Pirates, Bay eye new deal

NOTES

The Pittsburgh Pirates, reluctant to sign players to multiyear contracts following a series of bad signings preceding their 2001 move into PNC Park, have opened talks with outfielder Jason Bay on a long-term deal.

Bay is enjoying a second consecutive strong season with a plus-.300 average, 30 homers, 20 stolen bases and 90 RBIs. He is the first Pirates player since Barry Bonds in 1992 to have at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season, and last season became the first player in club history to win the N.L. Rookie of the Year award.

“We have made Jason an offer,” general manager Dave Littlefield said. “He’s a well-rounded player and he’s performing at a high level. We also have a great deal of trust in what he will be able to do in the future.”

Bay played for North Idaho College and Gonzaga University.

Sold out in St. Louis

It took about two hours Monday for the N.L. Central champion St. Louis Cardinals to sell out all of their playoff games leading up the World Series.

Tickets for the division series and the NLCS went on sale at 9 a.m. and were sold out by around 11.

Bonds ready for boos

Barry Bonds expects boos everywhere he goes, and the rough treatment often fuels the slugger’s mighty swing all the more.

Most fans still love him in San Francisco, so this week will be Bonds’ first real taste of the taunting he’s likely to get whenever he’s away from SBC Park.

“Boos, you’re supposed to boo me, shoot,” Bonds said, laughing. “They ain’t mad at you, they like you, man. They’re supposed to boo you – because I’m good, that’s why. It’s all good.”

Clearing the bases

The Red Sox called up reliever Craig Hansen, the team’s first-round draft pick this year, from Double-A Portland, Maine. … Reds first baseman Sean Casey was examined by a spine specialist and cleared to begin light conditioning, but there’s no timetable for his return to the lineup.