Top News:
Associated Press:
Price, Jimenez to start All-Star Game — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez will start for the National League in the All-Star Game while the AL will counter with the Tampa Bay Rays' David Price. — In this year of the pitcher, Jimenez was a fitting pick by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies' Jimenez named All-Star starter — ANAHEIM — Pitching coach Bob Apodaca wasn't ready to predict magic. But when he saw Ubaldo Jimenez throw his first side session at Hi Corbett Field in February, he knew something was going to different. — “He had made an adjustment.
Beth Harris / Associated Press:
Dodgers beat Cubs 7-0 behind Padilla — LOS ANGELES—Vicente Padilla pitched eight innings of two-hit ball and James Loney hit a three-homer off Carlos Silva before the Cubs pitcher was ejected in the second inning, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7- victory over Chicago on Sunday night …
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Chicago Breaking Sports:
Cubs' Cashner earns points after plunking Dodger — LOS ANGELES — Rookie Andrew Cashner received high-fives from everyone in the Cubs dugout after a fastball “slipped” from his hand in the eighth inning and plunked Blake DeWitt, prompting an umpire's warning to both teams.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs head into break looking broken
Cubs head into break looking broken
Discussion:
Chicago Breaking Sports
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
In their words: Remembering Bob Sheppard — “I am deeply saddened by the death today of Bob Sheppard, a good friend and fine man whose voice set the gold standard for America's sports announcers. For over a half century, fans were thrilled to hear his unforgettable voice and players …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Richard Goldstein / New York Times:
Bob Sheppard, Voice of the Yankees, Dies at 99
Bob Sheppard, Voice of the Yankees, Dies at 99
Discussion:
The Mets Police, Walkoff Walk, LADY AT THE BAT, River Avenue Blues, NY Daily News and Baseball Nerd
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Jeter bringing Sheppard's voice to ASG
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Legends, celebrities hammer home fun — ANAHEIM — Please, Hammer, don't get hurt. — This was just for fun, after all, and the way MC Hammer hacked his way through batting practice before the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game made you wonder whether his obliques would hold up.
Discussion:
Tedquarters
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions — Be sure to check out our Draft Database for a more comprehensive look at recently signed draft picks. — An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Thomas Kaplan / Bats:
A New Role for Francoeur — Jeff Francoeur is used to being in the lineup. When he was 22, he played in all 162 games for the Atlanta Braves. As a 23-year-old, he did the same. Never in his six-year major league career has Francoeur not been an every-day player.
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Adrian Beltre limps into break — All-Star moment in jeopardy — TORONTO - Just when the Red Sox [team stats] thought they could reach the All-Star break with what little remained of their health, third baseman Adrian Beltre added his name to the injured list.
Fox Sports:
Sources: O's, Showalter close to deal — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — The Orioles are close to terms with Buck Showalter to become the team's manager, major-league sources said Sunday.
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pujols ‘jets’ All-Star teammates to Anaheim — • It wasn't exactly 25 cabs for 25 players after the Cardinals' 4-2 win Sunday over the Houston Astros, but there were close to 20 destinations. — With most players ticketed for a three-day layover at home, first baseman Albert Pujols concluded …
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Untested Derby cast offers plenty of intrigue — With five first-time participants, power display sure to excite — ANAHEIM — Prince Fielder won't be out to defend his title. Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard will be taking a spectator's view for a change. Even Josh Hamilton has taken a pass.
Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Lots of comments online about our stories in recent days concerning the Mariners and their decision to trade for Class AA pitching prospect Josh Lueke in the Cliff Lee deal. — Lueke, it turns out, pleaded no contest last year to a charge of unlawful imprisonment with violence against a woman …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Bagwell named Astros hitting coach — HOUSTON — Former Houston Astros star Jeff Bagwell has taken over as Houston's hitting coach after the team fired Sean Berry. — General manager Ed Wade said Sunday that Berry became “a victim of circumstances” as the Astros offense has sputtered this season.
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