Reds will host 2015 All-Star game

CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Reds will host the 2015 All-Star game at Great American Ball Park, the city's first since 1988, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

Commissioner Bud Selig will discuss the decision on Wednesday in Cincinnati, where he's also appearing to promote Major League Baseball's latest urban youth academy, according to the person speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

The Cincinnati Enquirer first reported the decision.

The Reds have been trying to acquire the All-Star game since they opened Great American Ball Park in 2003. They hosted the game twice at Riverfront Stadium - two weeks after its opening in 1970 and again in 1988. This year's game will be played at the Mets' Citi Field in New York. The 2014 All-Star game will be played in Minneapolis.

It'll be the fifth time that Cincinnati - home of baseball's first professional franchise - will host the All-Star game. It was played at Crosley Field in 1938 and again in 1953. The Reds hosted the game when they opened Riverfront Stadium in 1970, and baseball had one of its most memorable finishes. Pete Rose bowled over Indians catcher Ray Fosse to score the winning run in the 12th inning of a 5-4 NL victory.

In 1988, rain washed out the home run derby the day before the All-Star game at Riverfront Stadium. The uneventful game ended in a 2-1 American League victory, with Oakland catcher Terry Steinbach driving in both AL runs on a homer and a sacrifice fly. Steinbach was the MVP and his special bat - with his name erroneously spelled ''Steinbech'' - was sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

The Reds have made an extra push to get the All-Star game since Bob Castellini bought controlling interest in the club after the 2005 season. Major League Baseball was impressed by how the Reds handled the annual Civil Rights Game in 2009 and 2010. The Reds also have hosted playoff games in two of the last three seasons.

When the Reds hosted the Civil Rights games, Selig mentioned that the city would be a partner in one of its urban youth academies, aimed at getting youngsters more interested in the game. Selig will discuss MLB's contribution to the venture on Wednesday. Cincinnati will have the seventh of the urban youth academies, the first in the Midwest.

Maloofs agree to sell NBA's Kings to Seattle group

SEATTLE (AP) -- Nearly five years after their colors, banners and history were packed away into storage and their franchise relocated, the SuperSonics are one significant step closer to returning to Seattle.

And the Kings are on the edge of leaving Sacramento.

All that appears to stand in the way now is approval by NBA owners.

The Maloof family has agreed to sell the Kings to a Seattle group led by investor Chris Hansen, the league confirmed in a statement Monday morning. The deal is still pending a vote by the NBA Board of Governors.

A person familiar with the decision said that Hansen's group will buy 65 percent of the franchise, which is valued at $525 million, and move the team to Seattle and restore the SuperSonics name. The deal will cost the Hansen group a little more than $340 million. The Maloofs will have no stake in the team.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was waiting approval.

The sale figure works off a total valuation of the franchise, which includes relocation fees. Hansen's group also is hoping to buy out other minority investors.

The Maloofs will get a $30 million non-refundable down payment by Feb. 1, according to the deal, the person said. They will still be allowed to receive other offers until the league approves the sale. The Kings sale price of $525 million would surpass the NBA record $450 million the Golden State Warriors sold for in 2010.

The plan by Hansen's group is to have the team play at least the next two seasons in KeyArena before moving into a new facility in downtown Seattle. The deadline for teams to apply for a move for next season is March 1. The office of Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn confirmed Monday it is already working with Hansen on an agreement for using KeyArena, including scheduling and short-term upgrades to the arena.

''While we are not at liberty to discuss the terms of the transaction or our plans for the franchise given the confidential nature of the agreement and NBA regulations regarding public comments during a pending transaction, we would just like to extend our sincerest compliments and gratitude toward the Maloof family,'' Hansen said in a statement. ''Our negotiations with the family were handled with the utmost honor and professionalism and we hope to continue their legacy and be great stewards of this NBA franchise in the coming years and decades.''

Hansen was not available for further comment.

