Top News:
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: Harden, Dunn and Pelfrey — 1. A's GM Billy Beane has told me several times that he thinks the two most dominant starters in the AL are Seattle's Felix Hernandez and Rich Harden. His proviso always was something like “when Harden is healthy.” Beane knows...
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Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's trade Harden to Cubs in six-player deal; Harden calls it ‘bit of a shock’
A's trade Harden to Cubs in six-player deal; Harden calls it ‘bit of a shock’
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Cubs acquire RHP Harden from Athletics
Cubs acquire RHP Harden from Athletics
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Blogging Baseball and JSOnline
MLB.com:
Monster 2008 All-Star Game Final Vote on MLB.com reaches milestones as balloting enters its final 24 hours — Outcome of tight American and National League races in doubt heading into the home stretch — NEW YORK — Over the past 24 hours, as fans continue to cast their votes …
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Giambi needs rally to win final spot — Yankees promote All-Star hopeful with mustache campaign — NEW YORK — First, it was the Yankees, spreading their rallying cry of “Support the 'Stache” throughout the Bronx. Then it was the American Moustache Institute, officially supporting Jason …
Dan Martin / New York Post:
THERE'S A CATCH TO POSADA — Jorge Posada insists he is healthy and that his once ailing shoulder is no longer an issue. — “I'm fine,” Posada said. — Yet for the third straight game, Posada started as the DH last night, with Jose Molina behind the plate.
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Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
O's squander late lead, fall to Jays — Toronto scores five runs off 'pen, prevails in ninth as O's drop third straight — Toronto - Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera sat quietly, head resting in his right hand as he stared into his locker after a crushing 7-6 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays last night.
Discussion:
Oriole Magic
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New York Post:
FINGER-DIPPING PLAY-BY-PLAY — YANKEES radio announcer John Sterling is being called out for foul behavior in the stadium's press dining room. “Sterling has made a habit of walking over to the dessert table and dipping his finger into the ice cream barrel,” one stadium worker told us …
David Singh / MLB.com:
McGowan exits game with sore shoulder — Jays starter leaves after four innings, will undergo MRI — TORONTO — Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan left Tuesday's game against the Orioles with soreness in his right shoulder. The extent of the injury is unknown, but the Toronto right-hander …
Fox Sports:
Notebook: Will Dodgers ever make a move? — The Dodgers could have had CC Sabathia, but didn't pull the trigger. Ken Rosenthal doubts GM Ned Colletti will ever swing a big deal.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Byrnes likely done; Bonds to AZ? — Would you like to see the Diamondbacks sign Barry Bonds? — Yes. Whatever it takes to win Boy, I need to think about that — No way! — WASHINGTON - With all signs pointing toward Eric Byrnes' season being over, the Diamondbacks …
Baxter Holmes / Boston Globe:
Near triple-play gets Gardenhire tossed — How often do you see a called triple play get turn into an RBI single? — The Twins nearly turned a triple play in the seventh inning, but after further review, the center fielder Denard Span didn't make a clean diving catch on a fly ball from Jason Varitek.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies juggle their lineup to face new Brewer Sabathia — Old faces, new places. A funky Rockies lineup greeted CC Sabathia in his Brewers debut. Garrett Atkins shifted to first, Jayson Nix returned to second, Clint Barmes played third and Ryan Spilborghs moved to right.
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers will change hitting coach again — Mike Easler will be replaced by Don Mattingly after the All-Star break. — With the Dodgers' offense ranking among the worst in the league, the club is expected to change hitting coaches at the All-Star break by replacing Mike Easler with Don Mattingly …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Plan Promotion in Support of Giambi — Jason Giambi wore a mustache late in the 2006 season, but he did not keep it very long and it never became a phenomenon. He was a man ahead of his time. — “The fans weren't ready for it,” Giambi said, but now they are. “Just think, the Big G — a fashion icon.”
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Hair-raising plan to get Giambi vote out
Hair-raising plan to get Giambi vote out
Discussion:
New Jersey Online
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Fuentes on Yankees' radar (BoSox too) — Colorado lefty reliever Brian Fuentes has drawn interest from the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, among other teams, according to an official from another American League team. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Spilborghs' TV gig in jeopardy — MILWAUKEE — When Ryan Spilborghs came up lame rounding second base Tuesday, it not only prevented a run but jeopardized his trip to the All-Star Game. — He is scheduled to join Matt Holliday and Aaron Cook, having been given an All-Access media credential for Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
Discussion:
Trade Talk
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Tuned Out at Home — The Nats did not need insult added to all their injuries. But that's what they've got. — Of all the stunning and unexpected sports statistics that we will ever see, few take the breath away more quickly than the assertion on Monday, in Nielsen Media Research data published …