Well it’s only been six days since Roger Clemens had heard his name in the media, so I guess today he felt as though he needed to hear it again.

“Everybody knows where I stand. I don’t care to play, but if that decision comes up again, then it’s a big decision on me,” he said. ”It has nothing to do with anybody else. It’s a decision on me to go out and perform.”

”It’s 10 times harder to make the decision to come back and try to do it again,” he said. ”I love what I do and I have high expectations to perform. When I don’t, it’s disappointing.”

These statements were made after Clemens threw batting practice to his son, Koby, and other Astros minor leaguers at their camp in Kissimmee, Florida.

Wow, a six whole days since the meathead last spoke. I am beginning to think Roger’s ego is bigger than the state of Texas. Word of advice Roger, stay retired. Red Sox Nation does not need you anymore. Does anyone really care if Roger comes back and pitches?

Technorati: Roger Clemens, Houston Astros

Here is your look at the new faces and key losses to the teams of the AL West.

Los Angeles Angels:

New faces: Shea Hillenbrand (San Francisco Giants), Gary Matthews, Jr. (Texas Rangers), Darren Oliver (NY Mets), Justin Speier (Toronto Blue Jays).

In a new city: Brendan Donnelly (Boston Red Sox), Kevin Gregg (Florida Marlins), Darin Erstad (Chicago White Sox), Adam Kennedy (St. Louis Cardinals), J.C. Romero (Boston Red Sox).

Oakland A’s:

New faces: Alan Embree (San Diego Padres), Rickey Ledee (NY Mets), Mike Piazza (San Diego Padres), Shannon Stewart (Minnesota Twins), Donnie Murphy (KC Royals).

In a new city: Kirk Saarloos (Cincinnati Reds), Jay Payton (Baltimore Orioles), Frank Thomas (Toronto Blue Jays), Jerome Williams (Washington Nationals), Barry Zito (SF Giants).

Texas Rangers:

New faces: Marlon Byrd (Washington Nationals), Frank Catalanotto (Toronto Blue Jays), Bruce Chen (Baltimore Orioles), Willie Eyre (Minnesota Twins), Eric Gagne (LA Dodgers), Kenny Lofton (LA Dodgers), Jamey Wright (SF Giants), Brandon McCarthy (Chicago White Sox), Chris Stewart (Chicago White Sox),

In a new city: John Denks (Chicago White Sox), Rod Barajas (Philadelphia Phillies), Mark DeRosa (Chicago Cubs), Adam Eaton (Philadelphia Phillies), Carlos Lee (Houston Astros), Kip Wells (St. Louis Cardinals).

Seattle Mariners:

New faces: Jose Vidro (Washington Nationals), Horacio Ramirez (Atlanta Braves), Miguel Batista (Arizona Diamondbacks), Jose Guillen (Washington Nationals), Arthur Rhodes (Philadelphia Phillies), Chris Reitsma (Atlanta Braves), Jeff Weaver (St. Louis Cardinals).

In a new city: Chris Snelling (Washington Nationals), Emiliano Fruto (Washington Nationals), Rafael Soriano (Atlanta Braves), Gil Meche (KC Royals), Eduardo Perez (Chicago White Sox), Joel Piñero (Boston Red Sox).

Here is your look at the new key faces and key losses to the teams of the AL Central.

Chicago White Sox:

New faces: Darin Erstad (LA Angels), Toby Hall (LA Dodgers), Eduardo Perez (Seattle Mariners), Gavin Floyd (Philadelphia Phillies), John Denks (Texas Rangers), Andrew Sisco (Kansas City Royals), David Aardsma (Chicago Cubs).

In a new city: Freddy Garcia (Philadelphia Phillies), Ross Gload ( Kansas City Royals), Brandon McCarthy (Texas Rangers), Neal Cotts (Chicago Cubs), David Riske (Kansas City Royals), Chris Stewart (Texas Rangers).

Minnesota Twins:

New faces: Jeff Cirillo (Milwaukee Brewers), Ramon Ortiz (Washington Nationals).

In a new city: Brad Radke (retired), Shannon Stewart (Oakland A’s), Wille Eyre (Texas Rangers).

Cleveland Indians:

New faces: Josh Barfield (San Diego Padres), Keith Foulke (Boston Red Sox, retired on 2/16), Trot Nixon (Boston Red Sox), Joe Borowski (Florida Marlins), David Dellucci (Philadelphia Phillies), Aaron Fultz (Philadelphia Phillies), Roberto Hernandez (N.Y. Mets).

In a new city: Kevin Kouzmanoff (San Diego Padres), Andrew Brown (San Diego Padres), Aaron “Bleeping” Boone (Florida Marlins).

Detroit Tigers:

New faces: Gary Sheffield (NY Yankees), Jose Mesa (Colorado Rockies).