Momentum was building toward a sale agreement after word of talks between Hansen and the Maloofs leaked nearly two weeks ago. Sacramento will get its chance to counter with Mayor Kevin Johnson already receiving permission from NBA Commissioner David Stern to present a counteroffer to league owners from buyers who would keep the Kings in Sacramento.

Johnson, a former NBA All-Star point guard, said in a statement that the city remained undeterred.

''Sacramento has proven that it is a strong NBA market with a fan base that year in and year out has demonstrated a commitment to the Kings by selling out 19 of 27 seasons in a top-20 market and owning two of the longest sellout streaks in NBA history,'' Johnson said.

Yet Johnson will be fighting an uphill challenge trying to pull together an ownership group in a small window of time while Seattle begins preparing for the return of the green and gold.

The SuperSonics became a historic footnote when owner Clay Bennett moved the franchise to Oklahoma City in 2008. It was the conclusion of a contentious two years of lawsuits, broken leases, negotiations and ultimately a settlement that allowed 41 years of pro basketball history in Seattle to be moved away.

While Seattle was excited about Monday's news, there was an air of caution as well, with many fans still stung about the Sonics previous departure not wanting to believe in their return until everything is signed and delivered. Others in Seattle have wanted an expansion franchise rather than taking a team from another city.

''It tore the hearts out of the city when the (team) left the first time and it's just wonderful news to get a team back,'' said Jerry Brown, who was at KeyArena Monday buying college basketball tickets. ''I feel sorry for the people of Sacramento, they have good fans there, but we want our team back.''

Ironically enough, it will be Bennett that has a say in whether Seattle returns to the NBA portfolio as the head of the league's relocation committee.

Caught in an awkward spot is the Kings' basketball team itself, some of whom have Seattle ties. Guard Isaiah Thomas grew up in Tacoma, Wash., and before the Kings played in New Orleans on Monday was already feeling the discomfort of being wedged between two cities.

''It's just a little weird (but) at the same time I love Sacramento, I love everything about it. Love the fans, the organization just brought me in with open arms. That's all I really know in this league is Sacramento,'' Thomas said. ''But then I am from that area back home, it's just kind of a different situation. Whatever I say about Seattle, Sacramento fans might be mad at me and whatever I say about Sacramento, Seattle fans might be mad at me. I just love both cities.

''It's out of my control.''

The saga of the Kings' future in California's Capitol city has dragged on for nearly three years and now faces its most daunting challenge.

Hansen, a Seattle native and San Francisco-based investor, reached agreement with local governments in Seattle last October on plans to build a $490 million NBA/NHL arena near the city's other stadiums, CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field. No construction will begin until all environmental reviews are completed and a team has been secured. The arena also faces a pair of lawsuits, including one from a dock workers union because the arena is being built close to port and industrial operations.

Hansen's group is expected to pitch in $290 million in private investment toward the arena, along with helping to pay for transportation improvements in the area around the stadiums. The remaining $200 million in public financing would be paid back with rent money and admissions taxes from the arena, and if that money falls short, Hansen would be responsible for making up the rest.

Other investors in the proposed arena include Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and two members of the Nordstrom department store family.

''While there is more work ahead, this is a major step toward bringing the Sonics home,'' McGinn said.

Sacramento fans hope this is not the final chapter in their quest to save the Kings. Johnson has once already saved the Kings from relocation when he made a pitch to the Board of Governors and bought the city time to broker a deal that appeared to solve the team's arena woes. But the Maloofs backed out of that tentative $391 million deal for a new downtown venue with Sacramento last year.

Already, Johnson and other politicians have started wrangling for the Kings again.

California state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat, wrote a letter to state officials dated Tuesday - and released to several news outlets - asking them to detail how much money Ballmer's Microsoft company earns on state contracts.

''I cannot stand idly by while a prominent out-of-state company that has significantly profited from business with the State of California actively attempts to acquire and remove one of my State and region's leading private assets,'' he wrote in the letter to Fred Klass, director of the state Department of General Services.

Johnson said recently he's heard from various parties interested in trying to put together an ownership group that would keep the team in Sacramento, but only with a new arena. He is expected to unveil more about his plans as early as Tuesday.

