Projo Sox Blog

A later-than-usual spin around the baseball world . . .

ONE MORE TIME: Two days after he was named the best general manager in baseball by SI.com's Jon Heyman, Theo Epstein gets the same compliment from FoxSports.com's Dayn Perry.

TOP TEN LIST: The FoxSports.com blog Half-Baked Ravings lists the 10 burning issues facing the Red Sox this spring.

Q AND A: The always informative David Laurilia interviews recent Sox signee Jonathan Van Every on redsoxnation.net. Van Every gives a few interesting observations on Red Sox prospects, having played against them last year in Akron. The notion of Clay Buchholz ''carving everyone up'' helps ease the angst of Curt Schilling's predicament.

TO EXPAND UPON WHAT I SAID . . . Schilling posted some thoughts to 38pitches.com one day after breaking his spring silence and speaking to selected members of the media. (projo.com)

BACK FROM THE BRINK: SI.com's Jon Heyman reports Johnny Damon seriously considered retirement prior to the 2007 season. But now he's relaxed and back in shape and looking forward to a big year. (New York Daily News)

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Jason Giambi would solve a big problem for the Yankees if he could play first base, and he thinks he can. (New York Post)

I CAN'T HELP MYSELF: Try as he might, and try he did, the New York Post's Joel Sherman can't bring himself to hate Andy Pettitte.

OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT: Alex Rodriguez has reported to Yankee camp and is happy there's a controversy he's not involved in. (Daily News blog)

IT'S IN THE GENES: The ''elusive'' Hal Steinbrenner gives an interview to men.style.com in which he takes some shots at the Red Sox at the very end.

THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE: The not-so-elusive Hank Steinbrenner declares that Joe Girardi is Billy Martin without the baggage (New York Post). Newsday's Johnette Howard, meanwhile, thinks Hank will be after Brian Cashman's head for not acquiring Johan Santana if the Yankees fail to win this year.

A NEW BEGINNING: Life is starting anew for Scott Rolen, who's trading one type of bird (Cardinals) for another (Blue Jays). (Toronto Star)

ASK ME ANYTHING . . . EXCEPT THAT: Miguel Tejada was chatty and happy on his first day in the Astros' camp, unless the subject was steroids and Congress and perjury charges. (Houston Chronicle)

ANY TAKERS? Barry Bonds is ready to play, but nobody seems to want him (espn.go.com).

WE KNOW, WE KNOW: CBSSports.com's Scott Miller says even the Orioles know they're going to stink in '08.

HERE AND THERE: Brian Roberts has reported to the Orioles, but who knows how long he'll be there? (Baltimore Sun) . . . Vladimir Guerrero says he's a right fielder, not a DH (Los Angeles Times) . . . Jose Reyes promises to tone it down this season (Newsday) . . . It's five years and $22 million for the Rangers' Ian Kinsler, which buys out two years of free agency (Dallas Morning News) . . . Kinsler's former teammate, Mark Texeira, is giving no hints as to whether or not he'll stay with the Braves beyond this season (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . Juan Gonzalez is on the comeback trail in St. Louis (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) . . . Freddy Garcia is job-hunting with the Mets (si.com) . . . Milton Bradley, last seen tearing up his knee in a heated dispute with an umpire, says he'll be ready to DH for the Rangers by Opening Day (mlb.com) . . . Refuting a published report from the Dominican, the White Sox say they're not close to signing Bartolo Colon (Chicago Tribune).

OLD FRIENDS: Byung-Hyun Kim has hooked on with the Pirates (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) . . . Eric Hinske says he can still play third base if the Rays need him there (Tampa Tribune) . . . Bobby Howry is the early favorite to take over as Cubs' closer (Chicago Tribune).

-- ART MARTONE

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