It happened Nov. 

It happened Nov. 

The pitching staff was in a general state of disarray at the end of the season following an April breakdown of the rotation and an August/September collapse of the back end of the bullpen. 

The pitching staff was in a general state of disarray at the end of the season following an April breakdown of the rotation and an August/September collapse of the back end of the bullpen. 

The Tigers may have to risk opening the season with most of the same starters who contributed substantially to Detroit's disappointing 2008 campaign. 

--1B/3B Jeff Larish might be blocked from a starting spot on Detroit's roster, but a solid Arizona Fall League capped a year in which he showed he's just about ready to leave the minors behind. 

The Tigers may have to risk opening the season with most of the same starters who contributed substantially to Detroit's disappointing 2008 campaign. 

--1B/3B Jeff Larish might be blocked from a starting spot on Detroit's roster, but a solid Arizona Fall League capped a year in which he showed he's just about ready to leave the minors behind. 

GOWEN -- Wanda Meyer averages one hat per game. 

It happened on Nov. 

The way general manager Neal Huntington sees it, the Pirates' coming winter could be downright tumultuous. 

A week after trading away center fielder Coco Crisp, the Red Sox' efforts to move shortstop Julio Lugo have stalled. 

Sometimes teams or athletes that had looked unbeatable flail in the biggest moments. 

Mike Mussina, a 270-game winner who won 20 this year for theNewYorkYankees, left no doubt last week: He is retiring. 

The Dodgers, seeking a possible replacement for free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, balked at the Pirates' asking price for shortstop Jack Wilson during recent trade talks, according to major-league sources.