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
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 …
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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 …
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Jeter's spectacular play helps seal win over Rays — Derek Jeter pumps his fist after the last out is made in the Yankees' 5-0 victory over the Rays Tuesday night. (Newsday photo/Paul J. Bereswill / July 8, 2008) — Andy Pettitte had been so good, so dominant all night long.
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
O's can't hold lead, drop heartbreaker — Huff's 18th homer of season spoiled in loss to Jays — TORONTO — No music. No conversation. No sound at all, except for the hiss of a game gone wrong. — Daniel Cabrera stared straight ahead into his locker Tuesday night, oblivious to the gathering crowd around him.
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Oriole Post
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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 …
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Despite trade rumors, Wolf wants to stay — SAN DIEGO — Randy Wolf has had his hands full recently trying to iron out mechanical issues that, prior to Tuesday's victory over Florida, left him with four consecutive losses. — But that doesn't mean the 31-year-old left-handed pitcher …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Blake may be near end of Tribe tenure — Cleveland (37-52) at Detroit (45-44), Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. ET — DETROIT — CC Sabathia is gone. Casey Blake could be next. — Blake, a free agent after this season, has seen his name dragged through the rumor mill in recent weeks …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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 …
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 …
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 …