Top News:
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
All eyes on Pelfrey; Reyes out — To say the Mets didn't agonize about which game of Saturday's doubleheader to start prized rookie righthander Mike Pelfrey would be an understatement. Manager Willie Randolph joked that he "just flipped a coin" when he decided Pelfrey's major-league debut …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Reyes receives seven stitches in finger — All-Star shortstop will miss final three games before break — NEW YORK — Mets shortstop Jose Reyes received seven stitches in his left pinky on Friday night after being spiked by Florida first baseman Mike Jacobs on a head-first slide in the sixth inning.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Anticipation building for Pelfrey's start — Buzz begins early for big right-hander's Saturday debut — NEW YORK — Mike Pelfrey still has one day to wait before being officially added to the Mets' Major League roster, but his presence was already being felt on Friday …
ESPN:
ESPN.com's Ultimate All-Star Game … The All-Star Game is supposed to be an annual showcase reserved only for the greatest major league players of the moment. But who would win a showdown between the best all-time National Leaguers and the best all-time American Leaguers?
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:Contreras promoted to top of Sox rotation
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Associated Press:
Oswalt, Ordonez added to All-Star squads — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt and Detroit outfielder Magglio Ordonez were added to the All-Star rosters Friday, taking the place of injured Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez. — Ordonez will join Detroit teammates Ivan Rodriguez …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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Kevin Yanik / MLB.com:
Oswalt named to NL All-Star squad — Right-hander will replace injured Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez — HOUSTON — Roy Oswalt is going to the All-Star Game after all. — Oswalt was named to the National League squad Friday afternoon and replaces Mets right-hander Pedro Martinez …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Yahoo! Sports:
Cardinals designate RHP Ponson for assignment — HOUSTON (Ticker) - What began as a nice season for Sidney Ponson has evolved into a disappointing one. — Ponson, who began his first campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4-0 record, was designated for assignment by the team Friday.
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cleveland.indians.mlb.com:
Indians sign Taiwanese right-handed pitcher Sung-Wei Tseng — Pitched for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic and currently the No. 1 starter for the Chinese Taipei National Team touring the U.S. — CLEVELAND — Tseng, 21, pitched for Chinese Taipei in the 2006 World Baseball Classic …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
NL teams look to move as deadline nears — Every National League contender has multiple flaws — even the Mets, who probably could use two starting pitchers, not just one. — The challenge for each team will be to rank its needs, then address them. A thin trade market only increases the degree of difficulty.
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Notes: Halos get creative with lineup — Scioscia does some shifting against A's Zito on Friday — OAKLAND — Manager Mike Scioscia looked at his personnel and at the opposing pitcher on Friday and thought it was a good time to juggle his lineup. — A's left-hander Barry Zito took the mound …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Baker denies contract offer — Internet report says manager turned down deal — MILWAUKEE — Dusty Baker denied an Internet report Friday that said he had turned down a contract extension from the Cubs within the last two months. — The alleged offer to Baker was for between $4 million …
Toasty Joe / Yes Joe, It's Toasted.:
Who's drinkin' a beer, BEER!! — As everyone knows, Shea Stadium doesn't have that many traditions, save for the ratty-ass apple coming out of the hat. Roll call? Nope. YMCA or Cotton-Eyed Joe? Nope. Bob Sheppard? Nope. But today I dedicate a post to a true Shea Stadium institution.
Associated Press:
Mascot charged with fondling fan — GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A man who played the mascot for a minor league baseball team was arrested after a woman said she was fondled at a game in April. — Cecil McLaurin Amick III, 37, of Boiling Springs, portrays Reedy Rip'It, a giant frog …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Thome is carrying a big stick … Halfway through another baseball season, here's what we're wondering: — Is Jonathan Papelbon going to give up fewer runs all season than Eddie Guardado gave up in his first inning of the season (three)? Are we really about to see a catcher (the amazing Joe Mauer) do a Ted Williams?
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Gagne to have surgery, done for season — Dodgers closer shelved with herniated disk in back — LOS ANGELES — Eric Gagne's season, all two innings of it, is over. — Gagne will undergo lower back surgery Saturday at St. Vincent's Hospital to repair a herniated disk between the L4-L5 vertebrae …
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Scout's honor — The sound of twisting metal woke up the whole neighborhood. There had been a nasty accident. A 16-year-old fussing with the radio lost control of his car, crashed into a parked one and thrust it into the next driveway. The kid was OK, just nervous that the guy whose car he destroyed might kill him.
Wilbur Miller / Only Bucs.Net:
"Pittsburgh Just Sits There" — Those words were spoken a couple months ago by Peter Gammons on ESPN's Baseball Tonight. Gammons was contrasting the Pirates to the Reds and Brewers, each of which, he thought, had been successful in making moves to improve themselves.
