Top News:
Jared Diamond / Wall Street Journal:
New York's Great Ballpark Injustice — Research Shows Many Yankee Stadium Homers Would be Fly Balls at Citi Field; Jeter Should Be Happy He's Not a Met — Ever since Citi Field opened before the 2009 season, the Mets' new home has drawn the ire of players and fans for its cavernous dimensions …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Mike Mazzeo / ESPN:
A-Rod: Jose Reyes is ‘greatest’ — NEW YORK — According to New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the best player in baseball doesn't play in the Bronx, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto or St. Louis. — He plays in Queens. — “They have the world's greatest player playing shortstop over there …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Winning, Mets not thinking fire sale yet — When the Yankees arrive at Citi Field this weekend, they won't see a “For Sale” sign atop the home dugout. — Jose Reyes is still a Met. So is Carlos Beltran. So is Francisco Rodriguez. So is David Wright, albeit on the disabled list.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox designate Cameron for assignment — PHILADELPHIA — The transition from starter to backup did not go nearly as well as Mike Cameron or the Red Sox had hoped. Before Thursday's game against the Phillies, the Red Sox designated the veteran outfielder for assignment, effectively ending his stint with the team.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Empyreal Environs
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Right angle part of solution
Right angle part of solution
Discussion:
joy of sox and Associated Press
Dylan Howard / RADAR:
Busted! NY Yankees' Star A-Rod Played In Illegal Hollywood Poker Ring — He was warned to steer clear of the underground poker world, but he simply didn't want to fold ‘em. — New York Yankees’ slugger Alex Rodriguez played in the illegal high stakes Hollywood poker ring that featured numerous …
Discussion:
New York Post, NESN.com and Sliding Into Home
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa talks about his career, Mark McGwire, the DH and a host of issues — The Cardinals' Tony La Russa, who graduated from Tampa's Jefferson High in 1962, never expected to be in baseball long enough for 2,682 managerial wins.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Source: Alburquerque headed to DL — Detroit Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque, the major league leader in strikeout rate among pitchers who have thrown at least 29 innings this season, is headed to the disabled list. — A source told FOXSports.com late Thursday that Alburquerque …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Games of Canada Day — The Phillies travel north of the border to celebrate Canada Day with the Toronto Blue Jays. Kyle Kendrick faces Ricky Romero. Kyle serves as the Phillies swing man, in the rotation when there is an injury, in the bullpen otherwise. He sports a low ERA despite a low strikeout rate.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Jeff Sullivan / Baseball Nation:
Classifying MLB's Closer Celebrations — All closers are different, but many of them share similar celebrations after successful saves. Here we do our best to split them into groups. — Thursday afternoon, I sat down to lunch while waiting for my car to be fixed in the shop.
Sue Epstein / New Jersey Online:
Man claims New Brunswick mayor is preventing him from opening sports bar called Buck Foston's — NEW BRUNSWICK — A New Brunswick businessman has filed suit in federal court, charging New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill is holding up approval of his liquor license for a new high end sports bar …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Astros buyer moves on from discrimination case — HOUSTON—Businessman Jim Crane has stayed out of the spotlight since the announcement that his investment group had reached a deal to buy the Houston Astros for $680 million. — As he awaits word on approval from Major League Baseball …
Arden Zwelling / MLB.com:
Halladay greeted with ovation at Rogers Centre — TORONTO — Roy Halladay made his return to Rogers Centre on Friday in a Phillies uniform, delivering Philadelphia's lineup card before the game to a standing ovation from the crowd. — Halladay pitched the first 12 seasons of his career in Toronto …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
NY Post: The Back Page:
Michaels, Costas to call Mets game on SNY — Al Michaels and Bob Costas will return to a baseball broadcast booth on July 8 to call Mets vs. Giants. — The duo will call innings for SNY, Comcast Bay Area and MLB Network. — When Michaels and Costas are on SNY, Mets broadcasters Gary Cohen and Ron Darling will move to MLB Network.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Associated Press:
Rockies acquire Mark Ellis from A's — DENVER — The Colorado Rockies bolstered their infield by acquiring veteran second baseman Mark Ellis from the Oakland Athletics on Thursday. — The Rockies sent minor league right-hander Bruce Billings and a player to be named to Oakland for the 34-year-old Ellis and cash.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Baseballin' on a Budget, Associated Press, ESPN and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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