''We have always appreciated and treasured our ownership of the Kings and have had a great admiration for the fans and our team members. We would also like to thank Chris Hansen for his professionalism during our negotiation. Chris will be a great steward for the franchise,'' Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said in a statement on behalf of the family.

Liriano returns to Mets from Yankees

Left-hander Pedro Feliciano is headed back across town to the New York Mets, agreeing to a minor league contract.

The 36-year-old veteran will get a chance to make the Mets' roster in spring training.

After pitching for the Mets from 2002-04 and 2006-10, Feliciano signed a two-year, $8 million free agent deal with the Yankees. He never threw a pitch in the majors for the Yankees, though, as an ailing shoulder kept him sidelined.

Feliciano tried unsuccessfully to rehab the shoulder throughout the 2011 season, then finally underwent rotator cuff surgery that September. He made 10 minor league appearances in the Yankees' farm system in 2012.

In each of his last three seasons with the Mets, 2008-10, he led the league in pitching appearances, averaging more than 88 games per year. He posted a combined 3.44 ERA in those years.

Phillies considering Delmon Young

The Philadelphia Phillies are considering adding troubled free-agent outfielder Delmon Young, as the team continues to seek a corner outfielder, according to CSNPhilly.com.

Amaro, who typically doesn't discuss free-agency matters, acknowledged that Young is a possibility.

"We've kicked around a lot of stuff," he told CSNPhilly. "He's among them."

The first overall pick in the 2003 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Young finished second in American League rookie of the year voting in 2007. Since, his career has been hurt by poor on-field performances and off-the-field controversy.

He was suspended for seven days by Major League Baseball for yelling anti-Semitic slurs outside of a New York hotel in April 2012. He apologized and completed a counseling and community service program.

Amaro wouldn't specifically discuss Young's off-field issues, but spoke in general terms regarding players who have "baggage."

"We have to keep our minds open on everything," he said. "Of course I have reservations about guys who have had some issues. But we've got to keep our minds open also."

AFC/NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES 1/20

Today is the day we find out who our conference champions are and obviously our match-up for the Superbowl. Here's a few things to consider today...

- Why did the Falcons win last week? Because they were the better team and outplayed Seattle....at least in the first half. Man did you see the 2nd half? That was wild. SEA had their number and almost won that game. No way ATL saw that one coming. Well a lot of guys did including myself. SEA should not have been given points in that game. Regardless, here we are with ATL facing SF and Mr Kaepernick who was amazing last week on the run. If ATL allows him to run today then ATL has little chance of keeping up with the scoring by SF. On the other hand if they keep Kaepernick in the pocket it will open up more opportunities down the field...either way i dont see ATL beating SF. The question here is how much can SF win by? Well we've seen the line move from 3 to as much as 5. I think it's a low-scoring event (under the total of 49) with the 49ERS on the winning end. Got to go with what i believe on this one at it's a QB with a huge running game. We posted this play very early on in the week.

- Why did the Ravens win last week? Because they scored more points...funny but true. If you look at how they done it here's what i saw. Broncos dominated the 1st 3 qtrs of the game and scored at will while BAL had to work pretty hard for most of the points they got. Funny thing is they scored the same amount of points in each qtr. Go to the 4th qtr and DEN thought it was a good idea to play conservative and just run the ball and kill the clock - bad choice as they did not score but BAL did. 3 points was all it took to tie the game and send it into OT. Wow we have a game... ultimately what i saw was DEN giving up while BAL played their guts out to the end. DEN had the game but gave up...BAL should have never moved on but did and now here they are facing Brady and the mighty NE offence. Yeah, yeah i know Brady is hated by 92.7% of America but guess what - he's a winner - get over it. BAL will struggle today trying to keep up with NE. If NE can limit Flaco from throwing bombs down the field i think NE will win this one by 10-13 points. If not, they might be in a bind today.

