Top News:
William C. Rhoden / New York Times:
Randolph to Be Steinbrenner's All-Star Guest — Willie Randolph is expected to watch the All-Star Game Tuesday as a guest of the Steinbrenner family, providing a bit of local intrigue for an evening that will be filled with history and emotion because of Yankee Stadium's impending demise.
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Sam Borden / The Journal News:
Steinbrenner deserves an ovation — NEW YORK - There will be lots of cheers at Yankee Stadium tonight, starting with the ones for the Hall of Famers who will be honored in a pregame ceremony and, of course, for the players who will be part of the All-Star Game.
Discussion:
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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.
Discussion:
SPORTSbyBROOKS, The Postmen, New York Post, A Red Sox Fan …, With Leather, New Jersey Online, NY Daily News, MLB Fanhouse and River Ave. Blues
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.
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.
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Junior / FIRE JOE MORGAN:Weird Things To Say During The Home Run Derby, Vol. I
Discussion:
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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.
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Simon Lewis / Yahoo! Sports:Papelbon ready to defer to Rivera in All-Star game
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David J. Neal / MiamiHerald.com:
All-Star Game needs an update, not a total overhaul — Let's be clear: Major League Baseball's remains the best of the All-Star Games. Tuesday night's exhibition adds another link to the longest continuous All-Star Game tradition, and the nature of baseball allows players to run …
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Ichiro's speech to All-Stars revealed — NEW YORK - Piece by piece, the legend started to reveal itself. — “How do you know about that?” Michael Young asked. — A whisper here. A story there. Something about the greatest pregame speech since Rockne invoked the Gipper …
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:
Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, Mets Merized Online, MLB Rumors, Mets Today, MetsBlog.com and Mets Fever
ottawasun.com:
Wearing nothing but a smile and a thong, a young beauty was on display at a hotel window overlooking the Rogers Centre field. (DAVE ABEL/Sun Media) — TORONTO - Thank God for nostalgia. — Not only are the Blue Jays wearing their baby blues on Fridays, but the Rogers Centre …
Associated Press:
Matsui, Damon might be out longer than hoped … TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Injured Yankees outfielders Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon could be sidelined longer than first expected. — Matsui did not hit Tuesday after experiencing additional discomfort in his sore left knee.
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
ASG CONFIDENTIAL: Garcia, Milton, Bedard — The Yankees and Mets are among at least nine teams monitoring the progress of Freddy Garcia as he intensifies his workouts to come back from shoulder surgery. Garcia will begin throwing breaking balls off the mound this week in...
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Don McKee / Philly.com:
Morning Report: Time to take a chance on Bonds? — Agent Jeff Borris is still trying to find a team for Barry Bonds in 2008. — “Barry is in shape right now,” Borris told the Associated Press. “He's not in game shape, so he'd have to have the chance to hit off live pitching.
