Top News:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Nomar an All-Star after Final Vote win — Garciaparra honored for sixth time, first as first baseman — LOS ANGELES — Drawing from a coast-to-coast fan base, Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra won the final roster spot on the National League All-Star team Thursday through the Monster 2006 Final Vote election.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
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Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Nomar, A.J. named Final Vote winners — Dodgers first baseman, White Sox catcher join All-Star squads — Nomar Garciaparra and A.J. Pierzynski were American League All-Star teammates in 2002, the year that the Final Vote was introduced by MLB.com. They did not have to rely on it to be selected …
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds acquire Guardado from Mariners — Veteran reliever expected to take over closer role — ATLANTA — Reinforcements are coming to help the Reds' beleaguered bullpen. — Cincinnati acquired veteran left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado from the Mariners on Thursday in exchange for pitching prospect Travis Chick and cash.
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Dan Sewell / Associated Press:
Reds acquire LHP Guardado from Mariners — CINCINNATI (AP) — Trying to bolster their struggling bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds will turn to former All-Star closer Eddie Guardado. — The Reds obtained Guardado and cash from the Seattle Mariners for minor league pitcher Travis Chick on Thursday.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Cashman Tinkers, and Resists Temptation — CLEVELAND, July 5 — The Yankees are needy right now, beset by injuries to their hitters and by poor performances from their pitchers. But as they seek to improve the team, they are operating from a position of weakness. — Other teams know what the Yankees want.
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Associated Press:
Right hip pain forces Mets to place Pedro on DL — NEW YORK — All-Star ace Pedro Martinez was placed on the disabled list by the New York Mets on Thursday because of pain in his right hip. — Martinez missed his scheduled start on Monday and can now rest through the All-Star break.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Pelfrey to start Saturday; Pedro on DL — An ailing right hip has landed pitcher Pedro Martinez on the 15-day disabled list and rookie Mike Pelfrey will make his major-league debut this weekend, the Mets announced Thursday — The much-talked-about rookie Pelfrey will start one of the two games …
Associated Press:
Padres-Phillies Preview — The San Diego Padres changed their luck against the Philadelphia Phillies with one swing. — One night after ending an 11-game losing streak to the Phillies with a ninth-inning homer, the Padres look to win a series against them for the first time in nearly four years …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Zimmerman on his own — Robinson using a different philosophy for third baseman — WASHINGTON — During his rookie season with the Reds, in 1956, Frank Robinson received a lot of advice from manager Birdie Tebbetts about the game of baseball. Now a manager himself …
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BIll Ladson / MLB.com:
Zimmerman delivers walk-off win in 11th — Four-hour marathon capped by game-winning RBI single — WASHINGTON — For the second straight day, the Nationals and Marlins found themselves in a slugfest in the early innings on Thursday afternoon at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium …
Discussion:
District of Baseball
Sports Illustrated:
Break up the Phillies — Wagner says former team needs to make big changes — People who have spoken to Phillies general manager Pat Gillick believe he will not stand pat this trading season. They say he desperately wants to improve the Phillies' current clubhouse atmosphere.
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Ten Things I Didn't Know Last Week — Interleague play finished this past Sunday and the American League gave the National an old-fashioned whuppin': 154-98. I'm not the biggest fan of interleague play, but I don't hate it either, and it certainly does give me good material for this column.
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Baseball America:
Yankees' International Haul Sits At Eight — Yankees international scouting director Lin Garrett said the Yankees weren't trying to send a message to anybody. — Instead, the Yankees just tried to improve their farm system, which has produced some quality of late (Chien-Ming Wang …
Discussion:
Baby Bombers
Dan / Get Up, Baby!:
Jeff Weaver — A number three starter will look good in Cardinals red. — The flowing Thor locks? Maybe not. But this trade, on the surface, appears to be vintage Jocketty. He bought low-as I posted yesterday, the Angels wanted Lastings Milledge a week and a half ago-and sold high …
David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
Ramirez Passes On All-Star Game — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — News flash: Manny Ramirez will not be playing in the All-Star Game next week in Pittsburgh. — OK, it's hardly a surprise because manager Terry Francona had been saying that he preferred Ramirez use the three-day break to rest his right knee.
Dawn Klemish / MLB.com:
Sox looking to avert history — Boston (50-32) at Tampa Bay (38-47), 7:15 p.m. ET — If anyone can save Boston from being swept by the Rays for the first time in history, it's Tim Wakefield. Boston's right-hander is 14-2 in 31 appearances against Tampa Bay and sports a 6-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in 16 games at Tropicana Field.