3u SAN FRANCISCO -3-115
2u SAN FRANCISCO u49-110
3u NEW ENGLAND -7-130 (B+½)

74-40-3 and +59.90 units

Look for an added play today on Twitter

Follow me on Twitter @LSUSPORTS1

NHL HOCKEY OPENING DAY PLAYS 1/19

BOOOOM ~ OPENING DAY PLAYS

Please play responsible...there are a lot of unknowns right now. Starting out with all plays at 1 unit.

For those unfamiliar with the 3-WAY line...This line is simply based on regulation time only and the play results in a loss if the game goes into OT. It is a good way to reduce the juice on the play. Example today is BRUINS -140 is +125 on the 3-WAY line. Good Luck

1u LIGHTNING u6-125

1u LIGHTNING 3 WAY +135

1u CANADIENS 3 WAY +115

1u PREDATORS 3 WAY -110

1u WILD 3 WAY EV

Tigers avoid arbitration with 6 players

DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Tigers avoided arbitration with six players Friday, increasing their payroll by over $13 million while agreeing to terms with a talented group that includes right-hander Doug Fister and center fielder Austin Jackson.

Right-hander Max Scherzer is the only Detroit player remaining whose case could go to a hearing next month.

Fister, 18-11 since the Tigers acquired him in a midseason trade in 2011, will make $4 million this season. Jackson, the speedy outfielder who hit .300 last year, will make $3.5 million.

Detroit also reached a $5.1 million deal with right-hander Rick Porcello, a $2.95 million contract with catcher Alex Avila, a $2.3 million agreement with outfielder Brennan Boesch and a $1.85 million deal with left-handed reliever Phil Coke.

After winning the AL pennant, Detroit signed free agent outfielder Torii Hunter this offseason and re-signed right-hander Anibal Sanchez. The Tigers haven't made any other major additions, but Friday's deals with arbitration-eligible players involved a bit of a financial hit.

The six players will make a combined $19.7 million this year. Last season, they earned $6,245,000 - and Porcello's $3.1 million contract accounted for about half of that.

Scherzer is coming off an impressive season in which he went 16-7 with 231 strikeouts in 187 2-3 innings. He is asking for $7.4 million through arbitration, and the team is offering $6.05 million. The two sides could still come to an agreement before a three-arbitrator panel hears the case in Phoenix.

Porcello received a $2 million raise, but it's not clear how much longer he'll remain with the Tigers. They have six capable starting pitchers after keeping Sanchez, making Porcello a potential trade candidate if Detroit decides to go with left-hander Drew Smyly as its fifth starter.

Red Sox sign Ellsbury to $9 million contract

(Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox have avoided arbitration with Jacoby Ellsbury by agreeing to a one-year, $9 million contract with the center fielder, the team's website reported on Friday.

Ellsbury, 29, was plagued by injury in 2012, suffering a partially dislocated right shoulder in the home opener in April and did not return until July.

He hit .271 with four home runs and 26 runs batted in (RBIs) while playing 74 games.

The previous year, Ellsbury had finished second in voting for the American League's Most Valuable Player award, hitting .321 with 32 homers and 105 runs batted in.

The 2011 All-Star will be eligible for free agency after the 2013 season.

Braves reach deals with 5 players, Prado unsigned

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration with five players Friday, including outfielder Jason Heyward, starting pitcher Kris Medlen and reliever Eric O'Flaherty.

Heyward agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.65 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility, a big increase from the $565,000 he made last season while batting .269 with 27 homers, 82 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.

Medlen, also up for arbitration for the first time, settled for one year at $2.6 million after earning $490,000 last season. He became the team's most dominant starter over the second half, finishing 10-1 with a 1.57 ERA. The right-hander also started the wild-card playoff for the Braves, pitching well in a season-ending loss to the Cardinals.

O'Flaherty, the main setup reliever for closer Craig Kimbrel, received a $4.32 million deal. The lefty made $2.49 million last season, going 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA.

Also agreeing to one-year deals were relievers Jonny Venters ($1.625 million) and Cristhian Martinez ($749,750).

