Top News:
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 …
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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.
Genaro C. Armas / Associated Press:
Kazmir hitches a ride to All-Star game on Air A-Rod — PITTSBURGH —Scott Kazmir needed a ride. Alex Rodriguez had a plane. — The Devil Rays lefty went first class on Air Rodriguez to the All-Star game. — A-Rod and the Yankees played in Tampa on Sunday, the day before the midseason break.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
A-Rod: AL has big edge in talent — Pittsburgh - Alex Rodriguez spared diplomacy. — Superiority explains the seismic shift, why the American League has turned the National League into a homecoming opponent as the two square off tonight at PNC Park. — "In years past, one league might …
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Ben Maller
Associated Press:23 first-time All-Stars debut as young stars emerge
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Mike's Baseball Rants
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.
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Tom D'angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Incidents tarnish Cabrera's stardom — PITTSBURGH - Cookie Rojas, a five-time All-Star in the '60s and '70s, has some advice for Miguel Cabrera: Cool it. — "He's going to have to understand the fact that he can't react all the time the same way,'' said Rojas, the Marlins' Spanish television analyst. "
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 …
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Metsblog.com
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 …
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Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano: Get off Baker's back, let him finish year — PITTSBURGH — Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs' lone All-Star representative, conducted most of his hourlong interview Monday in Spanish, but he also defended beleaguered manager Dusty Baker against what are perceived as media attacks.
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:Notebook: Cubs' All-Star even thinks Baker is toast
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Baseball Musings
Michael Walsh / MLB.com:
Nats announce major changes to RFK — 'Grand Reopening Weekend' to take place on July 21-23 — WASHINGTON — Saying that there was no reason to wait until their new ballpark was opened in 2008 and that a decline in attendance this season was not the deciding factor, incoming Nationals …
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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.
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William F. Yurasko's …
Joseph White / Associated Press:Nats announce 'Grand Reopening' for old RFK
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Lee gives loyalty oath — All-star might be too costly to keep — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — Pittsburgh - All-star leftfielder Carlos Lee said Monday that he had no desire to leave the Milwaukee Brewers. — "We've got a great team," said Lee, one of three Brewers on the National League all-star team.
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Grant / McCovey Chronicles:
Worst. Post. Ever. — First thought in my brain after the Giants won the third game of the series: Ooh. Good. Now the worst they can do is split. — Second thought in my brain after the Giants won the third game of the series: Dang it, they're going to split.
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Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
One Phillies owner speaks out on team's struggles — PITTSBURGH - The Phillies have been bloodied and beaten on the field, and intensely criticized off it. — The starting pitching and hitting have been awful. Manager Charlie Manuel is feeling the heat.
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
All-Star players on Pirates' performance: No excuses — Game's best say other teams doing fine with low payrolls — Roy Oswalt, the Houston Astros' fireballing gem, was asked yesterday to try to imagine how frustrating it must be for Pittsburghers to put up with so much losing baseball for so long.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
For Soriano, It's About Home Base — Nationals' Star Has Endured Many Changes — Maybe it was getting off a plane in Hiroshima, Japan, more than a decade ago, his first trip outside his native Dominican Republic, wondering where to go and what to do. "I was like, 'Oh my God,' " Alfonso Soriano said.
