Top News:
Associated Press:
Dodgers deal Alomar Jr. to White Sox — CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox acquired veteran catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. from the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor-league pitcher B.J. LaMura on Sunday after designating backup Chris Widger for assignment. — A six-time American League All-Star …
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Widger dumped, Alomar returns as No. 2 catcher — Another of the key clubhouse components of the White Sox's 2005 World Series team, backup catcher Chris Widger, was designated for assignment Sunday and replaced by a very familiar face. — Sandy Alomar Jr., obtained from the Dodgers …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
White Sox acquire Alomar from Dodgers — Widger designated for assignment following Sunday's game — CHICAGO — Sandy Alomar's third stint with the White Sox officially began Sunday night, when the affable backup catcher and veteran of 1,350 career games was acquired from the Dodgers …
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Aparicio, Fox honored with statues — Legendary middle infielders memorialized by White Sox — CHICAGO — For a pair of middle infielders who won eight Gold Gloves in seven seasons together with the White Sox, Luis Aparicio ironically almost committed a rare error Sunday afternoon …
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Girardi: Willis won't be traded — MIAMI GARDENS - Expect pitcher Dontrelle Willis to finish the season with the Marlins, and expect his teammates to stick around all year, too. — "I really believe we're done trading for the year unless something happens in the off-season," …
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Ira Berkow / New York Times:
Johjima's Play Bridges the Communication Gap — When he was signed by the Seattle Mariners to a three-year contract for $16.5 million before this season, the concern about Kenji Johjima was whether he could communicate with the pitchers as the first Japanese catcher in the major leagues.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rodriguez Is All Smiles as His Mistakes Mount — TORONTO, July 22 — The video board at Rogers Center is 33 feet high and 110 feet wide. Each time he struck out Saturday, Alex Rodriguez turned his head toward it to watch the replay as he walked back to the dugout.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:The Bullpen Nails Down a Badly Needed Victory
Discussion:
NY Daily News
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:Deal with it: This trading deadline could be a dud
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — What's booing about? — The Mets might be running away with the NL East, but they still have a long way to go before they catch the Yankees. — The Yankees have 26 world championships, the Mets two. The Yankees have retired 15 numbers, the Mets three …
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Wagner looking for more work — Closer hoping to get into a groove down the stretch — NEW YORK — The baseball whizzed by Billy Wagner, close enough to be caught and close to enough to frustrate the Mets closer when it wasn't. Wagner watched the potential out become a two-out base hit …
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Littlefield expects more than one trade — MIAMI — Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield expressed confidence that he will make more than one deal before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline, reiterating that his counterparts covet the veterans he is offering.
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
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Dave van Dyck / Associated Press:
Sharp Garland pilots throwback thumping — Fails to plunk Kinsler but still razes Rangers — It was a game for throwback jerseys and throwing back at the opposition. — The White Sox went 1-for-2 Sunday. — They wore throwback jerseys from the 1906 World Series championship team …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Road getting rougher — Marmol latest starter to leave early as Nats rout slumping Cubs — WASHINGTON — The Cubs played Washington in the series finale Sunday at RFK Stadium, but after a 7-1 loss, it's debatable whether they actually showed up. — Nationals right-hander Tony Armas Jr. …
Associated Press:
Padres-Giants Preview — The San Francisco Giants have surged their way back into first place in the National League West thanks to their longest winning streak of the season. — They try to keep it going and extend their lead when they wrap up a four-game series with the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park.
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Sid Hartman / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Radke, struggling with pain, plans to retire after season — Brad Radke has compiled an outstanding record of 7-1 in his past eight starts even though he is pitching with a right shoulder that would need surgery after the season if he continues to play baseball.
J. Weitzel / Beerleaguer:
No storybook ending for folk hero Fasano — Backup catcher Sal Fasano's magical ride in Philadelphia has come to an end as the Phils designate the 34-year old journeyman for assignment. — Fasano became the first player since Rollie Fingers to gain recognition for ironic facial hair.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
McGwire's Path Could Foreshadow Bonds's — Barry Bonds is the second-most-prolific home run hitter, but his eventual place in baseball history will be difficult to predict. How much will he be remembered for hitting more than 700 homers and how much will he be remembered for how he might have accumulated some of them?
