Top News:
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
Some Players Hold Their Noses to Say Goodbye to Stadium — As players were beseeched by countless members of the news media to eulogize Yankee Stadium as it hosts its last All-Star Game, those sufficiently provoked Monday were willing to discuss what they would not miss about the old — very old — ballpark in the Bronx.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Biggest star at All-Star Game is Stadium — Midsummer Classic will celebrate Cathedral in its final year — NEW YORK — Cliff Lee and Ben Sheets have been named the starting pitchers, and both Terry Francona and Clint Hurdle had a pair of stacked lineups to fill out, loaded with the best talent in the big leagues.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Papelbon: I want to close tomorrow night — Terry Francona has literally said all the right things when it comes to the Yankees, even to the point of saying he's hitting Derek Jeter second “because that's where he deserves to be.” — Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, J.D. Drew, Dustin Pedroia ... the same.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Associated Press, Sliding Into Home, Scott Proctor's Arm and Pinstripe Alley
NY Daily News:
Jonathan Papelbon says he should close All-Star Game instead of Mo — While the rest of baseball heaped praise on Mariano Rivera for his Hall of Fame career during Monday's All-Star media day, Jonathan Papelbon declared that he deserves to be the AL's ninth-inning man at Yankee Stadium Tuesday.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Hard for Chipper to Shea goodbye — Chipper Jones learned to switch-hit as a kid because his father Larry revered Mickey Mantle, so the NL's starting third baseman appreciates the opportunity to play at Yankee Stadium a final time. — Jones' favorite New York stadium slated for demolition sits in Queens, however.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Hamilton's power display defies explanation … NEW YORK — Even before Monday night, the Legend of Josh Hamilton was already an onrushing storybook train, building speed on its way to a Cineplex near you. — But that was before he brought his little magic show to Yankee Stadium, a place where legends are born.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
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Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Utley's curse word overheard — NEW YORK - Chase Utley is not much of a fan of the limelight. — If there were TV cameras at one end of a tunnel and a fire, killer bees and Kimbo Slice at the other end, Utley might try to run through the fire and killer bees and fight Slice to escape.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Junior / FIRE JOE MORGAN:
Weird Things To Say During The Home Run Derby, Vol. I — Rick Reilly, after Josh Hamilton's 28-homer first round and all of the talk of Hamilton's apparently prophetic dream that he would someday compete in the Derby at Yankee Stadium: — It's a lousy night to be an atheist!
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:Hamilton hits record 28 HRs in 1st round
Discussion:
Center Field
Richie Rich / Home Run Derby:The 2008 Home Run Derby Drinking Game
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk, Twinkie Town, Babes Love Baseball, The Bottom Line and Fire Brand of the …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
A day of denials ... NEW YORK — Theo Epstein just responded to an e-mail I sent him in regard to the Mark Teixeira trade rumors that have been floating around the past two days. The ESPN report was that Sox and Braves were discussing Teixeira for Kevin Youkilis and Craig Hansen.
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Bye-bye San Diego, hello Bronx
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
New York Post:
AMAZIN' PLANS — MINAYA MAY SKIP DEALS, PROMOTE FROM MINORS — THE METS are more seriously considering promoting from within (Fernando Martinez for the outfield, Jon Niese for the rotation, Bobby Parnell or Eddie Kunz if a bullpen arm is needed) then making a trade between now and the July 31 deadline …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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David Murphy / Philly.com:
Phillies closer Lidge received a big tip for career revival — NEW YORK - The opposing hitter who may have laid the last brick in the reconstruction of Brad Lidge will forever remain anonymous, but the Phillies closer remembers with distinction the day the conversation occurred.
Bill Gallo / NY Daily News:
Gallo: News' Foley, ‘Ask Red’ writer, dies — It's been a tough week for baseball. Two mainstays of the Yankee press box have gone from our ranks. Both were friends of mine. — Saturday it was Bobby Murcer, the Yankee ballplayer and broadcaster whose calm, honest and friendly manner made everybody love him.
Zachary Osterman / MLB.com:
Zimmerman back in action in Minors — Nats third baseman collects two doubles at Class A Potomac — Ryan Zimmerman worked — and waited. After almost two months of rest, rehab and strength work on his left shoulder, the Nationals third baseman finally got back into a live game.
Discussion:
MissChatter
ESPN:
Brewers' Sheets, Indians' Lee selected as starters — The Milwaukee Brewers' Ben Sheets and Cleveland Indians' Cliff Lee were chosen Monday for their first All-Star Game starts. — The right-handed Sheets, 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA, anchors a rotation that includes newly added CC Sabathia …
Discussion:
Ken Davidoff's baseball …
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