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 …

Dustin Pedroia hopeful he can return during Boston Red Sox's West Coast trip  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Dustin Pedroia admits he won't know with any certainty until he undergoes a CT scan Friday on the fractured bone in his left foot.  —  But Boston's All-Star second baseman said he is hopeful …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Blue Jays Make Gregg, Frasor, Downs Available  —  10:47am: The Jays have made Gregg, Frasor, and Scott Downs available, reports WEEI's Rob Bradford.  Bradford feels that the Red Sox are a potential match for one of them.  —  Frasor's control has slipped this year, especially against lefties.

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 …

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 …