Archive for January, 2009

Pirates playing catch-up to Steelers, Pens

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a candid and surprising admission on Friday: Not only are they perennially in last place in the NL Central, they’ve dropped into last in their own city.
The Pirates rank third among the Steel City’s three major sports franchises from a marketing and business perspective, team president Frank Coonelly said.
There’s no shame [...]

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Torre unapologetic about ‘The Yankee Years’

Don’t expect an apology, Joe Torre is standing by everything he says in his new book.
The former Yankees manager told CNN’s Larry King on Friday night he’s shocked by the uproar “The Yankee Years” has caused. Torre added the book is merely an honest account of his 12 years with the club.
The book takes some [...]

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Budget-conscious Brewers look to weather economy

Brewers owner Mark Attanasio was at a bicycle shop in Kona, Hawaii, when a message popped up on his Blackberry he felt compelled to answer.
Attanasio’s message to a reporter: Maybe baseball needs a salary cap. After all, Attanasio watched as the Yankees spent more than $423.5 million on free agents CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and [...]

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Mike Sweeney gets minor league deal with Seattle

Mike Sweeney is excited about where he’s headed, even though he doesn’t have a major league contract.
The five-time All-Star agreed to a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, four months after thinking his career might be over because of knee injuries. The 35-year-old Sweeney will be in spring training competing for a [...]

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David Wells fires back at Torre for book comments

Former pitcher David Wells fired back at Joe Torre on Thursday, saying the manager has unfairly criticized his ex-Yankees players in his new book.
“I’m kind of like blown away because of the fact that he’s coming out and he’s bashing,” Wells said in a radio interview in Tampa, Fla., with “The Mason & Ireland Show” [...]

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Carlos Pena will sit out the World Baseball Classic following abdominal surgery.

Carlos Pena will sit out the World Baseball Classic following abdominal surgery.
Tampa Bay’s slugging first baseman had minor surgery Jan. 8 in Philadelphia to repair a tear to his lower abdominal muscle. He is expected to be ready for spring training but will be held out of the WBC as a precaution, Rays spokesman Chris [...]

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Mariners trade Heilman to Cubs for Cedeno, Olson

Aaron Heilman needed a change of scenery after his struggles last season with the New York Mets. He’s gotten it. Twice.
Heilman was traded from Seattle to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, seven weeks after the Mets shipped him to the Mariners as part of a three-team swap. Chicago gave up utility infielder Ronny Cedeno and [...]

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Rangers RHP Benoit has rotator cuff surgery

Rangers reliever Joaquin Benoit is expected to miss at least half the 2009 season following surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff.
The operation on Benoit’s pitching shoulder was performed Tuesday in Cincinnati by Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the Reds’ medical director.
Benoit has been a key member of Texas’ bullpen the past few years, but shoulder [...]

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White Sox GM Ken Williams likes what he sees

White Sox general manager Ken Williams likes to win and develop at the same time. So despite the loss of several key players from last year’s AL Central champions and an infusion of youngsters, he’s sure the team can do both.
“I’m about as excited as I’ve been in eight years sitting in this chair about [...]

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Joe Torre’s book filled with bitterness

He’s gone from Clueless Joe to Champion Joe and now to Bitter Joe.
Joe Torre paints a vivid portrait of the decline and fall of the New York Yankees in his new book, revealing an angry side rarely on display during his dozen years in the Bronx.
“You’d like to think if you work for somebody for [...]

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