Steff

Well.. I'll really be with the O's.. I can hit a few there also.

I'll be visiting the Yankees camp next month.. I'll get a couple swipes at ARod for ya..

In case it wasn't posted, it's official. And some news about Griffey.. and Soriano - of the Rangers Pujols Signs $100M Deal With Cardinals Thu Feb 19, 3:51 AM ET Add Sports - AP to My Yahoo! By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer While Greg Maddux, Ivan Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. checked into camp, Albert Pujols made the biggest splash at spring training. The St. Louis Cardinals (news) banked on their slugger for the future, reaching agreement with Pujols on a $100 million, seven-year contract Wednesday, a source told The Associated Press. Pujols was scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing Friday — he was asking for $10.5 million and the team offered $7 million. Instead, the sides settled, according to the source, who was familiar with the negotiations and spoke on the condition of anonymity. At 24, Pujols led the major leagues in hitting at .359 last year. He hit 43 home runs with 124 RBIs and topped the majors with 51 doubles. Pujols finished second behind Barry Bonds in voting for the NL MVP award. He made $950,000 last year. The deal came two days before the Cardinals opened camp in Jupiter, Fla. Maddux reported to the Chicago Cubs (news)' camp in Mesa, Ariz., and was thrilled to rejoin the team. "It's a privilege to have the chance to come back and play in Chicago," he said. "I spent nine great years here when I first started, and I never forgot that. "I'm just glad this day has come again where I have chance to come back and finish where I started," he said. The Cubs officially announced Maddux's deal as they opened spring training in Mesa, Ariz. The four-time Cy Young winner signed a $24 million, three-year contract. Maddux, who turns 38 in April, will get an opportunity to earn his 300th career victory with the Cubs. He needs 11 more wins to reach the mark. "As great a story as it is, it's really about the fact that Greg Maddux can still win a lot of baseball games," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "It's a feel-good story, but it's a story based on Greg making us a better ballclub." Rodriguez, who helped guide a young Florida Marlins (news) team to a World Series (news - web sites) championship last season, will work out Thursday at Detroit's camp in Lakeland, Fla. "Having Pudge on board gives us instant credibility," manager Alan Trammell said. "He's a marquee player, and when people say 'Tigers' they think of Pudge now." The All-Star catcher tried on his uniform and looked over his gear. "It's going to be the same as last year, learning the new pitchers, giving them some confidence," he said. Griffey showed up at Cincinnati's camp in Sarasota, Fla., hoping to have a productive and full year. His last three seasons have ended with an injury. "I'll do some little things," he said. "They say they're going to take it easy on me." Newly acquired Alfonso Soriano was in the news, too. The Texas Rangers (news) said Soriano, obtained in the trade for Alex Rodriguez, was two years older than his listed age. Soriano is 28, not 26. The Rangers said they knew the two-time All-Star's correct age before getting him. "The Yankees were up front. Our people were fully aware of how old he was," Rangers spokesman Gregg Elkin said. "Without a question, that was the information we had."

Sports - USATODAY.com These clubs start strong 2 hours, 23 minutes ago Add Sports - USATODAY.com to My Yahoo! 1. Chicago Cubs (news) The rotation: RH Mark Prior, RH Kerry Wood, RH Greg Maddux, RH Carlos Zambrano, RH Matt Clement. 2003 combined stats: 75-51, 3.36 ERA. The reasoning: Prior, Wood, Zambrano and Clement have four of the liveliest arms in the game, and Maddux is a future Hall of Famer with brains oozing from his cap. 2. Oakland A's The rotation: RH Tim Hudson, LH Barry Zito, LH Mark Mulder, LH Mark Redman, RH Rich Harden. 2003 combined stats: 64-41, 3.26 ERA. The reasoning: Each of the Big Three is a favorite to win a Cy Young Award. Redman helped pitch the Marlins to a World Series (news - web sites) title. And Harden is a younger version of Hudson. 3. Houston Astros (news) The rotation: RH Roger Clemens, LH Andy Pettitte, RH Roy Oswalt, RH Wade Miller, RH Tim Redding. 2003 combined stats: 72-49, 3.81 ERA. The reasoning: Clemens and Pettitte know how to win 20 games. Oswalt, Miller and Redding have the stuff to win 20 games. T4. New York Yankees (news) The rotation: RH Kevin Brown, RH Javier Vazquez, RH Mike Mussina, RH Jose Contreras, RH Jon Lieber. 2003 combined stats: 51-31, 3.23 ERA. T4. Boston Red Sox (news) The rotation: RH Pedro Martinez, RH Curt Schilling, RH Derek Lowe, RH Tim Wakefield, RH Byung-Hyun Kim. 2003 combined stats: 59-37, 3.46 ERA. The reasoning for the Yanks-Sox tie: Too close to call, especially considering the fragility of Brown, Lieber, Martinez and Schilling.

