PEORIA, Ariz. Then, he had to prove he could adapt his idiosyncratic style to the ML

TAMPA -- The Yankees have extended a spring training invitation to Andy Pettitte. But the legendary lefty won’t be attempting a comeback if he accepts. Instead, Pettitte, who retired following the 2010 season, will be a guest instructor. “He is invited t

TAMPA —The Yankees have extended a spring training invitation to Andy Pettitte. But the legendary lefty won’t be attempting a comeback if he accepts. Instead, Pettitte, who retired following the 2010 season, will be a guest instructor. “He is invited to

Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams hit a home run off Roger Clemens yesterday. And can we stop this nonsense about no one in baseball being willing to give Roger Clemens the four-year contract he wants? Colorado? Florida? The Mets? What about Seattle

It really doesn't matter how disappointing or frustrating the previous season has been. New Cubs manager Dale Sveum throws out a ceremonial first pitch as Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations, watches at the Cubs Convention in Chicago on Jan. 1

ST. PETERSBURG -- Turns out Joe Maddon's Shangri-La is managing the Little Team that Could, which is why he wanted to remain the Rays' manager rather than chase some of Major League baseball's sexier posts that opened up during this past offseason. And M

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Vladimir Guerrero “has made it known to the Yankees that he wants their DH spot.” We’ve been over many possible DH candidates, but to date we haven’t discussed Guerrero. He just didn’t seem to fit, based on a surface jud

Our next Pinch Hitter is Fred Navarrete, who grew up in New Jersey, attended Rutgers University and now lives in New York City – with his mini-schnauzer, Lulu Guinness — working for a video game publisher. He writes about food, craft beer and occasionall

Though FIU’s softball team begins its season Friday with a home game against Michigan State, Saturday is the baseball and softball programs’ official kickoff and fundraising event, the Diamond Dinner. And this year’s event has sold out all 600 seats. For

The Nationals are hoping Gio Gonzalez's success wasn't just due to Oakland's massive pitcher's park. One of the most valuable assets a club can hold is a young, established major league starting pitcher without impeding free agency. Everybody wants pitch

By Marc Topkin , Times Staff Writer Marc Topkin Tampa Bay Times In Print: Friday, February 3, 2012 Tino Martinez met Ted Williams only once, a chance passing at Fenway Park in the early 1990s when Martinez was first establishing himself as a major-league

This news first broke some time ago. You'll forgive me for not immediately jumping to my blogging battle station. I saw it, I thought about it, and I decided I didn't need to hurry to get something up because traffic isn't going to blow up the website. I

And since the Giants have won 75 percent of the Super Bowls in which they’ve played, it’s time to acknowledge the man who hatched this festive habit: Bill Parcells, the progenitor of the G-Men. Parcells developed a reputation as a handyman with holy tool

By hiring Jim Hendry to work in their front office on Tuesday, the New York Yankees are continuing to cherry pick the brain trust of that unmistakable National League powerhouse, the Chicago Cubs. Reporter Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago says that Hendry, w

Lou Piniella’s mother, Margaret, died this week in Tampa, Fla. She was 92. Margaret was considered the athlete of the family, credited with playing a key role in developing Lou’s interest in sports as well as his temper. She famously once ran onto the co

If you believe that printouts from Carmine II or Big (Cubbie) Blue, or whatever Theo Epstein calls his new computer system, is going to dictate what happens on the field completely, then you haven't met Chris Bosio. He's the new pitching coach for manage

You already knew that Jorge Posada wouldn't return to the Yankees for 2012, so his retirement doesn't shake your system the way that, say, Andy Pettitte's did a year ago. Really, there are few baseball ramifications surrounding Posada's decision.Neverthe

CHICAGO - En route to 91 losses last season and a radical regime change, the Chicago Cubs were outscored by 102 runs. As it happens, half of those can be put down to talent and half of them to playing the game well. Bill James tracks manufactured runs, b

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - With 8-foot stone walls and a guarded gate securing the Tampa area's most exclusive homes, the Avila neighborhood is a wealthy enclave home to famous sports figures like baseball's Lou Piniella and former NFL coach Tony Dungy. That's w