Top News:
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Loewen to try new position — Faced with the prospect of more surgery, O's pitcher will try the field — No longer willing to go through another surgery and extended rehabilitation process on his left elbow, Orioles pitcher Adam Loewen will attempt to reinvent himself as a position player.
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David Ginsburg / Associated Press:
Orioles' Loewen abandons pitching career — BALTIMORE (AP)—Orioles left-hander Adam Loewen has abandoned his career as a pitcher because of a stress fracture in his left elbow, the same injury that sidelined him last season and twice put him on the disabled list this year.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Dayn Perry / Baseball Prospectus:
Can Of Corn — Chicago vs. Chicago — Not long ago, you could find civic ads inside many of Chicago's El trains, humorously touting the charms of the South Side in the form of a mock FAQ. In one of them, a mythical and provincially snobby North-Sider asked, “Will my cell phone work on the South Side?”
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Caleb Peiffer / Baseball Prospectus:
Saturday's Games to Watch — Probable Starters: Randy Wolf (114 IP, 4.97 RA, 1.40 WHIP, 101 K) vs. Todd Wellemeyer (104 2/3, 4.21, 1.27, 75) — Pythagorean Record: San Diego, 38-59 (360 RS, 456 RA); St. Louis, 52-46 (463 RS, 435 RA) — Hit List Rankings: San Diego, #29; St. Louis, #10
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Garcia hoping for late-July return — Right-hander sidelined with shoulder issues for lengthy periods — CHICAGO — Freddy Garcia has become a recent hot topic of conversation as he continues to work his way back from surgery on his right labrum that cost him most of last season with the Phillies and all of this season, to date.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Bizarre walk-off lifts Yanks over A's — Molina hit by pitch with bases full to secure win in 12th inning — NEW YORK — Jose Molina was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded by Lenny DiNardo, forcing in the winning run, as the Yankees defeated the A's, 4-3, in 12 innings on Saturday …
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
Associated Press:
Oswalt goes on 15-day DL with hip, back injury … HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained hip and a herniated disk in his back. — Oswalt (7-8, 4.56 ERA) underwent an MRI exam on Saturday that confirmed a strained left hip abductor …
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Marlins ready for national audience — Florida (50-46) vs. Philadelphia (53-44), Saturday, 3:55 p.m. ET — MIAMI — Nationally televised games don't come the Marlins' way very often, but America will be watching Florida take on Philadelphia on Saturday. — Roaming around first place …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
R.B. Fallstrom / Associated Press:
Cards RHP Carpenter set for rehab stint — ST. LOUIS (AP)—Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter, sidelined since opening day in 2007 because of an elbow injury, will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday with hopes of joining the rotation in August. — Carpenter, the 2005 NL Cy Young winner …
Associated Press:
A's Barton on DL after hitting head in pool dive … NEW YORK (AP) — Daric Barton smacked his head on the bottom of a pool during the All-Star break, requiring six staples to close the gash and leaving the Oakland first baseman with a neck strain that landed him on the disabled list Saturday.
Discussion:
The Big Lead
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's blast out of rut — Mora's foul-pole shot, Scott's homers power win — The way things have been going for the Orioles lately, it seemed almost inevitable that the ball would go foul. Melvin Mora's towering drive hung up in the still air on a typical summer night in Baltimore …
Discussion:
Oriole Post
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Jeff Birnbaum / MLB.com:
De La Rosa to make crucial start — Colorado (41-57) vs. Pittsburgh (44-52), Saturday, 6:05 p.m. MT — DENVER — Jorge De La Rosa's time remaining as a starter could be ticking closer to zero. — With Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez headlining the front of the Rockies' rotation …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Phils' Eaton takes move to pen in stride — MIAMI - Adam Eaton took the news well. After racking up a 6.06 ERA in 49 starts over the last two seasons with the Phillies, he really couldn't protest the team's decision to bounce him from the rotation. — “I understand it,” …