Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Phils' Abreu Has Become the Center of Attention — As the trading deadline approaches, the object of the Yankees' affection is becoming more and more obvious. As he left Yankee Stadium after yesterday's game, in fact, the principal owner George Steinbrenner even said a player's name.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
GM won't pony up in weak market — Williams listening to offers, but refuses to deal for 'mediocrity' — NEW YORK — White Sox general manager Ken Williams said he merely is doing his job when he listens to trade offers and suggests he's not steering away from his three-year blueprint or his asking price for a starting pitcher.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Politte designated for assignment — Reliever Tracey to return to the big leagues — NEW YORK — Cliff Politte stood in front of his locker in the visitors clubhouse of Yankee Stadium on Saturday and explained what had to be one of the toughest moments of his 10-year career.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Taubenheim's staph infection forces Blue Jays to clean clubhouse — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays disinfected their clubhouse after being forced to place right-hander Ty Taubenheim on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with an infection in his left foot …
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Scouting the free agents — Passan's picks: National League American League — Whether Daisuke Matsuzaka throws the gyroball is irrelevant. He'll be rich with or without it. — Matsuzaka, the MVP of the World Baseball Classic and Japan's best pitcher since Hideo Nomo …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Notes: Taubenheim gets staph infection — Rookie becomes second Blue Jay with similar ailment — TORONTO — It looked like another inside joke within Toronto's clubhouse. After Friday's game, the white board hanging on a wall in the back corner of the room read, "Word of the Day: Shower Shoes."
MLB.com:
Mets sign former Met Edgardo Alfonzo to Minor League contract — The New York Mets announced today that they have signed former Met Edgardo Alfonzo to a minor league contract. Alfonzo, who played with the Mets from 1995-2002, will join Norfolk (AAA) of the International League on Monday on the road in Indianapolis.
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Sports Illustrated:
Mets sign Alfonzo to minor league deal — CHICAGO (AP) -The New York Mets signed infielder Edgardo Alfonzo, a star on their 2000 World Series team, to a minor league contract Saturday and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. — Alfonzo, 32, began the season with the Los Angeles Angels …
Associated Press:
HOMEMLBNEWS STORYMets' Martinez goes to hospital for tests — CHICAGO (AP) - Mets right-hander Pedro Martinez went to a hospital and needed an IV after developing a fever following Friday's game against the Cubs. — Martinez returned to the team Saturday and was stretching in the outfield before the game at Wrigley Field.
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
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Associated Press:
Braves-Padres Preview — San Diego's Petco Park is known as a pitchers' park. On Friday, it was anything but. — One day after the highest-scoring game in the park's three-year history, the Atlanta Braves will look to extend their longest winning streak in nearly two months Saturday …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers' Matthews has golden dreams — BALTIMORE - Outfielder Gary Matthews acknowledged Friday that he has given thought to winning the Gold Glove. — "Only since I was about 5 years old," Matthews said. "I walked into Bobby Bonds' house and saw his trophy case full of them.
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:NOTES — Ballpark wind study results due — BALTIMORE …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Second Half Begins With Quiet Debuts — PITTSBURGH, July 14 — The acquisition of Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez was touted, by all parties involved, as a move for the long-term success of the Washington Nationals, certainly not a quick solution for this season's woes.
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Future murky for Bonds, manager Alou — Giants president admits there will be substantial changes — SAN FRANCISCO — Peter Magowan, the Giants president and managing general partner, said this weekend that the composition of the team will be different next year and that he will continue …
Sam Miller / MLB.com:
Horton trying to bridge past, present — Former Tiger to be part of Negro Leagues Weekend — DETROIT — Put down that PDA. Set aside that stylus. Instead of learning about your favorite baseball team via wireless updates, how about reading a book like Roger Kahn's "Boys of Summer" …
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Pavano, Beltre haven't lived up to contracts … Every year major league teams spend millions of dollars on players who are almost always injured, who don't take their clubs to the next level or who simply don't live up to expectations. — The majority of these "busts" were either free-agent signings …
David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
Foulke Says Selig Was Unfair — Backs Ramirez's All-Star No-Show — BOSTON — Keith Foulke thought commissioner Bud Selig was out of line to criticize Manny Ramirez for skipping Tuesday night's All-Star Game. — "Being a guy who's gone through the experience, the All-Star break is not a break," Foulke said Friday.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