The Braves failed to reach an agreement with Martin Prado by the arbitration deadline. Prado is asking for $7.05 million, while the team countered with an offer of $6.65 million.

Prado made $4.75 million last season, when he batted a team-leading .301 with 10 homers, 70 RBIs and 17 stolen bases as the left fielder. He's expected to move to third base to replace the retired Chipper Jones.

1/16 NBA Plays

More than i usually play but i think it'll make us some money tonight.


3u ROCKETS +4-110
3u KINGS -4-110
3u KINGS u207½-110
3u PACERS -1½-110
3u NETS +3-110

Rafael Soriano: Signs With Nationals

Update: Soriano agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reports. The contract also includes a third-year option that vests if Soriano finishes 120 games over the next two seasons.

Recommendation: The 33-year-old pitched well in 69 games for the Yankees last season, posting a 2.26 ERA along with 42 saves in 67.2 innings. The Nationals have yet to publicly announce Soriano's expected role, but given the value of the contract, he is likely to enter the season as the team's closer.

Angels re-sign Jerome Williams

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Right-hander Jerome Williams has avoided arbitration with the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, agreeing to a one-year deal.

The veteran went 6-8 with a 4.58 ERA for the Angels last season, making 15 starts and spending long stretches in the bullpen.

Williams likely will start the season as a long reliever for Los Angeles this spring, with Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and new arrivals Tommy Hanson, Joe Blanton and Jason Vargas in the Angels' rotation.

Williams revitalized his career with the Angels in 2011 after four years out of the majors, earning a job as a starter for last season. An illness coinciding with a stretch of poor pitching knocked him out of the No. 5 rotation spot midway through the season, but he returned with strong relief performances.

5 Milwaukee Brewers Poised to Take a Step Forward in 2013

COMMENTARY | Of the six regulars who pitched in the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen last season, only two remain - John Axford and Jim Henderson. Believe it or not, the reliever who finished with the best WAR and second-lowest ERA among those six was Jose Veras, and he was designated for assignment by Milwaukee, latching on with the Houston Astros in December.

But the Brewers won't miss Veras' putrid 5.37 BB/9 IP ratio, nor will they miss Francisco Rodriguez's seven blown saves, Manny Parra's 1.65 WHIP or Kameron Loe's 4.61 ERA. It remains to be determined who exactly will take their places, but needless to say, these four players cannot have a bounce-back season for Milwaukee this year.

For the most part, we'll be venturing elsewhere on the roster to find the 5 Brewers poised to take a step forward in 2013, including the team's illustrious offense and inexperienced starting rotation.

1. SS - Jean Segura

That Zack Greinke trade is only beginning to take the form of highway robbery, and we still haven't seen Johnny Hellweg and Ariel Pena pitch at the Major League level. The third piece of that trade, Jean Segura, was instantly thrown into the equation because of Milwaukee's dire situation at shortstop, essentially becoming the team's full-time shortstop for the remaining two months of the season.

Segura instantly became the Brewers' top prospect after being acquired, and the 22-year-old hit .264 and drove in 14 runs in 44 games with Milwaukee. It's nothing to call home about, but considering Segura's age and limited experience in the Bigs, the production could have been worse, especially coming from the 8-hole in the lineup.

Because of how many threats the Brewers have in Ron Roenicke's starting nine, Segura will benefit from hitting in front of the pitcher for an entire season in 2013, and his glove will also impress as Segura gets set to turn some heads in Milwaukee.

2. SP - Wily Peralta

Only two of the five starting pitchers on Milwaukee's 2012 opening day roster remained at season's end - Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum. Since then, Marcum has tested the free agent waters and a battle for three spots on the rotation erupted. Along with Gallardo and Marco Estrada, 23-year-oldWily Peralta looks to have a leg up on the competition heading into spring training barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Peralta has the way he pitched to close out the 2012 season to thank for that. In his five September starts, Peralta went 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA and didn't allow a home run in 29 IP. One of the top prospects in the Brewers' system over the past few seasons, just making the starting rotation will be a step forward for Peralta, but if he can continue his ascension and build on his finish to 2012, he could be an x-factor for Milwaukee next season.

