Top News:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Commissioner Tries to Keep the Mood Upbeat — PITTSBURGH, July 11 — Commissioner Bud Selig wanted to talk about the increased attendance in Major League Baseball, the boost in revenues and the marquee players who were playing in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night at PNC Park.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
NL lineups aren't as deep … There are lots of surer bets than the American League beating the National League in a head-to-head matchup. — Try Phil Mickelson out-finessing Charles Barkley in a closest-to-the-pin contest. Or Takeru Kobayashi downing more all-beef wieners than Calista Flockhart.
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.
Associated Press:
Selig defends drug-testing program — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bud Selig defended baseball's drug-testing program Tuesday and insisted the toughened policy is working, and later touched on recent scandals set off by Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco and Jason Grimsley. — "I really think steroid use has been minimized," the commissioner said.
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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
Agence France Presse:
Major League Baseball sees indictment coming for Bonds — NEW YORK (AFP) - Several senior figures in Major League Baseball expect Barry Bonds will be indicted by a San Francisco grand jury investigating the record-setting slugger, a US newspaper reported. — The New York Daily News …
Discussion:
The Catbird …
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
MLB, FOX reach seven-year extension — Network keeps World Series, will air LCS on rotating basis — PITTSBURGH — Joe Buck gets to keep the keys to the Porsche. — Standing next to the PNC Park batting cage a couple of hours before broadcasting another All-Star Game tonight to millions …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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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
Associated Press:
Woman accused of stalking Uecker pleads not guilty — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — MILWAUKEE — A woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of stalking Hall of Fame announcer Bob Uecker. — An attorney for Ann Ladd, 45, entered the plea at a preliminary hearing in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Alan Robinson / Associated Press:
For Tanner, Garner, All-Star game is like 1979 revisited — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chuck Tanner always said it would take someone special to get him back into a major league uniform for the first time in two decades. — Phil Garner was that guy. — Tanner, who managed Garner …
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.
USA Today:
Why so many home runs? — PITTSBURGH — Major League Baseball insists its steroid-testing policy is the most stringent in sports. Federal agents, with the raid of an infamous Bay Area laboratory and a former pitcher's home, let baseball fans know they're cracking down on the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs, too.
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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Brian J Oliver / Nationals Farm Authority:
Stan Kasten Press Conference - Minor League News — Along with the introducing the Nationals Re-Opening Day effort (deemed "Paint the Town Red"), Stan Kasten also answered a few questions regarding one of the "three pillars" of a successful organization (along with fan experience and community relations) ... player development.
Discussion:
Just A Nats Fan
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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.
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 …