In a new city: Dimitri Young (Washington Nationals), Alexis Gomez (Colorado Rockies), Matt Stairs (Toronto Blue Jays), Jaime Walker (Baltimore Orioles).

Kansas City Royals:

New faces: Octavio Dotel (NY Yankees), Gil Meche (Seattle Mariners), David Riske (Chicago White Sox), Ross Gload (Chicago White Sox), Brian Bannister (NY Mets), Jason LaRue (Cincinnati Reds).

In a new city: Donnie Murphy (Oakland A’s), Ambiorix Burgos (NY Mets), Andrew Sisco (Chicago White Sox), Jeff Keppinger (Cincinnati Reds), Paul Bako (Baltimore Orioles), Doug Mientkiewicz (NY Yankees).

Technorati: AL Central, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals

Roger Clemens wants attention and his name in the media again. I think he might be a little jealous of Daisuke Matsuzaka who is the main focus of spring training right now. Usually, this is the time where the Rocket talk starts to happen about whether he will retire or play a half season.

In all seriousness now, Roger Clemens spoke with with a local Houston tv station on Friday and said that he is 80% sure he will retire and not play in 2007. So what does this mean to the three teams, Red Sox, Evil Empire, and the Lastro’s, courting him? Well he also said that he will be watching the standings to see how these teams get out of the gate. Basically what he is saying is if your not in contention in May, in the words of the Sopranos, “Fuhgetta ’bout it.”

“I find it comical,” Clemens said. “We get little notes at my foundation about people saying they wish I would make up my mind and decide because I am leaving people hanging. I’m not leaving anybody hanging. I don’t want to play,”

I am willing to bet he changes his mind once the Red Sox or Yankees (preferably the Red Sox) get off to a hot start in the AL East. My question that I am always asking, Do we really need Roger in Boston?

Technorati: Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox, NY Yankees, Houston Astros

Instead of writing previews of each team, I decided instead that I will take a look at the new key faces on each team and the key players who left. Today we are starting with the American League East.

Boston Red Sox:

New faces: Daisuke Matsuzaka (Japan), J.D. Drew (L.A. Dodgers), Julio Lugo (L.A. Dodgers), Hideki Okajima (Japan), Joel Piñero (Seattle Mariners), J.C. Romero (L.A. Angels), Brendan Donnelly (L.A. Angels).

In a new city: Trot Nixon (Cleveland Indians), Keith Foulke (Cleveland Indians, Retired), Gabe Kapler (Retired), Alex Gonzalez (Cincinnati Reds), Mark Loretta (Houston Astros).

New York Yankees:

New faces: Kei Igawa (Japan), Doug Mientkiewicz (Kansas City Royals), Andy Pettitte (Houston Astros), Todd Pratt (Atlanta Braves), Chris Britton (Baltimore Orioles).

In a new city: Randy Johnson (Arizona Diamondbacks), Gary Sheffield (Detroit Tigers), Jaret Wright (Baltimore Orioles), Octavio Dotel (Kansas City Royals), Aaron Guiel (Japan), Tanyon Sturtze (Atlanta Braves), Craig Wilson (Atlanta Braves), Bernie Williams (Retired/In Limbo).

Toronto Blue Jays:

New faces: Frank Thomas (Oakland A’s), Royce Clayton (Cincinnati Reds), Tomo Ohka (Milwaukee Brewers), Matt Stairs (Detroit Tigers), John Thomson (Atlanta Braves), Victor Zambrano (N.Y. Mets).

In a new city: Frank Catalanotto (Texas Rangers), Ted Lilly (Chicago Cubs), Bengie Molina (San Francisco Giants), Justin Speier (L.A. Angels).

Baltimore Orioles:

New faces: Jaret Wright (N.Y. Yankees), Danys Baez (Atlanta Braves), Paul Bako (Kansas City Royals), Chad Bradford (N.Y. Mets), Aubrey Huff (Houston Astros), Jay Payton (Oakland A’s), Steve Trachsel (N.Y. Mets), Jaime Walker (Detroit Tigers), Freddie Bynum (Chicago Cubs).

In a new city: Chris Britton (N.Y. Yankees), Bruce Chen (Texas Rangers), LaTroy Hawkins (Colorado Rockies), David Newhan (N.Y. Mets), Russ Ortiz (San Francisco Giants), Fernando Tatis (L.A. Dodgers), Rodrigo Lopez (Colorado Rockies).

Tampa Bay Devil Rays:

New faces: Akinori Iwamura (Japan), Brendan Harris (Cincinnati Reds), Jae-Kuk Ryu (Chicago Cubs).

In a new city: Damon Hollins (Japan), Brian Meadows (Cincinnati Reds), Tomas Perez (Chicago Cubs).

Technorati: MLB, AL East, Boston Red Sox, NY Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

After his last contract was rejected by Major League Baseball, Barry Bonds finally put his John Hancock on a new updated one. The deal is for 1 yr $15.8 million dollars.

