Blog Title: New York City - Sports - Baseball - Yankees - Mets - NY Daily News

Mets bank on Citi surge

Despite calls from local politicians to change the name of the Mets new ballpark, team chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon went to bat for troubled Citigroup Tuesday, defending its decision to maintain a deal for naming rights.

Yanks watch as Braves aim for A.J.

While the Yankees sit and wait for CC Sabathia to decide whether it's worth $140 million to pitch in New York, the Braves have put themselves in position to take one of the other big names off the free-agent market.

News tours Citi Field

Citi Field, the Mets' new 42,500-seat ballpark, is simply Amazin'. Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon showed off the stadium, which is set to open in April 2009, with a media tour on Tuesday afternoon.

Mets: Citi Field it (still) is

The Mets say the name Citi Field will remain on their new ballpark and believe the struggling bank will survive its current economic crisis following a government bailout.

16-year-old Japanese girl signs pro baseball contract

A 16-year-old Japanese girl signed with a regional baseball team Tuesday, becoming the country's first female professional baseball player. Eri Yoshida, a knuckleball pitcher, will play for the Kobe 9 Cruise starting in April 2009.

Yanks pass on offers to Andy, Abreu

The Yankees opted not to offer arbitration to Andy Pettitte and Bobby Abreu - or any of their other six free agents - before Monday night's deadline, allowing teams to sign them without surrendering a draft pick.

Fuentes will talk with Mets, maybe at winter meetings

Brian Fuentes intends to meet face-to-face with the Mets, either in Las Vegas during next week's winter meetings or afterward in New York. Fuentes, 33, went 1-5 with 30 saves in 34 chances and a 2.73 ERA for the Rockies last season.

Rickey on 1st Fame ballot

Career steals leader Rickey Henderson heads 10 first-time candidates on this year's Hall of Fame ballot, joining holdovers Mark McGwire and Jim Rice - the latter eligible for the final time.

Yankees' decision time

The Yankee offseason - and the future of the club's player development - could be affected by Monday's arbitration deadline, a little bit of baseball bookkeeping that could influence Bobby Abreu and Andy Pettitte.

Mets can't lose with Oliver offer

Oliver Perez is going to get an offer from the Mets that he can refuse. Monday is the final day teams are allowed to offer salary arbitration on a one-year deal to their players who have filed for free agency. It's a no-lose for the Mets.

Mitchell sits down with News a year after 'roid review

It's been nearly a year since that cold and rainy day when former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell released his long-anticipated report on steroids and Major League Baseball during a standing-room only news conference.

Phil Hughes focusing on 2009

Last winter, Phil Hughes was one of the hottest commodities in baseball. Now, as the Yanks pursue free agent pitchers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, Hughes is uncertain whether he'll even be in the majors to start '09.

Where are they now? Former Met Jon Matlack

Jon Matlack, who retired as a player in 1983 at age 33, tried commercial real estate and raising horses in Texas after playing. But the more he got away from baseball, the more he felt the game's tug.

Madden: Baseball's top 10 turkeys

Leftovers anyone? Fortunately, baseball once again had a plentiful supply of turkeys for us to baste this season. Here's our annual Daily News top 10, stuffed with some rare birds indeed.

Former Mets coach under Torre dies at 81

Tom Burgess, who played briefly in the major leagues before serving as a coach under Joe Torre and Bobby Cox, has died. He was 81.

Buyers Beware: $100M pitching pacts big risks

While CC Sabathia has proven he's a terrific, durable pitcher, there are plentiful cautionary tales for the Yankees, Brewers and Angels to consider. None of the four previous $100 million pitchers has pitched in the playoffs for the team he signed with.

Once a slam dunk, steroid probes face unsettled future

The imminent change of leadership at the Justice Department, as President Bush's appointees hand off power to those of Barack Obama, makes it hard to predict the status of the appeal is steroid probes.

Lupica: Hal can be his own Boss

Hal Steinbrenner, who was always going to be the guy in charge no matter what his older brother kept saying, who was quietly learning the business while his brother kept talking, can do it his own way and make his own way.

The Score: Ask not what your Yanks can do for you

Nowhere in Gov. David Paterson's budget cuts is there a mention of the state's agreement to fund about $103 million in maintenance, construction and bond costs for parking garages at the Yankees' new stadium.

Playback: Scenes from the steroid era

The play 'BACK BACK BACK' is a fictionalized inquiry into the strange saga of former Oakland A's teammates Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco.

Manuel welcomes King-sized expectations

Befitting someone keenly aware of Dr. Martin Luther King's fight for equal rights, Jerry Manuel - the second African-American manager in New York baseball history, behind Randolph - welcomes the election of Barack Obama.

Legends make last curtain call at Yankee Stadium

It began 85 years ago when Babe Ruth christened Yankee Stadium with a home run to right field. It ended Sunday with wild applause for the greatest Yankees who brought 26 World Championships to the historic baseball cathedral.

Agee's upper-decker remains singular Shea swat

On a Wednesday afternoon at Shea Stadium, Tommie Agee made history in the second inning against the Montreal Expos, and there were only 8,608 fans in attendance to see it.