Mark McGwire's Hall of Fame candidacy looked drastically different in December of 2006, when he first appeared on the ballot, than it did when he retired following the 2001 season. The question now is whether the picture looks that much different in his second year of eligibility. McGwire, who retired as the No. 5 home run hitter of all time (he's now eighth), looked like a stone cold lock for immortality back when he called it a career. But by '06, the question of illegal performance-enhancing in drugs in baseball had become a front-burner issue, and McGwire was the first true casualty in Hall of Fame voting. "Big Mac" was named on 23.5 percent of ballots his first time around, ranking ninth among all candidates. It was more than enough to keep him on the ballot for another year, and he's the seventh-leading returning vote-getter on the '08 ballot. The Hall of Fame announcement will be made on Jan. 8.

Roger Clemens will address the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, after all. "We told him we want him to come," Jim Long president of the group told Houston TV station KRIV. "It's not for us to make any other decision." "We're not going to do Roger that way. All of the coaches involved want Roger to speak at our convention." It had been reported that the group was considering removing Clemens as a speaker after he was implicated in the Mitchell Report. The right-hander, who pitched for the New York Yankees last season, was the biggest name linked by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

What would have happened if Congress had called on Major League Baseball to allow Pete Rose back into the game? As far flung as that scenario sounds, it was actually something that an Ohio congressman and Rose's former attorney worked on for weeks, according to interviews with those involved. This proposed bill, which was never introduced because of Rose's reluctance to lobby Congress for the legislation, has never been reported. Neil Volz, chief of staff to former Rep. Bob Ney, said the idea to lobby MLB for Rose's reinstatement came after baseball's all-time hit leader won a spot on the All-Century Team in 1999. Rose, banned from the game since 1989 for betting on baseball games while playing for and managing the Cincinnati Reds, was allowed to attend Game Two of the 1999 World Series, during which the All-Century Team was introduced.

His stellar reputation shattered by an alleged drunken-driving crash that killed a hardworking mother, former Yankee slugger Jim Leyritz remained secluded in his Florida home Sunday, distressed and desperate for a good lawyer. With his worried parents, children and ex-wife Karrie providing comfort, Leyritz privately contemplated his spiral from pinstripes to the possibility of serving 15 years in prison stripes. "He was very down and distraught," Leyritz's agent Andrew Levy told the Daily News Sunday after speaking with Leyritz. "This whole thing hasn't settled in yet." Levy said that because of the holidays, Leyritz, who faces charges of manslaughter and drunken driving, has been unable to hire a lawyer. "He's just focused on securing an attorney," Levy said. "Christmas and New Year's, it's not the easiest time. He's taking one thing at a time, and he's at home with his family." Released on $11,000 bail, the one-time World Series hero has yet to speak publicly about the crash early Friday morning in Fort Lauderdale that killed 30-year-old Fredia Ann Veitch, a mother of two.

One final shot. One last chance. That is what Reds' shortstop great Dave Concepcion is facing when it comes to his eligibility for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the writers' ballot. Players are limited to 15 years on the ballot, and this is year No. 15 for the man that wore No. 13 in Cincinnati. Not only was Concepcion a member of the legendary "Big Red Machine" that won four pennants -- including World Series championships in 1975-76 -- he is viewed as a trailblazing pioneer for generations of Latino ballplayers enjoying thriving careers. Among those inspired by Concepcion's dazzling skills were two other No. 13's, ranging from Ozzie Guillen to another defensive great Omar Vizquel. "I used to see every move he made," Vizquel once said of Concepcion. "For me, that was like a school. Just watching him during the game was a big inspiration for me."

It wasn't all that long ago that many skeptics considered Takashi Saito a long shot to make the jump from Japan to the Major Leagues. However, in the span of just two years, Saito has established himself as an All-Star closer and an ambassador for the Dodgers. The 37-year-old from Miyagi, Japan, compiled 63 saves over the past two seasons while earning the admiration of his teammates for his play on the field. And his personality quickly made the man they call "Sammy" one of the more popular players in the Dodgers' clubhouse. The Dodgers think so highly of their right-hander that they asked him to fly back to Los Angeles from his home in Japan to be one of four current players, along with Nomar Garciaparra, Hong-Chih Kuo and James Loney, to represent the team on their first official float at the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on Tuesday. "It's an honor for me to be a part of this parade," said Saito through his interpreter, Kuni Nakatani. "I always enjoy seeing my teammates, but more than that I am excited to see the famous former Dodger players. I'm very excited and can't wait to see them."

The Pirates are talking to free-agent starter Runelvys Hernandez about returning. Hernandez, 29, pitched for Kansas City from 2002-06 and made four starts for Class AAA Indianapolis last season -- 8.47 ERA -- but sought his release in September after the Pirates did not add him to the 25-man roster.

Even though he is entering his first year of arbitration eligibility, there's already talk that Scott Kazmir's days as a Ray are numbered. Kazmir is coming off his best season, reaching career highs in wins (13), innings pitched (2062/3) and strikeouts (an AL-high 239). Considering the way the Rays monitored his workload, limiting his pitch counts and innings for most of the second half, it's clear they consider Kazmir a big part of their future. In an age in which finding quality starting pitching is hard and keeping it more difficult, the Rays - who don't comment on contract negotiations - might be wise to go to the bargaining table and work out a long-term deal with Kazmir. Here's the glitch. The Rays explored the possibility last year, but nothing developed. And Kazmir, who couldn't be reached for comment, doesn't appear to be in a hurry to sign a long-term deal of the likes of Carl Crawford's or Rocco Baldelli's.

It has been a most foul holiday season for Bud Selig and Major League Baseball in the wake of the Mitchell Report's release. But the 20-month investigation into the sport's steroid culture - which outed Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte as having used performance enhancers - may pale in comparison to what former Bash Brother Jose Canseco has in store for Opening Day 2008. According to his attorney, Canseco has finalized a deal to publish the sequel to his 2005 best-seller "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big," and is targeting the new book's release date to coincide with the start of next season. Happy New Year, Bud. "We just signed the deal," Robert Saunooke, Canseco's attorney, told the Daily News. "'Vindicated' is still the working title. It's dependent on us delivering a manuscript by Jan. 11. It's up to us now to finish up and get it to them." Saunooke would not disclose the publisher but said it would not be HarperCollins, which published "Juiced."

Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens' former trainer, has added another attorney to his legal team and could file a defamation suit against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, according to The New York Times in its Saturday edition. Richard D. Emery, a prominent New York lawyer, told the newspaper he has been asked by the lawyer for McNamee to assist in defending McNamee against allegations that he lied to former Sen. George Mitchell's investigators about Clemens' use of steroids and human growth hormone. McNamee's lawyer Earl Ward told the Times he recruited Emery because of his experience in libel and defamation cases.