”

Gossage (310 saves) and Sutter (300) have campaigned publicly for the inclusion of Smith. The late Hoyt Wilhelm had 227 saves, and he’s in the Hall of Fame. Hoffman now has 554 and Mariano Rivera is second with 482.

“When I retired, nobody seemed to know I was the all-time saves leader for almost 15 years,” Smith said. “Until Trevor Hoffman broke my record, half the people thought Eckersley was the all-time leader.”

Andy Pettitte Rejects Yankees’ Offer, Making Return Uncertain (RR)

But Pettitte is not like other players, and the Yankees are not like other teams. Pettitte has pledged his loyalty to the Yankees, and the Yankees have spent lavishly this winter at a time when many clubs are scaling back.

A reunion seemed inevitable at the start of the off-season, but now it is uncertain. Pettitte has rejected the Yankees’ one-year, $10 million offer, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations, and there is no standing offer for now.

Pettitte could return because some in the Yankees’ hierarchy want him back. But in a winter of aggressive activity, the Yankees have been unwilling to bend for Pettitte.

... Pettitte did not tell the Yankees that he might be included in the report, which said he had used human growth hormone. Pettitte admitted his use and the Yankees supported him publicly. But his performance suffered in the second half of the season, when he usually gets stronger, and he admitted his distracting off-season might have been a factor.

In a way, though, such honesty has always been part of Pettitte’s appeal; his sincerity and earnestness have made him a fan favorite…

Steady trusty emesis basin...steady.

Shelton: Burrell’s value to Tampa Bay Rays goes beyond numbers

This guy is something. Tough company. Lord, if you will. Awe builds. Somberness.

If you are a numbers guy, this might be all you need to know about Pat Burrell.

He’s going to hit 30 home runs for the Rays this season. That alone is a pretty good reason to say hello.

If history is any indicator, Burrell is going to hit somewhere in the .250s, and he’s going to drive in about 90 runs. He’ll walk more than 100 times, and he’ll strike out about 130 times.

Lovely things, statistics. And, yes, part of the beauty of baseball is the way the game turns all of us into accountants.

...Again, however, that’s just numbers talk. You know how you judge a player? In part, by how his teammates feel about him. And the Phillies loved Burrell.

He was Pat the Bat, after all. Once, his teammates made up a shirt with a photo of Burrell lifting weights on the front with the slogan: Pat Burrell: Man or Machine.

SportTicker: Phillies’ Romero suspended 50 games

According to a report on ESPN.com, Phillies lefthander J.C. Romero has been suspended 50 games for using a banned supplement. The 33-year-old reliever, who won the third and clinching game of the 2008 World Series, has been ruled guilty of “negligence,” though Major League Baseball did not say that Romero cheated, according to the report.

Romero said on Monday that he bought a supplement from a GNC store in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, last July - and that the Players Association had told players that was acceptable.

“I still cannot see where I did something wrong,” Romero told ESPN.com. “There is nothing that should take away from the rings of my teammates. I didn’t cheat. I tried to follow the rules.”

Three months after Romero was tested before a game on August 26, the Players Association sent a letter to players.

The letter stated, “We have previously told you there is no reason to believe a supplement bought at a U.S. based retail store could cause you to test positive under our Drug Program. That is no longer true.”

ESPN: Gammons - Romero questions suspension

Chicago Tribune: Bidding for Chicago Cubs may be near a conclusion

Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Cubs, is close to selecting a winning bid for the team from three finalists, according to people familiar with the sales talks. The Chicago-based media conglomerate has been evaluating bids since the beginning of December and could make a decision within a week to 10 days, sources said. But one source cautioned that the process of narrowing the auction to one bidder still could be derailed, and Tribune Co. could pull the team and its landmark stadium off the market.
...
Once the winning bid is chosen, the deal is far from completion. Tribune Co. plans to enter into negotiations with the prospective buyer to work out a sale. Tight credit markets make it more difficult to obtain loans to finance a transaction that could approach $1 billion.
...
If the winning bidder is able to finalize a contract with Tribune Co., the buyer must be approved by three-quarters of baseball owners. It is also possible a bankruptcy court judge will have a say in the process, because Tribune Co. filed for Chapter 11 protection Dec. 8. The Cubs are not included in the filing, but the sale would generate proceeds for debtholders.

Dodgers GM on Manny Ramirez: ‘We still have differences’ (LA Times)

The Dodgers re-established contact with Manny Ramirez’s agent last week and remain in talks to re-sign the All-Star outfielder, General Manager Ned Colletti said today.
“Friday, we talked at length,” Colletti said, referring to agent Scott Boras. “We still have differences on what we think, but we’re still talking.”

Other Dodgers nuggets of note:
*-The team is still looking at Trevor Hoffman.
*-They “remain open to re-signing Takashi Saito, to whom they didn’t tender a contract last month. But, Colletti said, ‘We haven’t heard a peep back.’” Go figure.
*-The Dodgers aren’t among the teams that are pursuing Pedro Martinez.
*-Colletti refused to comment about Andruw Jones.

Scott Boras on Andruw Jones: He’s “just looking for a situation”

Andruw Jones still intends to be an everyday player, his agent said today.

“We’re just looking for a situation,” Scott Boras said.

The Dodgers agreed last week to trade or release Jones by Jan. 15 in exchange for restructuring his contract, for which he is still owed $22.1 million. Jones’ salary will be cut to about $5 million next season and the remainder of the money will be deferred.

In the likely case that Jones is released, another team could sign him and be on the hook for only the major-league minimum of $400,000.

Boras stressed that Jones never demanded to be traded or released from the Dodgers. The idea for him to leave, Boras said, came out of a meeting he had in November with General Manager Ned Colletti and Manager Joe Torre.

Boras said he then relayed the thoughts to Jones.

“Both parties made a decision that it was best for Andruw to get a fresh start somewhere else,” Boras said. “We amicably worked out a deal to get this done.”

Boras also said he wanted to show the Dodgers his willingness to resolve problems involving his clients.

“They took a big pill here,” Boras said of the Dodgers. “It was a positive for both sides, really. ...Andruw felt it was best for him.”