Marco Scutaro Looking for Long-Term Deal

Marco Scutaro has taken his time blossoming into a legit baseball player. Last season, at the age of 34, Scutaro had a career year for the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s now a free agent and there are many teams interested in gaining his services.

In 144 games, Scutaro set career-highs in batting average (.282), on-base percentage (.379), slugging percentage (.409), homers (12), RBIs (60), runs (100), doubles (35), walks (90) and stolen bases (14). That was an impressive feat consideringSource: Knuckle Curve RSS Feed

Upset Special: Texans Over Colts

Why are the unbeaten Colts only three point favorites on the road against the Texans, a team that probably saw its playoff hopes evaporate Monday night against Tennessee? Last year in this spot, the Colts trailed big in the fourth quarter … until Houston backup QB Sage Rosenfels memorably intervened, made the worst decisions possible, and saved Indy’s season. The Colts rallied for a 33-27 victory, and never lost again in the regular season.

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USF Football Coach Bloodied After Player Headbutt

Jim Leavitt never lets us down. As his USF squad plods through a relatively forgettable season, Leavitt still gives us reason to care - like when he shows up to his postgame presser yesterday looking like this:

Greg Auman of the St. Peterburg Times reports that, “when USF coach Jim Leavitt took the podium after Saturday’s 34-22 win against Louisville, he looked as if he’d played in the game himself, with a bloody gash across the bridge of his nose and a red mark above his leftSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Jay Cutler Has No Night Moves

Jay Cutler in night games this season: 0-3 with 11 interceptions in losses to Green Bay, Atlanta, and San Francisco (all on the road). Perhaps being at home will change his fortunes? It has already been a rough day for road favorites - Cincinnati and Pittsburgh lost; Arizona didn’t cover - and we actually like the Bears tonight. Game’s got massive playoff implications, especially for the 4-5 Bears.

Other TV options: MLS Cup Final, ESPN. Duffy previewed it.
College hoops:Source: The Big Lead RSS Feed

Gerhart’s Girlfriend Speaks: ‘He’s One Big Muscle’

It’ll probably never get better for Toby Gerhart, a running back for Stanford who was largely anonymous until four days ago. But in the aftermath of leading The Cardinal to a 55-21 drubbing of USC at The Coliseum, he’s now a hot college football commodity.

Gerhart’s performance last Saturday and this season will almost certainly warrant an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York, and his NFL draft stock is on the rise. Not to mention he’s an accomplished baseball Source: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Could Pena be available...

Tommy Rancel of DRaysbay makes a pretty convincing case for his Rays to trade Carlos Pena.
The 31 y/o left handed first baseman is on the last year of a contract in which he'll earn 10.12MM for the season. Pena is a classic late bloomer who bounced between four teams before becoming a starter at the age of 28 y/o. The Rangers, Tigers, Red Sox and Yankees all gave up on him before he became the Rays starting first baseman.
In 2007 he hit .282 with 49 homeruns over the next twoSource: Mets Fever RSS Feed

Are the Mets after Granderson

It sounds like Detroit could be very active this off-season in the trade market as they attempt to shed salary. One of the names being floated is Curtis Granderson but I have not heard the Mets linked to Granderson at all. The 28 y/o left handed hitting center fielder would be an incredible up grade defensively in left field and has the power for Citi field. He has lead the AL in triples two separate seasons and hit 30 HRs last year, while his average dipped to .249 he is a lifetime .272Source: Mets Fever RSS Feed

This Vintage Mets Jacket Could Have Been Yours For $14,500

An auction of Bernie Madoff’s prized possessions was held on-line and at the Sheraton Hotel in Times Square yesterday, with the goal being to raise money for those who lost money by investing with him.

This item caught my eye. Really, a Mets jacket with his name stitched on the back? Did Strawberry or Doc even have one of these?

It went for a cool $14,500. Now some other dick is wearing it.

Pieces of Madoff [CNN Money]
Madoff’s ill-gotten gains sold off [NYSource: The Big Lead RSS Feed

New Twins Ad Features Joe Mauer In Bubble Wrap

The Minnesota Twins are leaving the Metrodome and relocating to the brand-new state-of-the-art Target Field. To remind fans of this fact, the Twins have put together a TV commercial showing movers at the new digs delivering the goods - such as boxes, championship trophies, and Joe Mauer encased in bubble wrap.

Video of the full ad after the jump.

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The MLB Free Agents Are Irrelevant, Focus On Trades

MLB Trade Rumors released their top 50 Free Agents List. It’s as titillating as a memoir of A.C. Green’s sexcapades. Matt Holliday, the top rated player, can’t hack it in the American League. John Lackey, the top rated pitcher, has missed 15 starts with arm trouble the past two seasons and been relevant for Cy Young voting once. Marco effing Scutaro cracked the top ten.

These free agents will be hyped, to talk about something, but none of them will dramatically affect a team’sSource: The Big Lead RSS Feed

Video: Cal’s Jahvid Best Lands On Neck After Leap

Cal running back Jahvid Best made an ugly landing on his neck after an unbelievable leap over an Oregon State defender for a touchdown tonight.

Best was attended to by doctors for a prolonged period on the field before being immobilized on a stretcher.

The AP reports:

Best’s helmet came off on impact. He vaulted into the air over safety Cameron Collins. Paramedics removed his jersey and Best was on oxygen when carted away.

Not a good sign. Hopefully oxygen isSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Sammy Sosa’s Strange New Face: “rejuvenation process for his skin”

Sammy Sosa’s new look was so shocking that it zipped around the internet at warp speed. The Chicago Tribune explored the situation, and spoke to a former Cubs employee who is friendly with Sosa: “He is going through a rejuvenation process for his skin, … Women have it all of the time. He was surprised he came out looking so white. I thought it was a body double. Part of (the photo appearance) is just the lighting … He is in the middle of doing a cleansing process to his skin. TheSource: The Big Lead RSS Feed

27

Pettitte strong through 5.2 as Matsui wins MVP

On a 3-2 pitch to Shane Victorino, Joe Buck kept the theatrics to a minimum. “To the second baseman, Cano,” he said. “The Yankees are back on top. World Champions for the 27th time.”

At Blondie’s on the Upper West Side, where Chris Meloni had joined us a few innings into the game, we were less composed. As Victorino’s ground ball bounced toward Robinson Cano, we leaped, we high-fived and we hugged as Cano fielded andSource: River Avenue Blues RSS Feed

BCS Bowl Games Predictions: Uninteresting Unbeatens and Penn State vs. Notre Dame

On a lazy Wednesday, how about some navel-gazing BCS projections?

Florida/Alabama (SEC champ) vs. Texas (Big 12 champ) - 100% sure it’ll involve two of these three teams.
Oregon (Pac-10 champ) vs. Iowa (Big 10 champ) - Practically written in stone.
Notre Dame (at-large) vs. Penn State (at-large) - BCS would be so lucky to get a matchup like this. Boffo ratings.
Alabama/Florida (at-large) vs. Georgia Tech (ACC Champ) - Mighty Tide/Gators defense against the always-funSource: The Big Lead RSS Feed