Top News:
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
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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!
On the Yankees beat:
LIVE: Home run derby — Adam Ronis here to discuss tonight's home run derby. There's no clear cut favorite and I could see several guys winning it. I'm just going to go with my gut feeling and take Lance Berkman to emerge as the home run derby champion.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Joe Sheehan / Unfiltered:
Josh Hamilton is Good at Baseball — From my “Sent Items” folder: … Yeah, about that... I sent that just as Justin Morneau was wrapping up his turn in the first round, one that had seen very few memorable moments. In fact, the biggest cheer of the first hour or so of the Home Run Derby …
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Hamilton hits record 28 HRs in 1st round — NEW YORK (AP)—Fans at Yankee Stadium were chanting Josh Hamilton's name and the theme music from “Rocky” was blaring over the loudspeakers. — Alas, the Texas Rangers' comeback kid had nothing left. — Hamilton hit a record 28 homers …
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 …
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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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.
Game on:
Who's in your five: Best opponent feats at Yankee Stadium — Each day we will have a “Who's in Your Five” list. You can agree or disagree, add to or subtract from this and future lists of games and moments from sports present and past. — Let us know your five. Click here for past lists.
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.
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Simon Lewis / Yahoo! Sports:
Papelbon ready to defer to Rivera in All-Star game — BRONX, New York (Ticker) - Boston Red Sox closer Jonathon Papelbon said he would happily let his veteran rival Mariano Rivera go to the mound for the final inning of Tuesday night's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Teixeira in play....at least until Papi shows he's healthy — NEW YORK — The Red Sox have talked to the Braves about free-agent-to-be first baseman Mark Teixeira, and more conversations are likely to take place before the July 31 trading deadline, according to well-placed major league sources.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Bye-bye San Diego, hello Bronx
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
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.
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
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.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Sheets named NL starting pitcher — Right-hander will be first Brewers hurler to start All-Star Game — MILWAUKEE — Ben Sheets has been named the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game. — Sheets will be the first Brewers pitcher to start a Midsummer Classic.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Sherman's Latest: Adenhart, Burnett, Niese, Ibanez — Joel Sherman of the New York Post has been digging up rumors left and right - here, here, and here in recent days. Let's discuss. — The Angels have “hinted at a willingness to build a deal around pitching prospect Nick Adenhart.”
Discussion:
Hardball
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