Top News:
New York Times:
Red Sox Pay Tribute to Steinbrenner at Fenway — BOSTON — Baseball's schedule-makers create any number of twists in the course of a season. But on Thursday, they unintentionally outdid themselves. The Red Sox returned to action after the All-Star break one day before the Yankees …
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Rangers still may be interested in Lowell — According to major league source familiar with the situation, the Texas Rangers continue to monitor the status of Mike Lowell, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list with soreness in his surgically repaired right hip.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
They have their work cut out now — Sitting in his box on Level 3 of Fenway Park, overlooking the field where his ball club got pounded, 7-2, by the Rangers last night, Red Sox owner John Henry pondered the immediate future of the local nine. — “We have to survive July and all these road games coming up,” said Henry.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs rout Phillies 12-6 — Dempster gets plenty of support as club chases Moyer and cruises to victory — Derrek Lee cranks a two-run homer in the third inning. (Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune / July 15, 2010) — Twenty-four years ago this week, a skinny Cubs rookie named Jamie …
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R.B. Fallstrom / Associated Press:
Carpenter sharp, Cardinals beat Dodgers 7-1 — ST. LOUIS—Chris Carpenter allowed four hits in eight innings to improve to 6-0 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the St. Louis Cardinals chased an off-kilter Clayton Kershaw in the fifth inning of a 7-1 victory Thursday night.
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Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Los Angeles Dodgers activate Manny Ramirez from disabled list
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Cash Kruth / MLB.com:
Giants ink Willis to Minor League deal — SAN FRANCISCO — In the midst of a year in which he had already been designated for assignment by two teams before the All-Star break, Dontrelle Willis was ready to sit out the remainder of the 2010 season. — Then, the Giants came calling …
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Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Words don't hurt Ozzie — Guillen takes no offense to Williams' dig about fighting — MINNEAPOLIS — Leave it to White Sox general manager Ken Williams to turn a mundane pregame clubhouse into a Jerry Springer audience. — Appearing on ESPN's “Pardon the Interruption” on Thursday afternoon …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Sports Illustrated:
With prize Lee gone, assessing the trade market for pitchers … With star left-hander Cliff Lee, the clear prize of this trading season, now off the board and a Texas Ranger, here are the best of the rest among the available, semi-available and perhaps available pitchers.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Sneeze lands Latos on disabled list — SAN DIEGO — Mat Latos said Thursday that he has learned a valuable lesson — the next time he has to sneeze, he'll go ahead and let it fly. — Latos, who is tied for third in the National League with 10 victories, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list …
Baseball America:
Prospect Hot Sheet: July 16 — Team: high Class A Wilmington (Carolina) — Age: 20. — Why He's Here: 2-0, 0.00, 11 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 SO — The Scoop: John Lamb is no longer the most impressive teenage pitcher in the Carolina League. Thanks to his July 10th birthday …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Colin Wyers / Baseball Prospectus:
What Do We Really Know About Defense? — Occasionally, I get asked—what's going on with my attempts to make a defensive metric? I started off working on a Loess-based defensive metric, and then efforts just stalled. — It's a fair question, and one that's harder to answer …
TSN.ca:
White Sox win ninth straight, edge Twins — The Sports Network — Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Gordon Beckham hit a solo home run and drove in two as the Chicago White Sox took an 8-7 win over the Minnesota Twins to begin the second half of the season.
NY Daily News:
Raissman: Waldman won Boss over — Yankees radio announcer Suzyn Waldman cultivated unique relationship with owner George Steinbrenner — Prior to her time with John Sterling in the Yankees' radio booth, Suzyn Waldman worked for WFAN, which is where her relationship with George Steinbrenner (b.) got its start.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Associated Press:
Lincecum, Giants shut down Mets 2-0 — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tim Lincecum pitched a six-hitter for his fourth career shutout and Pablo Sandoval hit an RBI double to help the San Francisco Giants open the second half of the season with a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday night.
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Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Giants play musical chairs with position players
Discussion:
Giants Win
Matt Swartz / Baseball Prospectus:
Why You Can Go for the Gold Ball and the Silver Trophy — Home Run Derbies have been around in some form for many years, but it officially became part of the All-Star Game festivities in 1985. Since then, hitters have frequently blamed the Derby for messing up their swings.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Sports Illustrated:
Orioles' dismal 1st half: ‘A giant step backward’ — BALTIMORE (AP) -A wretched first half has taken much of the mystery out of the 2010 season for the Baltimore Orioles. — The possibility of securing a winning record for the first time in 13 years ended with a 2-16 start …
