Baseball looking at Olympic return

The earliest it can win reinstatement is 2009, when the International Olympic Committee considers the sports program for the 2016 Games. The International Baseball Federation said Friday that it has set up a commission "to evaluate and resolve the problems connected with baseball's return to the Olympic program." The move came after a meeting in Rome of international baseball officials from 22 countries. Raffaele Pagnozzi, secretary of the Italian and European Olympic Committees, said he expected baseball to be readmitted "very soon." Baseball and softball were dropped from the Olympics after the 2008 Beijing Games in an IOC vote last year. Baseball has been an Olympic sport since 1992, but will not be part of the 2012 London Games. 2008 GAMES: The host city of the Summer Games is considering hospitalizing the mentally ill, relaxing restrictions on religious services and giving many businesses and factories a holiday as possible contingency measures during the Beijing Olympics.

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Notes: Sanchez says he's not sagging

CINCINNATI -- Freddy Sanchez can see the question coming from a mile away and, quite frankly, he's sick of having to answer it. No, it's not the inquiries about Sanchez's chase for the batting title that bother him. He's used to dealing with those on a daily basis. What really gets under Sanchez's skin is the question of his durability. Unfairly, perhaps, Sanchez has been tagged as a guy who might wear down as the season progresses. It's an issue that, in no small part, led the Pirates to sign Joe Randa in the offseason and forced Sanchez to hit his way off of the Bucs' bench. With Sanchez mired in a 1-for-13 slump that has dropped his September batting average to .234, is he starting to wear down? "Wearing down? Come on. Of course I am not," Sanchez said.

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MSU Begins Fall Baseball Practice On Labor Day

STARKVILLE, Miss. - A decades old MSU baseball tradition continues September 4 at Dudy Noble Field when Mississippi State's Baseball Bulldogs begin their fall "off-season work" on Labor Day. Ron Polk, beginning his 28th season as Mississippi State head coach, said 65 players are expected to begin MSU's six-week fall drills Monday. A staggered Monday practice schedule will begin at 11:30 a.m. and continue through the afternoon. Most fall practice sessions will be held in the afternoons at Dudy Noble Field and all are open to the public. "A total evaluation of the players is the focus of our fall practice," said Polk. "Were anxious to see what kind of shape our 35 returning players are in and get our first look at our new signees and walk-on candidates." The Bulldogs return four position starters and 18 letter-winners from the 2005 club that posted a 37-23 record and advanced to the championship of the NCAA Clemson Regional in South Carolina.

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