At issue was the language that stated if Bonds was indicted on perjury charges, the contract could be terminated.

According to a published report in the New York Times, Bernie Williams has rejected the Yankee’s proposal of a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Williams has been a member of the Evil Empire since 1991 but became expendable with the addition of Bobby Abreu and the stellar play from rookie Melky Cabrera last season. The Spanks plan to carry 12 pitchers, use a platoon at first base and have the Giambino be the designated hitter.

Given the fact that Joe Torre loves Bernie, things could change. But without a guaranteed spot on the team, Williams has stated that he’d rather stay home and be with his children and work on his music. For those who havent heard Williams music, he’s a very talented jazz musician.

This is what Bernie had to say:

“I think if they wanted me they would have signed me already. The option to go to spring training and see what happened — I don’t think at this moment it is something I want to consider.”

Williams does plan to stay in shape in case the Yankees reconsider giving him a chance to play.

“As it is right now, it doesn’t seem like I am going to be playing with that team this year. But it is just part of the game. It is what makes this interesting.”

Technorati: Bernie Williams, Joe Torre, New York Yankees

This is something I didn’t even think about til I read the article over at the Boston Herald. I forgot about the Yankees having a new pitcher from Japan, Kei Igawa, plus Hideki Matsui.

This is what Yankees General Manager, Brian Cashman, had to say about the “The Greatest Sports Rivalry” heading to Japan now:

“We have two great organizations that both respect each other and now we’ll take that battle overseas. Bringing the rivalry over here is something special.”

Cashman made that quote at a press conference in Tokyo where him and Randy Levine are in town to meet with the “NY Yankees” of Japan, Yomiuri Giants. The two teams have a working partnership. They then are heading to Okinawa to visit the Hanshin Tigers, who are holding spring training there.

Honestly, I really never thought about the rivalry going to Japan. But with almost every Yankees game and now Red Sox games on television over Japan, I can definitely see how the rivalry will become big over there. Matsui is huge over there and so is Matsuzaka. If you don’t believe me of how big Matsui is, take a look at this picture:

Matsui is on a friggin plane. I am sure it only a matter of time before Matsuzaka’s picture is on the plane that flies from Tokyo to Logan Airport in Boston.

Another rivalry, in my opinion, that will take place between the two teams has to deal with the merchandise sales. I would have to think that the Yankees and Mariners are the top two selling teams of merchandise in Japan. With Matsuzaka now pitching in Boston, I would have to think the Red Sox will move to the top in merchandise sales in Japan.

All I have to say is, it will be very interesting this season to see what transpires in the rivalry here in the New England area and also overseas in Japan between the beloved Red Sox and the ‘Evil Empire’.

Technorati: Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Matsui, Brian Cashman, Yomiuri Giants, Hanshin Tigers

With the new Yankee Stadium slated to open in 2009, Major League Baseball will be announcing in the near future has announced that they have chosen Yankee Stadium to host the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

The American League is slated to host the game in 2008 so what better way to close out the rich history of Yankee Stadium. I am by no means a Yankees fan but rather a Red Sox fan who is also a baseball purist. I have always enjoyed my visits to the Bronx to see the Sox-Yanks and also against the Major League Affiliates for which I worked for during my years working in minor league baseball in New Haven.

For the baseball fan if you haven’t visited Yankee Stadium and done the Monument Park tour, I highly suggest that you do. It is one of the most amazing things in baseball besides Cooperstown to do. It will leave you breathless. Yes, I know that the players honored there are Yankee greats but to me it is about the history of the game. I have been on the field at Yankee Stadium and even sat in the dugout. To think that I sat where many of the greats in baseball have sat to me, is priceless. Those are memories which I will never forget.

Article originally published on Random Thoughts on January 16th.

Technorati: MLB, Evil Empire, Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees, Baseball Hall of Fame, Monument Park

It’s official. The Giants have signed their drug user, Barry Bonds, to a 1 yr, $15.8 million dollar contract. Rumor is the contract language states that Barry will receive all the amphetamines he wants as long as he can pass the drug tests.

All kidding aside for a second, Barry did pass his physical on Monday after returning from a skiing vacation. The Giants and Bonds had agreed on the contract back on December 7th but given Barry’s legal troubles, the Giants wanted to make sure they had covered their asses in case Barry was indicted.

The other language in the contract states that if Barry is indicted in the BALCO mess and suspended by the league, he will not be paid while under suspension. So let’s see, if Barry fails a drug test or gets indicted, he doesn’t get paid.

Barry only needs 22 home runs to pass Hank Aaron and become the Career HR King in Major League Baseball. Note to the BALCO Grand Jury: Indict Barry quickly. That way we don’t have to hear the controversy of whether or not we should recognize Bonds as the greatest home run hitter.

UPDATE: The contract can be voided by the Giants if Bonds is indicted.

Technorati: Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants, Major League Baseball, BALCO