A few closers are in the news because of their music preferences, and two others are in the news because of a job switch. Also: Tommy Lasorda’s fed up with all the cheating, and the Devil Rays might not be so Devilish any more.
Steroids are still in the news, spring training is over, baseball is still talking about closers, and Eddie Guardado is a prankster.
Johnny Damon and Bronson Arroyo both react to Arroyo’s trade, Jeff Bagwell’s shoulder is in the news again, and the Nationals may have a left fielder.
The WBC will go on without the US, the Yankees have lots of news from camp, and a few players may hang it up after 2006.
Baseball says goodbye to Kirby Puckett, David Wells doesn’t think much of Bud Selig, Carl Everett sounds off about his former team, and Tony Womack feels slighted.
Tony La Russa wonders about the manager’s role in a championship season, Barry Bonds puts a dress on, the Marlins lose to a pitching machine, and Johnny Damon promises not to go after Jason Varitek in a brawl.
The Boss predicts a World Series win, Frank Thomas gets into it with Kenny Williams, Jim Rice wonders what a Hall of Famer is, and Billy Wagner reflects on Philadelphia.
Ozzie Guillen is in the news again, Barry Bonds retracts a retirement threat, players deal with arbitration, and spring training has finally arrived.
Ben Molina heads to Toronto, but not without some drama first. Plus, Ozzie Guillen’s in the news once more, and there’s a Rickey Henderson sighting in New York.
IMPR-YOU-VEMENT “He’s a cocky kid, like [Carl] Pavano. He’ll tell you to go to hell. But I love the kid, I love his competitiveness. A super kid, one of my favorites. I’d be getting on [him], riding him, and sometimes he hated [me]. He might not talk to me for four or five days. But…
Ozzie Guillen and Brad Radke have some financial advice, the Royals chime in on revenue sharing, Paul Konerko may decline a promotion, and Theo Epstein is back.
Theo Epstein rejoins Boston, Kris Benson gets shipped off to Baltimore, the BBWAA awards are handed out, and the Angels head to court over their name.
Bruce Sutter and Goose Gossage sound off about the Hall of Fame vote, Darryl Strawberry gets contemplative, Kevin Millar thinks he’s not very good, and Houston tries to get out from under Jeff Bagwell’s contract.
It’s an all-employment issue of The Week in Quotes, as Jose Lima’s still looking for a job, Miguel Tejada and Manny Ramirez may be after a transfer, and Theo Epstein might be back to reclaim his old job.
We kick off the new year with some response to the Johnny Damon defection, the Matt Lawton positive test, rumblings in the AL East, and more.
It’s time to relive the 2005 season with the year’s zaniest quotations as our guide.