The very same baseball executives who say they were "shocked'' Gary Sheffield was let go Tuesday by the Tigers also say they believe Sheffield, who's only one home run shy of the magic 500, will likely be getting a job somewhere else.
That $50 million figure that's being attached to ballyhooed college pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg is no joke. Baseball people who have spoken to Strasburg's adviser Scott Boras say they believe that's the figure Boras has in mind for Strasburg, the San Diego State pitcher some are calling a once-in-a-decade talent.
Curt Schilling has to be in the Hall of Fame.
Top Yankees officials are apparently giving Alex Rodriguez a pass on his latest appearance in the tabloids, but they were annoyed and concerned enough about his extracurricular activities and a spate of often unflattering celebrity news stories that top team executives -- including owners Hal and Hank Steinbrenner -- staged serious discussions with the superstar slugger in recent weeks about toning down his off-field act and focusing entirely on his well-known drive to be baseball's best player, according to people familiar with those talks.
Universally respected Rangers' hitting guru Rudy Jaramillo is said to have told some folks at Rangers camp in Surprise, Ariz., this week: "Andruw Jones is back.''
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Astros made it to 15 or 16 straight losses here Thursday. Lance Berkman wasn't sure which it was. And frankly, he didn't care.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Top Braves pitching prospect Tommy Hanson blew away scouts in the Arizona Fall League and again early this spring. But he couldn't deal with Fernando Tatis (two-run home run), didn't completely control his fastball and didn't necessarily impress all the scouts who saw him on Wednesday vs. the Mets. One scout rated him as "just OK'' after seeing the effort. Yet he still has a 2.45 ERA this spring, with 14 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings, and a great majority of baseball insiders see him as a top-of-the-rotation starter.
JUPITER, Fla. -- While the Dodgers may be the most likely landing spot for Cooperstown-bound pitcher Pedro Martinez, the Mets can't quite be ruled out yet. And though one Mets person said a significant gap remains between Pedro's asking price and the Mets' target figure (probably $5 million vs. about $2 million), yet another Mets person said over the weekend, "I wouldn't be shocked (if the Mets get him) ... Omar loves him."
MIAMI -- Things began ominously for the USA team, with AL MVP Dustin Pedroia being hauled out of here in street clothes. Pedroia was headed back to Red Sox headquarters across the state in Ft. Myers, where a Nation will await the MRI on his injured left oblique muscle.
MIAMI -- Magglio Ordonez was booed unmercifully by his Venezuelan countrymen here during his country's 3-1 victory over the Netherlands. Ordonez said he's a target for his well-known support of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, but the Detroit Tigers star also said he will not change his views or hide his support.
1) Forgetting Manny for a second (and that isn't easy), the Dodgers have terrific young positional talent. It starts with the big four of Andre Ethier, James Loney, Matt Kemp and Russell Martin. All are under 27, and only Loney is mature beyond his years, according to Dodgers personnel. So there's plenty of room for growth here. Regardless, they're no dummies and all seem to understand the importance of Manny. More important, they all can play.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Like his team, White Sox general manager Ken Williams is routinely underrated. He's one of the best GMs in the game, though listings of the great current GMs usually exclude him.
PHOENIX -- A's general manager Billy Beane is one of the smartest men in baseball. But sometimes, Beane is credited with ideas that aren't even completely his.
Three Observations
MESA, Ariz. -- Milton Bradley hasn't shown too much of his tremendous ability in Cubs camp yet, as he's been laid up with a tight thigh and flu-like symptoms for most of the early spring games. But Bradley is showing his trademark feistiness already.
1) Every team talks about how together it is in spring training. This one really seems to be together. And if it is, that could be because the core of the team -- Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Bill Hall, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy and Rickie Weeks -- are 20-somethings who came up in the organization. "We're all great friends,'' Hardy said. "We get along off the field, and that makes it fun when we come to the ballpark.''
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The mood brightened in sunny, balmy Dodgers camp with the news that Manny Ramirez was on his way into town to continue a Dodgers career that could not have begun more auspiciously. Quirky, funny Manny isn't due in until Thursday, after he completes a full physical Wednesday in L.A., but his peppy personality was already seen in some teammates who were just happy to hear they weren't going to have to fend for themselves.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Despite seeming to be practically pennies apart in his negotiation with superstar free agent Manny Ramirez, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt suggested again here Sunday that the sides were "starting from scratch." Those are ominous words indeed, if he means them.
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