What the hell is "mosto f hte"

:finger

Send me the stupid coupon please... AIM email or work please...

Crap Aobz.. you really messed up his face. Looks like a pig or something. James Gandolfini it is.

Oh my sweet Stevo... Happy Birthday to yoooouuuuu... Happy Birthday toooo yooooouuuu.. Happy Birthday stu, stu, stu, stupendous Stevo... Happy Birthday tooooo yooooouuuuuu!! Whoops... 2 more years for that

Good grief guys... I was just making a guess.

Oh.. don't worry. Soon enough we'll hear it from his mouth what was said. And I'm sure it'll be followed by another 3 months of "remember what Frank said on the opening day of ST...".. :headshake I hope he's limber enough to get that foot up to his mouth..

You don't. Did these guys --> not show up for you...?

No sweat Tex.. we're not going to miss Colon at all this year..

You didn't have an article..

OK.

Because it's $60 million less than the Yankees.. and the only way they can make large moves is to dump another big salary. He's makin' a little noise for all the little guys..

Alrighty.

Boston owner flips to pro-salary cap stance BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox owner John Henry now believes a salary cap could be good for baseball after watching the rival Yankees trade for Alex Rodriguez — a deal his own franchise could not complete. Henry said in an e-mail response to reporters early Wednesday morning that he is changing his mind on whether the sport needs a salary cap "to deal with a team that has gone so insanely far beyond the resources of all the other teams." The Yankees' payroll is about $186 million after they acquired Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers earlier this week in exchange for Alfonso Soriano and a minor leaguer to be named. But the number would come down by about $5 million if third baseman Aaron Boone is released. Boston is expected to be second at about $125 million. "One thing is certain the status quo will not be preserved," Henry wrote. "There must be a way to cap what a team can spend without hurting player compensation ... without taking away from the players what they have rightfully earned in the past through negotiation and in creating tremendous value. There is a simple mechanism that could right a system woefully out of whack." Henry's comments come after his team failed in its bid to land the reigning American League MVP. The Red Sox tried to trade Manny Ramirez, the second highest-paid player in baseball, for Rodriguez this winter. But talks fell apart because the two sides could not agree on how to divide the remaining $179 million on Rodriguez's contract. The Yankees were able to absorb Rodriguez's salary without dumping a major star. "Baseball doesn't have an answer for the Yankees," Henry said. "Revenue sharing can only accomplish so much. At some point it becomes confiscation. It has not and it will not solve what is a very obvious problem."

For starters.. he is old and over the hill Seriously 420.. I think it's just cause Frank is so used to not playing the field 162 games a year that makes him a liability. If he played more, he would obviously only get better. But to go from 10 games a year to 120.. even for Frank in top condition I don't think that's possible.

Sigh... I don't know why you s***s insist on making it sound like I was all for giving Ray the farm... I was not. Paying Ray more than 6 million was not logical, but that was not the hang up. He wanted 5 years. No you do not give him 5 years. But you also don't say here's 2, take it or leave it without at least trying to negotiate. As for the kids of ball players.. they already live in 2 places. Why add more stress..? Kids starting their academic careers have enough stresses on them than having to make new friends over and over again, IMO. And yes Aboz.. I know it's not YOUR concern.. but they are real people with real lives who are worried about their kids, parents, spouses, etc, etc... Baseball is their job.

Chuck Knob-I accidentally throw into the dugout every few games-block...

Where are you guys hearing this..? Nothing on AM1000 here..

Ditto.. great sig!!

Then don't. Kenny and Ray both commented it was the length of the contract that they were "off" on. I don't blame Ray or any player with small kids for wanting stability. With kids getting older and setting up roots in school. Sucks when they have to be moved at such a impressionable time.