Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Schilling takes on defending champs — Boston (53-32) at Chicago White Sox (56-31), 2:05 p.m. ET — When the Red Sox were swept out of last October's Division Series by the White Sox, Curt Schilling was positively stunned in the aftermath. Never, in his career, had he been on a postseason team …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Pays to be hot in AL Central — Catcher Joe Mauer leads the majors in batting and longest sideburns. Rookie starter Francisco Liriano has strangled opponents to a .203 batting average. First baseman Justin Morneau takes the biggest cuts this side of Paul Bunyan.
Associated Press:
Testing reveals partial tear in Wood's rotator cuff — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood has a partial tear in his right rotator cuff and will be out at least four weeks. — Wood underwent an arthrogram at Northwest Memorial Hospital on Friday, and the exam revealed the tear.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs' Wood likely done for season — MRI reveals partial tear in right rotator cuff — MILWAUKEE — Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood is likely done for the season after an MRI arthrogram Friday revealed a partial tear in his right rotator cuff. — The test was conducted Friday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Matthew Borenstein / MLB.com:
Notes: Rotation set for second half — Skipper Hurdle has starters lined up after All-Star break — DENVER — The Rockies rotation coming out of the All-Star break is set. — Jeff Francis is scheduled to start the second half of the season at Cincinnati.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Florida Marlins: Cabrera takes his lumps, then gets the boot — NEW YORK — Miguel Cabrera's comments weren't directed at third-base umpire Charlie Reliford, yet they perturbed the 16-year veteran enough to eject the Marlins' All-Star. — It started in the ninth inning of Saturday's opener …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Cabrera ejected; Marlins to try rookie rotation — NEW YORK — All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera was ejected for the first time in his career Saturday after he was hit by a retaliation pitch. — Marlins pitchers Josh Johnson and Logan Kensing hit Carlos Delgado (second inning) …
Michael Gluskin / MLB.com:
Notes: Guillen looking to second half — Right fielder has been slowed by soreness in right elbow — WASHINGTON — Before Saturday's game, Jose Guillen talked about his desire to get the first half of the season, one in which he's struggled at the plate and has battled injuries, over with.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Baker disputes rift on coaching staff — MILWAUKEE — Cubs manager Dusty Baker disputed a Tribune article that said his staff is composed of Baker's "handpicked" coaches and coaches general manager Jim Hendry has chosen. — Baker said Saturday they are all "my coaches."
NY Daily News:
Let the debate begin — The MVP of the American League last season, according to the voters, was the third baseman for the Yankees. The MVP of New York for the first half of this season - and maybe the National League by October - is the third baseman for the Mets.
Brian Lewis / New York Post:
OH, HENRY! GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION — July 8, 2006 — Five years ago, Henry Owens was a catcher on a lightly regarded college team, dreaming of being a doctor, not a Major League Baseball player. — A year ago, he was toiling in Single-A, learning his new trade as a pitcher.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
'A Good Run' for Cabrera — OAKLAND — Babe Ruth never did this. — Ted Williams is the all-time leader in on-base percentage, at .482. Ruth is second, at .474. But Ruth never reached base in 63 consecutive games, as the Angels' Orlando Cabrera did. — Cabrera's streak ended Friday …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Pitchers deliver comedy to pre-game show — If you've been watching the Marlins' telecasts on Fox Sports Net, you know some of the best action this season has been happening off the field, courtesy of pitchers Josh Johnson and Logan Kensing. — "They're kind of like Beavis & Butt-Head tour the country …
Richard Justice / Houston Chronicle:
Move it on over in clubhouse doghouse — Morgan Ensberg and Brad Lidge surely never thought it would — be like this. Failing in crucial situations. Boos ringing in their ears. — Uncertainty that they'll ever again be what they once were. — "Whenever you start feeling too cocky …
Irv Moss / Denver Post:
Drafting a lineup from June pickings — All indications point to catcher Chris Iannetta being the next homegrown player to step in and fill a position in the Colorado Rockies lineup. — The 2004 fourth-round Rockies draft pick has become the everyday catcher for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in his third professional season.
