Injured outfielder Ellsbury in a tenuous situation with Red Sox … Jacoby Ellsbury burst onto the national stage when the Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 World Series.  With only 33 games of big league ball under his belt (he hit .353 in that sample), Ellsbury batted .438 and hit four doubles in the Fall Classic.

David Price of Tampa Bay Rays, Ubaldo Jimenez of Colorado Rockies named All-Star starters  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez will start for the National League in the All-Star Game while the AL will counter with Tampa Bay's David Price.  —  In this year of the pitcher …

The HR Derby Contestants  —  I have a strange affinity for the Home Run Derby.  It spawns from watching re-runs of the old school Home Run Derby TV series, originally aired in 1960.  The rules were different back then — two hitters went head-to-head, squaring off in a nine-inning “game” in which each batter got three outs per inning.

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes sitting out All-Star Game, hopes to play Thursday  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — David Wright was looking out for Jose Reyes' well-being on Saturday when the New York Mets third baseman interrupted the seventh inning of an important game against the Atlanta Braves to summon the training staff to the field.

Rangers sued by prospective buyers  —  The group backed by Major League Baseball to buy the Texas Rangers sued the team on Monday, hoping to force the long-delayed sale and put a halt to the fresh round of bidding that was opened up unexpectedly in the team's bankruptcy case.

Boras on Fielder  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Anaheim, Calif. - So, I had a long conversation this afternoon at the all-star festivities with Scott Boras, the agent for Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder.  —  As you know, the Brewers made an attempt earlier this year …

Yovani Gallardo says he would skip All-Stars in Arizona over law  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yovani Gallardo is firm.  Even if he's fortunate enough to make the All-Star team again next summer, he'll skip it.  —  “If the game is in Arizona, I will totally boycott,” the Milwaukee Brewers pitcher said Monday.

Byrd savors first All-Star selection  —  A few years ago, Marlon Byrd wasn't even sure of a spot in the majors.  —  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.

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.

Yesterday and the Futures  —  I spent the weekend before the All-Star Game attending two baseball games.  On Saturday, Jon Weisman hosted Dave Cameron, his brother Jeremy, Bryan Smith, and me at Dodger Stadium for the Dodgers-Cubs game.  On Sunday, my son Joe and I met up with Dave and Bryan …

Pirates Re-Acquire Brian Bixler  —  The Pirates re-acquired Brian Bixler from the Indians for a player to be named later, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter).  Bixler, 27, has spent the 2010 season playing for the Indians' Triple A team …

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 …