Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Schilling not overly concerned about elbow — CHICAGO — X-rays of Curt Schilling's right elbow were negative after the Red Sox ace was struck by Jim Thome's line drive in the sixth, the ball caroming more than 100 feet before landing in left-center field for a single.
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Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Finally, time to give it a rest — CHICAGO — The scoreboard in right-center field was full of ``F"s, as in final scores. Even the West Coast games were complete. As a matter of fact, the Sunday night game between St. Louis and Houston was underway. — All-Star break getaway planes were being missed.
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Worth the wait — Sox's Dye, Iguchi key 19-inning victory — In baseball terminology, you "run into" a pitch from a nasty closer like the Boston Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon. But it was 10 innings after Jermaine Dye had done that, and now he was faced with something even tougher.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Tempers are lost, followed by lead — NEW YORK — The Marlins have been the National League's hottest team since pitcher Scott Olsen got punched in the eye by a teammate and shoved against the wall by his manager during separate incidents in May. — They would like to think Olsen's latest altercation …
Discussion:
Deadspin
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Abercrombie makes glaring mistake — NEW YORK — Rookie Reggie Abercrombie learned another big-league lesson Sunday on a perfect July afternoon at Shea Stadium: Sunglasses don't always block out the glare of the sun. — With the Marlins leading 5-3 in the eighth inning, Paul Lo Duca sent a sky-high fly to center.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Baker's job status raising ire of Eyre — MILWAUKEE — Cubs reliever Scott Eyre on Sunday accused the media of hurting the team by focusing on Dusty Baker's job status instead of the game. — "I think if we keep playing the way we played this series, and if everyone would stop talking about Dusty's job …
Discussion:
The Chicago National …
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Measuring homers a guessing game — Pittsburgh - Bow-tied essayists and dyed-in-flannel traditionalists love small ball. Most fans, however, love to see the ball get small. — Dating to 1883, there has been a fascination with big-league power, with watching a ball loosen itself …
Paul Meyer / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Will Bay follow Conine's footsteps? — PHILADELPHIA — If history is an indicator, Jason Bay has a chance to be named the Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game tomorrow night at PNC Park. — In the 1994 All-Star Game at Three Rivers Stadium, National League manager Jim Fregosi …
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Larry Millson / Globe and Mail:
Slammed players in an interview — KANSAS CITY, MO. — Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said he was speaking from frustration late last week when he criticized the team's play. — "I'd probably do it in a different way," Ricciardi said yesterday from his home in Worcester, Mass.
Discussion:
Toronto Star
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Huff wants to keep on hitting — ST. PETERSBURG - Usually, Aubrey Huff can't wait for the All-Star break. — But with a rejuvenated bat that, after two months of immense struggle and injury, has produced a .433 average, 13 doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs over his past 23 games …
Discussion:
Ben Maller
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Patterson Will Rest Until He's Healthy — John Patterson left yesterday's game after the first inning of his start with a right forearm strain, the same injury that caused the right-hander to spend 57 games on the disabled list this season. Both Patterson and Washington Nationals Manager Frank Robinson …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Hughes: Wait and see — PITTSBURGH - Phil Hughes isn't buying it. — Not yet, anyway. — Maybe he'll feel differently if July 31 passes and he still can wear a Yankees cap, as he did yesterday. — "You never know," the righthander said at PNC Park.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Beinfest has no regrets on slashing payroll — NEW YORK — The Marlins began the season with a projected 25-man roster payroll of less than $19 million. Based on what they've already paid players in the first half and looking ahead at what they owe, that figure likely won't change much by season's end.
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Bullpen Melts Down, Nats Limp Into Break — The phone rang in the Washington Nationals' bullpen in the middle of the sixth inning, with the home team leading by six runs, seemingly coasting to a series-salvaging win over the San Diego Padres. Manager Frank Robinson was on the line …
Michael Gluskin / MLB.com:
Notes: Nats look toward second half — DC heads into break within striking distance of Wild Card — WASHINGTON — At the All-Star break a year ago, the Washington Nationals sat atop the National League East. They were a surprising 16 games over .500 and led the division by 2 1/2 games.
