Top News:
Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Phillies could not compete in Sabathia stakes — The Phillies placed Cy Young winner CC Sabathia atop their trade-deadline wish list but fell short simply because they couldn't beat the package the Milwaukee Brewers put together for him. — The Brewers offered top prospect Matt LaPorta to Cleveland …
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Looking to Postseason, Brewers Trade for Sabathia — After the Milwaukee Brewers made a bold move by acquiring C. C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians on Monday, one team official mentioned the imminent “C. C. surge.” He was referring to sales of tickets and souvenirs …
Katie Strang / Newsday:
Asking price for Sabathia scares off Yankees — General manager Brian Cashman confirmed that the Yankees were interested in trading for lefthander CC Sabathia but said the asking price ultimately was too high. “We engaged the Indians on it but felt the price tag wasn't one we were willing …
Discussion:
NJ.com
Joe / Mets Today:
Beltran's Throw — During the ninth inning of last night's game against the Phillies, Carlos Beltran made a throw to third base in attempt to nail Eric Bruntlett going from first to third on a single by Pedro Feliz. The ball got away from third baseman David Wright, allowing Bruntlett to score and Feliz to take second base.
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Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Mets hang on to beat Phillies — To quote the immortal Bob Murphy, who said this 18 years ago on the air after an identical 10-9 win in Philadelphia: “They win the damn thing!” — Here are some notes of interest: — • The Mets moved within 2.5 games of first place.
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Kuroda brilliant in one-hitting Braves — Dodgers right-hander takes perfect game into eighth inning — LOS ANGELES — Hiroki Kuroda was nearly perfect Monday in the Dodgers' 3-0 victory over the Braves in front of 39,896 to open the series. — Instead, he was just very good and settled …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Kuroda's one-hitter is a sunny delight — LOS ANGELES - The sunny view here amid the palm trees and rag tops has the Dodgers coming to understand Joe Torre and Torre getting them, the only explanation for a July that has seen six wins and 36 runs in seven games, because it couldn't possibly …
Discussion:
Associated Press
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets have no interest in Bonds — PHILADELPHIA - After more than 15 minutes of grilling on Ryan Church, concussions, migraines and any number of brain-related issues, general manager Omar Minaya actually seemed relieved Monday when someone asked him about pursuing Barry Bonds.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Church gets his head examined one more time — PHILADELPHIA - Ryan Church arrived in New York Sunday night and underwent an MRI exam of his brain and neck Monday, the Mets said, confirming an earlier Daily News report that he had left the team. Results of both MRIs were negative, and Church is day-to-day.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates expecting Wilson to stay put — Coonelly: Team will ‘evaluate carefully every potential trade’ — The Pirates expect to keep shortstop Jack Wilson beyond Major League Baseball's July 31 trading deadline, despite overtures from several teams in the past week. — And he might stay a lot longer than that.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Milton Bradley / Bats:
‘What Have I Done Now?’ — Milton Bradley, the Texas Rangers' designated hitter, was named to his first All-Star team and will play for the American League at Yankee Stadium next week. He will contribute occasional items to the New York Times's Bats blog about his All-Star experience.
Mark Kiszla / Denver Post:
$31 million, all we got was a lousy Tulo — At age 23, is shortstop Troy Tulowitzki too big to be bent over the knee of Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and given a spanking? — On a team that has failed to live up to expectations, the biggest bust has been Tulowitzki.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Baxter Holmes / Boston Globe:
Masterson sent down to become reliever; Ortiz takes BP — Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson will be sent to Triple A Pawtucket this week to become a reliever, Sox manager Terry Francona announced Monday. — Clay Buchholz will return from Pawtucket later this week to take Masterson's spot in the rotation …
Discussion:
The Bottom Line
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Hendry: 'Nothing's changed' in wake of CC trade — The Cubs aren't planning any rush jobs or ramping up efforts to make a trade in the wake of CC Sabathia's trade to the rival Brewers. — It's not like historically aggressive general manager Jim Hendry suddenly could get more aggressive …
