Top News:
Yahoo! Sports:
Players' ideas would improve All-Star game — PHOENIX - Bud Selig's brainwashing is still working. One of these years, the players in Major League Baseball are going to look at the dumbest rule in the sport - the All-Star game determining home-field advantage in the World Series …
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Commissioner Bud Selig Town Hall chat — Q. Welcome to MLB.com and FanFest in Phoenix, Arizona. It's 2011 and another midsummer tradition continues. It's time for the Commissioner's Town Hall Chat streamed live throughout the world. Everyone please help me welcome Commissioner Bud Selig.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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, ESPN and HardballTalk
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:
Boston Globe and MLB Rumors
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Acquire Francisco Rodriguez — WEDNESDAY, 12:38am: The Mets are sending $5MM to Milwaukee, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). That will essentially cover Rodriguez's 2011 salary. — TUESDAY, 10:58pm: The Brewers surprised some people by trading …
RELATED:
JSOnline:
Melvin explains K-Rod deal — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Phoenix - I just spoke with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin about the stunning acquisition of Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez and he wouldn't say if Rodriguez or incumbent John Axford would be the closer going forward.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Brian Costa / Wall Street Journal:
Boras to Represent K-Rod
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, Yahoo! Sports, The Daily Stache, Amazin' Avenue, NESN.com, CloserNews, ESPN, MetsBlog.com and HardballTalk
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, ESPN and Associated Press
RELATED:
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
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:
Boston Globe
RELATED:
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.
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
RELATED:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers acquire veteran outfielder Rivera
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness and 6-4-2
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
RELATED:
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
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:
Yahoo! Sports, Angels blog, NESN.com, Pinstripe Alley and Fox Sports
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
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
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.
