Top News:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Stroke is all Wright — David blasts way to 2nd in Derby — PITTSBURGH - David Wright practiced on Sunday morning, accepting Paul Lo Duca's offer to pitch and getting Xavier Nady to crouch behind the plate to provide a target at Shea. And when Wright arrived at the Home Run Derby …
RELATED ITEMS:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Howard wins wet-and-wild HR Derby … PITTSBURGH — It was a Home Run Derby only Admiral Dewey, Charlie the Tuna and the star-studded cast of The Little Mermaid could have loved. — It wasn't the most spectacular Home Run Derby in history. But it was definitely the most waterlogged.
Marcus Hayes / Philly.com:
Howard's young, talented, and plenty tired — Ryan Howard stalked through the Phillies' clubhouse. Against Pirates lefty Zach Duke, he wasn't in the lineup the day before the All-Star break. — And man, was he happy. — "I'm tired. There's no reason to sugarcoat it," Howard admitted.
Bob Herzog / Newsday:
Rogers' stars are aligned — PITTSBURGH — A year ago, Kenny Rogers was under the media microscope at the All-Star Game in Detroit for dubious behavior. Yesterday, he was under the media spotlight for superlative pitching. — Tigers lefthander Rogers, 41, who has an 11-3 record and 3.85 ERA …
RELATED ITEMS:
New York Post:
A-ROD KNOWS YANKS WON'T WIN WILD-CARD — July 11, 2006 — PITTSBURGH - The challenge of the second half is clear. Alex Rodriguez sees it. — The Yankees must beat Boston or go home. — "The wild card will not come out of the East. Period," Rodriguez told The Post yesterday at the American League All-Stars' press conference.
NY Daily News:
Count gimmick out — Playing game for home field is lame — PITTSBURGH - They'll be playing tonight's All-Star Game without the DH, which supposedly should give the NL a little extra advantage, if only because David Ortiz will have to flash some leather at first base for the first few innings.
RELATED ITEMS:
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:All-Star players on Pirates' performance: No excuses
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Maury / The Baseball Journals:
MLB and Fox to Announce 7-Year Television Rights Extension — Yesterday, my article for Baseball Prospectus went into how MLB media revenues impact the overall health and wellbeing of Major League Baseball. A key element of that discussion - and one that has been a looming topic …
RELATED ITEMS:
Jim Reeves / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers have become true believers — For Gary Matthews, it's always been about trust. — Trusting his breeding. Trusting his swing. Trusting himself. And, finally, trusting that someone, somewhere, sometime, would give him a chance to play. — Every day. — Every inning. — Every at-bat.
Thomas Heath / Washington Post:
Nats' New Owners Hoping Changes Lure Fans to RFK — Faced with sluggish attendance and a last-place team, the incoming owners of the Washington Nationals said yesterday they will reduce the price of 2,000 upper-deck seats, some to as low as $3 each, and cut the cost of some refreshments in an effort to attract more fans.
Discussion:
William F. Yurasko's …
RELATED ITEMS:
Brian J Oliver / Nationals Farm Authority:Stan Kasten Press Conference - Minor League News
Discussion:
Just A Nats Fan
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — Which Limp? — friendly — Contact — By the time you read this, I'll be in Pittsburgh. Brad Wochomurka and I will be covering the All-Star Game for Baseball Prospectus Radio and, like last year, we'll talk with as many players as possible.
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
NY Daily News:
Sources see indictment on deck for Barry — BY MICHAEL O'KEEFFE in Pittsburgh and T.J. QUINN in New York — Barry Bonds has played in 13 All-Star Games during his career, but during yesterday's All-Star media sessions he seemed like one of those old Soviet leaders who were airbrushed …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Klesko, Castilla could be on way out — Padres eye trading veterans for hitters — The Padres are looking to trade Ryan Klesko in August, and to trade for a third baseman and possibly a relief pitcher later this month, General Manager Kevin Towers said yesterday.
New York Post:
POWER PLAYS — MINAYA, CASHMAN MUST NOT REPEAT BAD DEALS OF THE PAST — "With great power comes great responsibility." - Uncle Ben to Peter Parker (Spider-Man) — THE most important players, right now, for the Mets and Yankees carry Blackberrys. The statistic to watch is cell minutes used.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Baker at the break — After a difficult 2005 season, Dusty Baker returned to his California home from a Hawaiian vacation with a new mantra he hoped to carry into 2006: — "No worries." — But the first half of '06 has produced one headache after another, and now Baker's uncertain job status threatens …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Kazmir soaking it all in — Young lefty basking in All-Star week celebration — PITTSBURGH — Scott Kazmir's first All-Star experience couldn't have started out any better. — Following Sunday's game against the Yankees, shortstop Alex Rodriguez asked the Devil Rays ace if he wanted …
Discussion:
the metropolitans
RotoAuthority / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Pursuing Jason Schmidt? — Of couple of ESPN columnists seem to have independently arrived at the same trade rumor in their blogs in recent days. Buster Olney's source is a "talent evaluator" while Jayson Stark got word from "an executive who has heard this talk."
