Top News:
MLB:
Acta says he's been fired — Manny Acta has been fired as manager of the Washington Nationals, he told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas on Sunday. — Acta — The Nationals were blanked by the Houston Astros on Sunday 5-0 to go into the All-Star break with the worst record in the league at 26-61.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals dismiss Acta as manager — Announcement expected to be made early today — HOUSTON — About five hours after losing their 61st game of the season, the Nationals dismissed Manny Acta as their manager on Sunday night, according to multiple sources. An announcement is expected as early as today.
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Acta Fired As Washington Nationals Manager — [UPDATE] — Read the updated news story here. — In the middle of his third season as manager, Manny Acta has been fired by the Washington Nationals, a source with knowledge of the situation said tonight. Asked in an e-mail about his job status …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees pitching prospect Sergio Mitre makes strong case for rotation spot — ANAHEIM - The Yankees plan on discussing their fifth starter situation during the All-Star break, but Sergio Mitre may have helped make that decision a little easier Sunday. — Mitre tossed eight shutout innings …
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iYankees
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Peter Abraham / The Journal News:
Girardi will rotate outfielders after break — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joe Girardi benched Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher yesterday and announced plans to use all five of the team's outfielders after the All-Star break. — “As I told all the outfielders today, we have five guys who are playing pretty good …
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Arvada West's Halladay named AL All-Star Game starter — ST. LOUIS — Roy Halladay, the greatest starter pitcher that the state of Colorado has ever produced, has achieved another significant honor in his stalwart career. The former Arvada West star has been named to start …
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Marc Stein / MLB:
Report: Pedro Martinez may be on way to Philadelphia — Pedro Martinez may be flying to Philadelphia on Monday, WCAU-TV reported on Sunday night. — Martinez — After arriving, it is believed Martinez will take a physical, which appears to be the final obstacle standing …
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Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Like Cheesesteaks, Pedro? — Pedro Martinez will fly to Philadelphia today to take a physical today or tomorrow, a source confirmed. — If Martinez passes, expect him to sign with the Phillies in the next few days. — The Phillies watched Martinez throw twice last week at the team's baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Kelly molding his future as we speak — Sox prospect deciding on whether he'll be pitcher or short — ST. LOUIS — Though Casey Kelly had the honor of representing the Red Sox at the XM Radio All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, the truth is that his future is still filled with the intriguing unknown.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:World a winner on soggy night in Futures game
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Baseball America
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Bergesen closes first half in fitting style — Starter allows two runs in victory; Roberts rips two RBIs — BALTIMORE — They thought he was ready, but they never thought he'd already be their ace. Rookie starter Brad Bergesen ended his first half in fine style Sunday …
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Keitholbermann / Baseball Nerd:
Trivia and Jocketty — I never posted the (apparent) answer to the trivia question from last week about Hall of Famers who retired after World Series wins or losses, and I'll get to what I have on that shortly. — Firstly, in the wake of the very disturbing Jay Bruce broken wrist last night …
Discussion:
Crosley Field Terrace
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Ian O'Connor / NorthJersey.com:
Citi is the wrong field for Wright — NEW YORK - David Wright had just crushed a double, a run-scoring double at that, and yet through his smeared eye black he wore the expression of a 12 year old just informed his X-Box was on the blink. — This was the perfect scene to capture the Mets at the All-Star break.
Discussion:
Mack's Mets
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Matt Ryan / We're the Team to Beat:Apple Malfunctions at Citi Field
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Can't Stop The Bleeding
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Field set, Derby promises to thrill — Newcomers pitted against hometown favorite Pujols — ST. LOUIS — Post positions have been drawn and the horses are just about ready to break from the gate in baseball's favorite Derby. — The 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby field was finalized on Sunday …
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Straight-out beloved — His knuckler goes all over, but friends of Wakefield are direct with their praise — On July 31, 1992, Montreal Expos general manager Dan Duquette rooted against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team with which the Expos were tied for first place, and he felt confident.
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YFSF
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
Futures Game Ten Pack — After providing a Futures Game viewers' guide yesterday, let's do a little something different with the Ten Pack and provide a guide for those that recorded the game. I wrote that sentence before the four-hour rain delay. Let's faced it, it you recorded …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
John Barone / MLB.com:
Beckett shuts down KC for 100th win — Sox ace goes all the way, picks up second shutout of '09 — BOSTON — Josh Beckett credited the Red Sox's offense for helping him reach a personal milestone on Sunday, but in truth, it was his teammates who should have thanked their ace.
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