Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mussina looking like an All-Star in win — Righty wins third straight start, buoyed by Jeter's milestone — NEW YORK — If Mike Mussina had his choice of where to spend a three-day July vacation, chances are that he'd drive home to the tiny town of Montoursville, Pa. …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Jeter now third on Yanks' all-time hits list — No. 2,416 scores a run and carries shortstop past Mantle — NEW YORK — Derek Jeter stood at first base, reluctant to doff his batting helmet and acknowledge the roaring Yankee Stadium crowd. — He was even more hesitant …
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iYankees
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Posada will need surgery after season — Jorge Posada is on the Yankees active roster tonight, but not in the lineup; he is scheduled to catch tomorrow. — And he said today he will need surgery after the season to repair his labrum. — “There's no discomfort,” said Posada …
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Sean Brennan / NY Daily News:
Jorge Posada is ready to start Thursday — Jorge Posada was getting reacquainted with the Yankees locker room following his long stint on the disabled list, when he was asked if the Bombers were ready to make a move in the standings now that the gang was, finally, all here.
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New York Post
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Red Sox retake first from Rays 5-1 — The Rays' B.J. Upton is tossed by ump Paul Emmel in the eighth for arguing a called third strike. Boston won its 12th in a row at home. — BOSTON — The Red Sox are, like the Rays, known as one of the most aggressive baserunning teams in the majors.
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Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
BoSox run home streak to 12, beat Rays — BOSTON (AP)—B.J. Upton was ejected for arguing a third strike. Dustin Pedroia was mad that a ball that appeared to be a homer was ruled foul. And Coco Crisp slid in hard to send a message. — That kind of emotion surfaces when teams are playing …
MLB.com:
White Sox sign pitcher Esteban Loaiza to one-year contract and option Ehren Wassermann to Triple-A Charlotte — Dewayne Wise accepts outright assignment to Charlotte — CHICAGO — Prior to tonight's game vs. Kansas City, the Chicago White Sox signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Esteban Loaiza …
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Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
BABY BOSS: I'M DOWN, BUT ... WHEN he picked up the phone yesterday, Hank Steinbrenner was a little down, not because of the results of Joba Chamberlain's first start - that's only step one in what should be a long starting career, and Steinbrenner's faith in Joba the Starter has never been stronger …
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John Harper / NY Daily News:
Harper: Joba moving, doubt rising — You can feel the concern creeping into the Yankee clubhouse. By now the Yankees are practically the home office for slow starts, but the players are all too aware that improved pitching throughout the American League East means it won't be so easy to bludgeon their way to the top this year.
Kevin Goldstein / Unfiltered:
D-Rays On Beckham (or, Money Changes Everything) — As we close in on midnight, the draft is still, well, pretty much a mess, but there looks to be some direction finally with the Rays at number one overall. It's not because they've made a decision on who is the best player …
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Saber-Scouting
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David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Emotions boil over as losing continues — The time for patience and politeness came to a screeching halt Wednesday. — The team president started his morning by yelling at the coaches. Pieces of equipment — and a garbage can — were hurled in the postgame clubhouse.
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays mum on who will be No. 1 pick — Club to select from among five players in Thursday's Draft — BOSTON — The Rays remained tight-lipped Wednesday about who will be the first player selected in Thursday's 2008 First-Year Player Draft. — The Rays hold the top pick in the Draft …
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Clayton Kershaw's hard work doesn't pay off for Dodgers — Rookie left-hander makes 104 pitches while laboring through five innings and takes the loss, his first major league decision, as Dodgers fall to Rockies, 2-1. — Clayton Kershaw received his first major league decision in his third start …
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Statue of Liberty gets MLB makeover — Versions of landmark to adorn NYC leading up to All-Star Game — An open letter to the people of France: — Bonjour! We in America are still very thankful for the Statue of Liberty. — She is a fine lady. She still stands for freedom and huddled masses and all of that.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Draft 2008: Pirates set to pick Alvarez — Next step: Sign Vanderbilt star to contract by Aug. 15 — When the Pirates' turn comes in Major League Baseball's draft this afternoon, according to multiple sources, they plan to use their No. 2 overall choice to take Vanderbilt University third baseman Pedro Alvarez.
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Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
ESPN:
Smoltz to have season-ending shoulder surgery — Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, who spent five weeks on the disabled list with an inflamed rotator cuff, will have season-ending shoulder surgery. — The report first appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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