3. OF - Carlos Gomez

There might not be anyone in the game who puts forth more effort on a daily basis than Carlos Gomez. The Brewers' center fielder is in the final year of his deal and coming off a career season in which he hit .260 with 19 HRs and 51 RBIs while sporting the fourth-best WAR among everyday players on the team.

Gomez's production hinges on his approach at the plate and staying healthy. He may be one of the fastest and top defensive outfielders in baseball, but his reckless abandon is what often leads to injury - he missed time last season with a hamstring strain and quad contusion.

He's only 27 despite being in the league since 2007, and as long as Gomez can stay relatively healthy in 2013, a contract year and new-found confidence at the plate should motivate him to have yet another career season.

4. RP - John Axford

We've seen the best and worst of John Axford in his two-plus years as a Brewer, and all Milwaukee and its fans are hoping for is that they don't have another Derrick Turnbow situation on their hands with the Ax Man.

Axford converted below 80 percent of his save opportunities last season, and it was so bad at one point that he actually got pulled from the closer's role. But after reprising his role on Aug. 21, Axford converted 17 of his 18 save opportunities and lowered his ERA from 5.22 to 4.67. Overall, his numbers weren't pretty, but obviously, something clicked for Axford late in the season that returned him to his 2011 form when he saved 46 games and had a sub-2.00 ERA.

5. 2B - Rickie Weeks

Brewers' fans rejoice - Rickie Weeks is going to hit above .230 this season. There isn't any scientific data to back up that claim, but throughout Weeks' 8-year career in Milwaukee, he has never hit lower than .230, and considering he should be entering the 2013 season healthy, we could see the Rickie Weeks that hit .269 with 29 HRs and 83 RBIs in 2010.

Last season, Weeks was still looking to get back into form after suffering a squeamish ankle injury near the end of the 2011 season. He failed to break the .200 mark until July 26, but following that, Weeks hit .269, and it's no coincidence that after that date, the Brewers went 38-25 to close out the season.

When Weeks is on, the Brewers' offense is that much more dangerous, and while it won't take much for him to take a step forward next season, that step forward means yet another legitimate threat in one of the best lineups in Major League Baseball.

Baseball beefs up drug testing

Major League Baseball reached a deal with its players' association to expand the drug-testing program to include in-season blood-testing for human growth hormone and a new test intended to detect players using testosterone,.

The testing increase vaults baseball's program ahead of the NFL's protocol, which doesn't include testing for HGH and doesn't have a similar testosterone test. The plan will further Commissioner Bud Selig's claims that his sport has the toughest testing program of any professional sport in North America.

The timing of the agreement comes a day after the announcement that first-time candidates Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa, along with returnees Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire, were denied entrance to the Hall of Fame. All five have been linked to the use of performance-enhancing drugs, though only McGwire has confessed to knowingly using banned substances.

The new agreement establishes a new testing protocol for testosterone, a preferred substance because it quickly leaves a player's system after being used. Since July 2010, MLB has conducted random blood testing for HGH among minor-league players. As a part of the 2012-16 Basic Agreement, the sides agreed to blood testing for HGH during 2012 spring training, the offseason, and for reasonable cause. All of those aspects remain in place with the addition of in-season, unannounced, random blood testing.

--The Colorado Rockies signed Manny Corpas to a minor-league deal that included an invitation to spring training. The right-hander was the team's closer in 2007 during its World Series run. Corpas, 30, made 48 appearances for the Chicago Cubs last season, posting a 5.01 ERA in 46 2/3 innings.

--Right-hander Chris Resop and the Oakland A's agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million deal, avoiding arbitration. Oakland acquired Resop, 30, from the Pittsburgh Pirates in November in exchange for minor league right-hander Zach Thornton. In 2012, Resop earned $850,000 while going 1-4 with one save and a 3.91 ERA in 61 appearances.

