European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 30, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pace 30 stars an p stripes Friday March 30 2007 reach in 07 spend from Back Page Tom Glavine the Ace of the new York mets staff while Pedro Martinez recovers from rotator cuff surgery needs 10 victories to reach 300 and will get going right away in the opener at St Louis on april 1 Randy Johnson Back with Arizona after snarling through two unsuccessful seasons with the Yankees starts the sea son with 280 victories the san Diego padres Trevor Hoffman is 18 saves shy of 500 Sammy Sosa trying to restart his career with the Texas rangers after a year off from the game needs 12 homers to reach 600 the Houston astros Craig Biggio is 70 hits shy of the 3000 club then theres Roger Clemens the seven time by Young award Winner is Likely to add to his 348 wins and 4604 strikeouts the 44yearold rocket wont decide until May whether to pitch for Houston the Yankees Boston or stay retired theres Days where in excited about it maybe i should try it and then three Days later in thinking that theres no Way he said i Doht know that i can put my body through that again the unhappy Yankees Are com ing off their ninth straight Al East title but another uneasy off season manager Joe Torre nearly was fired after the first round playoff loss to the Detroit tigers Johnson and Gary Sheffield were traded and the team told Bernie Williams there was no room for him Back in the Bronx the Yan Kees Haven won the series since 2000 and Alex Rodriguez has hinted that he might opt out of his million contract after this season if he Doest find Success and appreciation i want to be a Yankee and i understand my contract Arod said coyly i understand my options Boston made the biggest offset son splash bidding for the rights to japanese Star Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka then signed him to a million Deal even if he Doest throw a by Roball a pitch that appears to be More fiction than fact Dick looked dominating at times during Spring training Hes not from this planet Hes coming from somewhere else Hes awesome Baltimore Melvin Mora said after twice Tak ing called third strikes against Dick 1 major league baseball Barry Bonds enters the 2007 season needing 159 hits to reach 300070 Bis to get to 2000 and 144 runs to break Rickey hendersons record of 2295 at 734 homers Hes 21 shy of Hank Aarons towering record As the first pitch of the 2007 season inches closer to Home major league baseball is at the height of its popularity having set an Overall attendance record for the third straight year in 2006 As always a new Spring brings new questions will Barry Bonds surpass Tfank Aaron on the career Home run he does How will the monumental feat be received considering his recent Check ered past How will Daisuke Matsuzaka who the red sox spent More than million on before even throwing a pitch in America per form under the Micro scope of the Yankees red sox rivalry will there be Sophomore slumps for Hanley Ramirez Justin Vernander Ryan Zimmerman Jonathan Papelbon and others who made up the most talented Rookie class in years can new manager Lou Piniella save the cubbies after management outspent everybody by dropping nearly million As the sports adage goes that Why they play the games High yield Bonds Parks with most Bonds homers Park Parks three Rivers stadium qua comm stadium Cin Ergy Field olympic stadium dodger stadium veterans stadium Wrigley Field Coors Reid number of games to reach each Milestone hh100 Tan 300 400 Aaron 538 41t 405 453 391 386 328 191 Bonds 640 454 355 4t0 290 Jacw 30 185 Julie Tom Glavine who needs 10 wins to reach 300 for his career will Start the new York mets opener late career Boom career hitting pirates giants year or at Bat to or ratio major league record injured for most of 2005 a Jeff san Diego padres closer Trevor Hoffman is 18 saves shy of 500 the Pittsburgh pirates enter with 14 straight losing seasons two shy of the record set by the Philadelphia Phillies from 193348 and is one of the few teams with virtually no title Hopes the Atlanta braves who dropped to 7983 after 14 consecutive division titles also want to climb Back above 500 Quick bursts Are the key for Many Piniella is among seven new managers joined by the Flor Ida marlins fredi Gonzalez the Oakland athletics Bob Geren san Diego Bud Black san fran discos Bruce Bochy Texas Ron Washington and the Washington nationals Manny Acta its important for every team including ours to get off to a fast Start Piniella said it really buoys Confidence and can propel you to a really Good season some teams spent lavishly to fill holes the los Angeles Angels brought in outfielder Gary mat thews or for million then fret Ted when his name came up in a human growth hormone Case investigation that is continuing san Francisco gave Zito million the richest contract for a Pitcher and even the lowly Kansas City royals parted with Money giving Gil Meche million others already Are looking ahead to potential holes next win Ter when Atlanta Andrew Jones the Minnesota twins Torii Hunter and the Seattle mariners Ichiro Suzuki can become free agents for the nationals one of the few teams with no playoff Hopes it will be their last season at Frk stadium before moving to their new Ballpark rising along the Ana Costia River South of the Capitol it will be the next to last seasons for Yankee stadium and Shea stadium in new York while there int any International play planned there May be a Beijing opener in 2008 2009 and 2010 theres a new look with different material for Caps and a changed style for Bat tin practice jerseys for the first time All teams will store base balls in temperature controlled rooms theres a new postseason schedule with three additional of Days that push the Start of the world series to a tuesday a requirement in baseballs new Tele vision contract its not about Money in the playoffs said Hall of Famer will in Mays Bonds godfather its about getting Lucky a sports writers Rick Gano Janie Mccauley and Howard Ulman contributed to this report