Leadoff hitters are best identified early and developed at the minor-league level. 

The real reason the Yankees shouldn't go after Adam Dunn, in this space's humble opinion, is that they already have enough lightning rods. 

Greg Maddux, who won four Cy Young Awards and 355 games, will announce his retirement Monday. 

Should the Dodgers build youth Baseball fields instead of signing top-ranked players? If so, should the networks and movie theaters book second-rate shows, and give the money they save to schools? Or should the studios sign unknown actors instead of stars 

Joe Torre has spoken with Andy Pettitte, the Dodgers' manager confirmed to Newsday, but doesn't foresee Pettitte heading west for a reunion with his former manager. 

The Dodgers figure to be a dramatically different team next season. 

The Dodgers figure to be a dramatically different team next season. 

The Dodgers figure to be a dramatically different team next season. 

The Dodgers will go to the winter meetings with their offseason priorities largely unchanged, mostly because they have yet to make a significant move since being eliminated from the National League playoffs. 

--LF Manny Ramirez was offered arbitration by the Dodgers before the deadline, but no one in the organization expects him to accept it. 

The Dodgers will go to the winter meetings with their offseason priorities largely unchanged, mostly because they have yet to make a significant move since being eliminated from the National League playoffs. 

--LF Manny Ramirez was offered arbitration by the Dodgers before the deadline, but no one in the organization expects him to accept it. 

CC Sabathia and A. 

CC Sabathia and A. 

The Dodgers have been involved in extensive talks this week about acquiring longtime Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, with one hang-up being his $7.