Ken Griffey Jr. and the Mariners agreed Wednesday to another one-year contract that will keep the popular slugger in Seattle next year. Baseball's active home run leader, who turns 40 on Nov. 21, will basically get the same, incentive-laden deal with $2 million in base salary he signed to return to Seattle for the 2009 season.
Posted by: The Connector
Baseball’s penthouse is again decorated with hand-painted silk pinstripe wallpaper. Nine years after their previous World Series title, the Yankees copped No. 27 last night when they spanked the defending champion Phillies, 7-3, in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium as a record gathering of 50,315 that didn’t include George Steinbrenner watched.
And they looked very comfortable. Alex Rodriguez, who doesn’t have to answer any more questions about choking in the postseason, let loose with a river of victory tears and promised the parade will be a huge party.
Mark McGwire is back in baseball, reunited with Tony La Russa as the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach. La Russa agreed to return for a 15th year as manager Monday with a one-year contract, the first time he hasn't had a multiyear deal with the team. All of his coaches will return except for Hal McRae, who will be replaced by the former star.
Stung by a rash of blown calls in the playoffs, Major League Baseball is breaking tradition and sticking with only experienced umpires for the World Series. Longtime crew chiefs Joe West, Dana DeMuth and Gerry Davis, along with Brian Gorman, Jeff Nelson and Mike Everitt will handle the games, three people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press this week.
After 50 years in baseball, Bobby Cox figured the only way he would ever give up managing was to pick a specific time and announce it publicly. So that's what he did Wednesday, revealing his plans to retire as manager of the Atlanta Braves after next season. Now comes the hard part: sticking to it.
Pardon Ron Artest if he's a bit geographically challenged and had no idea that San Diego has a big league baseball team, even though he was wearing a Padres cap. This much he's sure of — If his Los Angeles Lakers don't repeat as NBA champions, fans can point their fingers at him. "They should.