Dodger Stadium gets $100 million facelift

The Los Angeles Dodgers' roster isn't the only thing getting a multi-million-dollar makeover under new ownership.

Fifty-one-year-old Dodger Stadium is undergoing an offseason renovation that will include new video boards over the left and right field pavilions (returning to the old-style hexagonal look), wider concourses, improved cell phone and wifi reception, a new home clubhouse as well as improved weight room and batting cage facilities for the home and visiting teams. This winter's extensive work will cost approximately $100 million -- a figure Dodgers chief executive officer Stan Kasten used for now because "I don't have the final bills yet."

"This is a very ambitious project we're undertaking," Kasten said. "We're doing about 100 things, and that left out another 100 things we want to do because we only had the 24, 25 weeks (of the offseason) to get it all done by Opening Day."

The Dodgers hired Janet Marie Smith as senior vice president for planning and development in August, and Smith is overseeing this winter's work. She previously oversaw construction or renovation projects at Boston's Fenway Park, Atlanta's Turner Field and Baltimore's Camden Yards.

"This project has one notable difference, and that is the emphasis on putting fans first," said Smith, who described the agenda given to her by Dodgers ownership as, "Do as much as you can as fast as you can."

Among major league stadiums, only Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are older than Dodger Stadium, and the outdated nature of much of its infrastructure and player facilities has kept the park from being seriously considered to host the All-Star Game since it last did in 1980. This winter's work should change that, Kasten said, and he plans to talk with commissioner Bud Selig about the possibility of having Los Angeles host a future All-Star Game.

Lance Berkman: Slated to Bat Third for Rangers

Update: Rangers manager Ron Washington said he expects Berkman to bat third in the lineup this season, Anthony Andro of Fox Sports Southwest reports.

Recommendation: With Josh Hamilton signing with the Angels during the offseason, Berkman figures to slot into the three-hole, likely sandwiched between Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre. Even if Washington rethinks the situation and decides to move Berkman down in the order, he still stands to score plenty of runs in what is shaping up to be a deep Rangers lineup.

Do the San Francisco Giants Have Enough Offense?

COMMENTARY | If offense is supposed to win championships, then the San Francisco Giants are an anomaly. Their lineup wasn't supposed to be good enough to win in 2010, yet they somehow found a way to scrap together enough runs to go all the way. Their lineup last year was weaker than 2010's on paper, but they managed to win themselves another World Series. And this year, with minimal changes to the team's offensive makeup, there are again questions as to whether or not the Giants have enough firepower to win.

There definitely aren't any simple answers, either. Though it's tempting to say the Giants did the right thing in bringing back the exact same offense that won it all, there's still a distressing lack of power in the middle of the lineup and major questions about key contributors elsewhere.

Starting at the top of the lineup, the Giants have to wonder if the 2013 versions of Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro will be anywhere close to the hitters they were last year. Pagan had the best season of his life in a contract year, and while a drop in production is likely the Giants have to hope it's a small drop. Scutaro played out of his mind the minute he put on a Giants uniform, hitting .362/.385/.473 in 61 regular season games before exploding in the playoffs. But he'll be 37 this year, and it's unreasonable to think he'll continue to put up those kinds of numbers. Like Pagan, the Giants have to hope the drop off isn't a steep one.

Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval are about the only sure things the Giants have in the lineup (or as close to being sure things as possible), though questions about Sandoval's conditioning and Posey's health will linger throughout the season. Their abilities as hitters aren't in question, though the same thing can't be said for the guys behind them. Motivational speeches aside, Hunter Pence was downright awful for the Giants after he arrived from Philadelphia mid-season; call him The Anti-Scutaro. The Giants need much, much more from Pence than the .219/.287/.384 line he put up with the team in '12. They're banking on Pence returning to form, but that is far from a sure thing. It remains to be seen whether or not Brandon Belt will ever get an uninterrupted run as the Giants starting first baseman, but his patience at the plate and his ability to drive the ball make him an intriguing option to move up in the lineup if Pence continues to falter. The Giants would surely like to see more power from Belt, but that will likely develop as he matures as a hitter.

