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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 95: Yankees at Blue Jays — YANKEES (50-44) — BLUE JAYS (46-48) — Andy Pettitte (10-6, 3.93) vs. the Toronto hitters. — A.J. Burnett (9-8, 5.23) vs. the New York hitters. — Notes: The Yankees have won five of seven. This is the final game before the All-Star break. ...
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Richard Goldstein / New York Times:
Bobby Murcer, 62, Yankee on Field and Air, Dies
Bobby Murcer, 62, Yankee on Field and Air, Dies
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Deadspin, The Weblog That Derek Built, NY Daily News and Bugs & Cranks
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Marmol replaces Wood on NL All-Stars — Blister will keep Cubs closer out of Midsummer Classic — CHICAGO — Cubs pitcher Carlos Marmol was named to the National League All-Star team to replace teammate Kerry Wood, who cannot pitch because of a blister on his pitching hand.
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The Cub Reporter (TCR)
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Associated Press:
Marmol replaces Wood, gives Cubs 8 All-Stars … NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Marmol became the eighth Cubs player on the NL All-Star team when he was selected Sunday to replace injured Chicago teammate Kerry Wood. — Marmol was picked because he was the relief pitcher with the highest vote on the player ballot.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Futures looks very bright — Exhibition game for young prospects is giving fans a peek at the stars tomorrow — Less than a month before Joba Chamberlain burst on to the Yankees scene last summer, you could have caught your first glimpse of him in the Futures Game at the All-Star Game.
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Will Lingo / Baseball America Prospects Blog:
Bottom 9th: World preserves shutout — The United States put together its best rally of the game, but it still couldn't scratch out a run as the World team preserved a 3-0 victory. — Third baseman Wes Hodges opened the inning with a double, but when Jamie D'Antona and Nate Schierholtz flied …
Discussion:
Unfiltered
Associated Press:
Miles' 5 RBIs lead Cardinals past Pirates 11-6 — PITTSBURGH - Aaron Miles drove in five runs with a home run and a triple and the St. Louis Cardinals held off a Pittsburgh comeback this time, beating the Pirates 11-6 today. — Miles got three hits and is batting .344 as a starter.
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox in first place at All-Star break — The Red Sox have gone into the All-Star break with a 2-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 37,344. They are one-half game in first place over the Tampa Bay Rays, who lost their seventh straight game, a 5-2 decision to the Cleveland Indians yesterday.
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John Romano / St. Petersburg Times:
Wall Street philosophy transforms Rays — Stuart Sternberg applies Wall Street principles to baseball. — Times (2006)] — ST. PETERSBURG — You have come in search of a secret and instead find men willing to talk. — It sounds like an invitation, but really it's a challenge.
Danny Knobler / CBS SportsLine.com:
Ex-Tigers exec Smith another contender in Seattle GM hunt — There are those who believe Brian Cashman wants to be the next Mariners general manager. There are those who believe Jerry DiPoto of the Diamondbacks and Rick Hahn of the White Sox are the top candidates, and those who remember Al Avila …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Hanley is OK after leaving game — Shortstop says he'll play on Sunday in series finale — LOS ANGELES — Hanley Ramirez, the Marlins All-Star shortstop, exited Saturday night's game against the Dodgers in the second inning with a sore right shoulder. — After treating the shoulder …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Omar: Standing pat for now — He admits it is far from the sexiest response, but Mets GM Omar Minaya — at least for now — isn't expecting his club to make a big splash in free agency or the trade market this month.... While names like Barry Bonds, Raul Ibanez and Matt Holliday stoke heated speculation …