Top News:
ESPN:
Derek Jeter decision causes stir — Forget National League vs. American League. It's Derek Jeter's right vs. Jeter's wrong in Phoenix on Tuesday. — After an unnamed major league official and some players told the New York Daily News that Jeter was wrong to skip Tuesday's All-Star festivities …
Discussion:
Angels blog, NESN.com, Pinstripe Alley and Fox Sports
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Bud Selig expects MLB playoff expansion, more replay — Bud Selig. — PHOENIX — Commissioner Bud Selig said he expects more wild-card berths and a “modest addition” to use of instant replay in the future. — Selig was the brainchild of the wild-card, adding the extra postseason berth in 1995 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Boston Globe
John Tomase / Clubhouse Insider:
Matt Holliday: The one who got away? — Matt Holliday had a number of criteria when he entered free agency in the winter before the 2010 season. — He wanted to play in a market where baseball mattered, the team was competitive, and where the World Series was a realistic annual goal.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Full Count
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Beckett bows out with recurring knee soreness — PHOENIX — Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett was confident he would be able to pitch in Tuesday night's All-Star Game, but when he tried to warm up, his left knee told him something different. — Beckett was supposed to pitch the bottom …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Right now, Ortiz has a bright future — PHOENIX - The All-Star Game is always a good time for stories about David Ortiz's future with the Red Sox. — And they won't end here. — If Ortiz continues to have a good season, there will be more stories, columns, and opinions on what the Sox should do with the lovable designated hitter.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Beltran: Accepting trade to Red Sox ‘a no brainer’
Discussion:
NESN.com and HardballTalk
TSN.ca:
NL All-Stars try to make it two straight wins over AL — The Sports Network — (Sports Network) - Major League Baseball's All-Star Game heads to Phoenix, Arizona for the first time in the game's illustrious 82-game history this evening when the National League tries to string …
Discussion:
South Side Sox, True Blue LA, Brew Crew Ball, Baseball Analysts, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Talking Chop and Associated Press
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
All-Star Game getting the cold shoulder — Players backing out of Midsummer Classic threatens showcase event for baseball … PHOENIX — Major League Baseball introduced a controversial initiative in 2003, giving home-field advantage in the World Series to the winning league in the All-Star Game.
Discussion:
Associated Press, HardballTalk, SportsGrid, The Big Lead and ESPN
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies Notes: Hamels not a fan of All-Star Game pitching rule
Discussion:
CloserNews and HardballTalk
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Halladay likes this start better than '09
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Canadian Press:
PHOENIX — Arizona's fans booed new villain Prince Fielder every chance they got, letting him know what they thought of his choices for the Home Run Derby. — Milwaukee's big first baseman sent them a message with one big swing of the bat: shhh! — Shaking off two days of boos …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, TSN.ca and Associated Press
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Associated Press:
Fan nearly falls at Home Run Derby
Discussion:
USA Today, NESN.com, Pinstripe Alley, Mets Merized Online, MLB and ESPN
Dan Hayes / North County Times:
ALL-STAR NOTES: Gonzalez says leave Petco alone
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Associated Press:
Blue Jays trade Juan Rivera to Dodgers — TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays have traded outfielder Juan Rivera to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations. — The 33-year-old appeared in 70 games for the Blue Jays this season …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mozeliak has blueprint for success — The National League Central has spent more than three months waiting on the Cardinals. — The time never has been better, the Cardinals believe, to make the rest of the division pay. — Nick Punto watched the formula work repeatedly with the Minnesota Twins …
Discussion:
Seamheads.com, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and Full Count
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Alex Speier / Full Count:
Red Sox sign second round draft pick Williams Jerez — PHOENIX — The Red Sox have signed second-round pick Williams Jerez. The toolsy centerfielder out of Grand Street High School New York City agreed to a deal that will pay him Major League Baseball's slot recommended bonus.
Discussion:
SoxProspects News
Yahoo! Sports:
T'wolves part ways with Rambis — The Minnesota Timberwolves have fired Kurt Rambis as coach. — The leading candidates for the job include Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Bickerstaff's son, J.B., an assistant with the T'wolves under Rambis …
Discussion:
ProBasketballTalk and NESN.com
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Trade Market — A dozen teams look like potential July 31st sellers, if we exclude the Rockies. With assumptions on who the Blue Jays, Orioles, Royals, Mariners, Athletics, Mets, Nationals, Marlins, Cubs, Astros, Dodgers, and Padres might be willing to move …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
Hitting coach Hudgens key to Met-amorphosis — SAN FRANCISCO - There are no pronouncements of a 10-minute fix. Actually, there are no pronouncements at all. — Despite an imposing appearance, larger than any player on the team, Dave Hudgens might be the quietest person in the clubhouse.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
82nd All-Star Game: AL at NL — Here are the lineups: — AMERICAN LEAGUE — Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians) SS — Robinson Cano (Yankees) 2B — Pitching: RHP Jered Weaver (Angels), 11-4, 1.86 — NATIONAL LEAGUE — Prince Fielder (Brewers) 1B — Pitching: RHP Roy Halladay (Phillies), 11-3, 2.45
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