The biggest question mark is in left field, where the Giants are hoping Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres can combine to form an average-hitting outfielder named Andregor Blorres (well, maybe). Blanco played well down the stretch and into the postseason, but he's never been an everyday player for a reason. He simply lacks the offensive skill needed to be in the lineup day in and day out, and the same can be said for Torres save for one magical season in '10. The Giants seem to be going for superior defense at this position and punting offense, taking a "whatever we can get is good enough" kind of approach. That would be fine on a team with a high-powered offense, but the Giants aren't that kind of team; plus, they're taking the same all-defense, whatever-offense approach at shortstop with Brandon Crawford. The bottom third of the lineup has major black hole potential which will become a magnified problem if the rest of the lineup isn't producing.

So do the Giants have enough weapons to compete with the Dodgers, Braves, Nationals, Reds, Cardinals, and the other dangerous offenses in the National League? That's hard to say. The pieces are there, but they need a number of things to break their way: steady production from Pagan and Scutaro, health and fitness from Posey and Sandoval, Pence figuring out his issues, continued growth from Belt, some kind of offense from the bottom of the lineup, and so on. There's the potential for an effective offense, but there's also the potential for a repeat of the 2011 season where the Giants' offense was just south of putrid.

This isn't a team that will win many slugfests, but neither was last year's team. That team's offense didhave a number of things break their way and the Giants took advantage of those breaks all the way to another World Series title. Can they do the same thing this year even without guys having career years, or without the promise of perfect health, or without the timely hits that always seemed to come?

Well...they can always win with pitching, right?

Red Sox want to shorten Napoli's deal

Mike Napoli agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract with theBoston Red Sox back on Dec. 3, but Napoli and the team are currently discussing the possibility of shortening the length of the deal to one year because of concerns about Napoli's hip, ESPN.com reported.

If the two sides agree to the amended contract, Napoli would get only one guaranteed year, according to the report, although there may be provisions made if Napoli reaches a certain number of plate appearances or does not go on the disabled list.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told the Boston Herald he was optimistic an agreement with Napoli could be reached soon, although he offered no specifics.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported earlier Friday that the Red Sox have made inquiries regarding the Washington Nationals' Michael Morse if an agreement with Napoli cannot be reached.

Brian Wilson: Mets Interested

Update: The Mets appear to have strong interest in Wilson (elbow), Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Recommendation: Nightengale reported that GM Sandy Alderson watched Wilson throw Saturday in a private workout. Wilson has 9-to-10 teams interested in him, but if the Mets end up signing him, he would close for them, moving Frank Francisco to a setup role.

1/5 NBA Plays

2u JAZZ u202-110
2u JAZZ +9-110
2u DALLAS -5-120 (B+½)
2u KNICKS -6-110
2u SPURS -13-110
2u CAVALIERS u211-110
3u CLIPPERS +6½-110

1/4 NBA Plays

NBA has not been nice to us so far this season. Still looking for it to get better. I think we have a few winners tonight.



2u RAPTORS -6-120 (B+½)
2u CAVALIERS +1½-110
2u TRAIL BLAZERS +9½-110
3u BRK NETS -5-120 (B+½)
3u JAZZ +1½-110
3u LAKERS u207-110

1/2 NCAAF Plays

The total of 48 seems high if you take a look at Offense vs Defense. You have Louisville's defense at #25
while Florida is at #5. How bout scoring offense? Well Louisville is #47 while Florida is a whoppin #74. Let's just agree we have 2 good defensive teams going head to head tonight which should keep it close but i'm still strongly supporting Florida here. Let's Go Gators

Tossing in a teaser...i think it's an easy winner.


3u FLORIDA -13-130

2u Teaser -120
FLORIDA -4-110 (B+10)
LOUISVILLE vrs FLORIDA u58-110 (B+10)
OREGON +1½-110 (B+10)