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Less than a year ago, Jeff Francoeur famously said “If on-base percentage is so important, then why don’t they put it up on the scoreboard?”  Never mind that OBP had long been on the scoreboard in Atlanta. As evidenced by that quote, my problem with Jeff Francoeur wasn’t so much that he never seemed to…

“No morning access since it was media training for the Orioles players. There goes all my good quotes for the season.” – MLB.com beat writer Brittany Ghiroli from Orioles camp this morning. Brittany is being funny here, but there’s a lot of truth to that.  We live in an age now where controlling the message…

J.D. Drew catches a lot of heat for his injuries, with many fans thinking of him as some sort of fragile, pampered child. Not so, says Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal: Drew had bone spurs in his shoulder that would cause him pain when he swung, often forcing him to cut short bating practice.…

Marlins owner Jeff Loria has high expectations: “How may wins am I expecting? I never predict but I will say we’re working off an 87-win season last year and I expect us to make the playoffs. Whatever it takes for us to make the playoffs is what we need to win . . . They…

The New York Times runs some A-Rod and Jeter projections from the Baseball Prospectus gang: In the first year of the new Yankee Stadium, its tenants won the World Series. In its second, Alex Rodriguez could hit his 600th home run. In its third, Derek Jeter should notch his 3,000th hit. More milestones will follow,…

Jon Heyman this morning: lengthy discussion in starbucks now by 2 people regarding their love of hooters’ wings. i gotta get back to NY! Anyone want to tell Heyman that there’s a Hooters on W. 56th Steet? But I don’t mean to single out Heyman. Tim Lincecum likes to mock those with different tastes as…

Mark McGwire’s brother Jay is coming out with a book that — brace yourselves, people — says that Mark McGwire used a bunch of steroids: Estranged from his brother for eight years because of a family dispute, Jay McGwire has gone public in “Mark and Me: Mark McGwire and the Truth Behind Baseball’s Worst-Kept Secret,”…

Last week Heyman suggested that Kendry Morales’ firing of the Hendricks Brothers was due to some financial funny business. We’re getting a clearer picture of that now: A former employee of Hendricks Sports Management is being investigated by both the Major League Baseball Players Association and the Coral Springs (Fla.) Police Department about the disappearance…

I generally stay out of the Dodgers-Giants rivalry because I really don’t have a dog in the hunt. There are years that I like to see the Giants get the best of the Dodgers and vice-versa. It usually depends on the makeup of the rosters, how it impacts postseason matchups, and whether or not one…

The entire statement can be read here.  The relevant part in my mind: This week, a British rugby player was suspended as a result of a reported positive blood test for HGH.   This development warrants investigation and scrutiny; we already have conferred with our experts on this matter, and with the Commissioner’s Office, and we…

You’re not going to believe this, but Hideki Matsui is apparently being followed by a throng of Japanese reporters in Angels’ camp.  Here’s an AP photo from Tempe: I have a rare talent: I can read the lips of people speaking another language from still pictures when their backs are turned to me.  The guy…

Branyan finally inked his deal with the Indians today, and Manny Acta anointed him the starting first baseman: Russell Branyan passed his physical today and officially became the Indians starting first baseman. That’s right he’ll be starting at first base. “He’s going to get the majority of playing time,” said manager Manny Acta. “We didn’t…

Kelvim Escobar says he’s doing fine. Kevin Kernan writes the following: Despite the hysteria of last week, he is right on time in his rehab, according to the Mets and, more importantly, according to his representatives. The plan from the beginning was not to rush Escobar . . .  Escobar insists he will be ready…

They’re saying everything is OK, but based on these photos of the Phillies, they’re clearly being held at the spring training complex against their will. Wait! Did you see that?!  I think Jayson Werth is blinking “S-O-S” in morse code!

It’s long seemed obvious that Adrian Gonzalez won’t be signing a mutli-year extension with the Padres. The real question is how long into his current, very reasonable deal the Padres will keep him before putting him on the market. But in the unlikely event that the Padres do look to keep him around long term,…

You’ll recall that last month I passed on a rumor I heard that Frank McCourt planned to sell the Dodgers once the divorce stuff is all settled.  Upon posting it, the Dodgers Thought Police called me, demanding a retraction and calling me irresponsible. Which was fine. I figured I had simply hit a nerve —…

Sticking with the Reds, My favorite Reds blog, Reds Reporter takes us back 20 years to a simpler, more dorky time.  Question: who’s got the worst flow: Paul O’Neill or Chris Sabo?

After bad news regarding Dontrelle Willis and Khalil Greene, finally some good news from one of the players who have struggled with anxiety disorders and allied maladies recently: When you ask Joey Votto about his offseason, he gives you a polite “fine, thank you.” But the Reds first baseman knows you want to know more.…

“No comment . . . and make sure you write that it is a no comment with a headshake from side to side.” – White Sox’ GM Kenny Williams when asked how he felt about Ozzie Guillen having a Twitter account. In other Ozzie Guillen Twitter news, we’re told that the account is not actually…

Back in 1982 Pascual Perez was late for a game with the Braves when he kept circling the city on I-285, unable to find the stadium.  That’s still the best reason I’ve ever heard for being late, but Twins’ pitcher Jose Mijares is probably in second place: Lefthander Jose Mijares reported to camp on Tuesday…

A couple of weeks ago I lamented the fact that fellow West Virginian J.R. House’s career was probably over.  Turns out that it’s not, as the Braves just signed him to a minor league deal. The odds of him sniffing playing time in Atlanta?  Slim and none and none slim [sue me] left town, but…

An interesting little dustup in the baseball blogosphere this morning as Dave Brown at Big League Stew took an awesome picture — and wrote an awesome post, by the way — of a young female fan getting Evan Longoria’s autograph at Rays’ spring training.  The headline: “Looks like someone has a crush on Evan Longoria.”…

Last month it was reported that former Blue Jays’ GM J.P. Ricciardi had signed on with a talent agency, looking to get a TV gig. They did a good job, it seems, as Ricciardi was just hired by ESPN to replace Steve Phillips as their GM-in-residence on “Baseball Tonight.” I thought ESPN’s baseball coverage hit…

Today’s Buster Olney column is actually pretty good as it relates to Jason Heyward’s expectations and the media and all of that, but I can’t help but think his opening paragraphs were specifically intended to give Braves fans a heart attack: Jason Heyward was born in Georgia, was a first-round draft pick of the Atlanta…