Top News:
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Young, Okajima win Final Vote — Fans select pair to final roster spots on All-Star squads — Chris Young of the Padres and Hideki Okajima of the Red Sox are your selections in the sixth annual Monster All-Star Final Vote, which will be remembered for unique grassroots campaigns …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Okajima heading to All-Star Game — Japanese left-hander wins American League Final Vote — BOSTON — Red Sox Nation — which now extends all the way to Japan — has proved what a powerful force it can be once again with Thursday's announcement that Hideki Okajima has won …
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Young earns Final Vote as NL All-Star — Right-hander elated to be in his first Midsummer Classic — SAN DIEGO — While Chris Young was elated on Thursday after finding out that he had earned a spot on the National League's roster for the All-Star Game as the winner of the Monster 2007 …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:Hideki Okajima Wins AL All-Star Final Vote
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Mets' Gomez out 6-to-8 weeks with hand injury — HOUSTON — The Mets' depleted outfield ranks took another hit Thursday when rookie Carlos Gomez underwent surgery in New York for a broken bone in his left hand. Gomez, who broke the hamate bone on a checked swing in the sixth inning …
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Mark Zuckerman / Washington Times:
Inside the Beltway — Nats remain powerless — He sneaked into the owner's box in the bottom of the first, unbeknownst to most of the RFK Stadium crowd of 22,594, except perhaps for those who noticed the two guys with rifles stationed on the roof high above right field.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:A National Celebration — Chico and Young Combine to Make This Fourth …
Matt Smith / MLB.com:
Gaudin, homers lift A's past Mariners — Left-hander allows two runs; Swisher, Crosby hit solo homers — OAKLAND — Chad Gaudin followed what was the best start of his young career with one of the longest. — In his last start, he gave up just one hit over seven shutout innings …
Discussion:
Catfish Stew
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Jeremy Anders / MLB.com:
Hall suffers sprained right ankle — Outfielder hurt while attempting to make leaping catch — PITTSBURGH — Brewers center fielder Bill Hall left Thursday's game in the second inning after sustaining a high ankle sprain to his right ankle. X-rays taken were negative for a fracture.
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Alan Robinson / Associated Press:Brewers CF Hall out indefinitely
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Johnson back on DL but hopes to return soon — SAN DIEGO Josh Johnson has every expectation of pitching again this season. Based on what the Marlins' medical personnel have told him, he has no reason to think otherwise. — Wednesday, Johnson left his start after five shutout innings …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Lineup vs. Twins — Here are notes and the lineup for the finale of the four-game series against the Twins. Alex Rodriguez is not playing due to his strained left hamstring. He just left the ballpark to get an MRI done. If the MRI does not show anything severe, Joe Torre said they hope Alex will be able to play tomorrow night.
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Pat Tabler / The DiaTribe:
Remembering a Legend — With today marking the 60th Anniversary of Larry Doby's first appearance as a Cleveland Indian, I asked a longtime reader, who is an avid Larry Doby memorabilia collector and possibly one of the greatest fans of the influential trailblazer anywhere, for a reflection on Larry Doby …
Discussion:
Let's Go, Tribe!
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Palmer lends helping hand to Cabrera … CHICAGO // As he always does, pitching coach Leo Mazzone stood back and to the right as Daniel Cabrera worked through his bullpen session before last night's game. However, Mazzone and Cabrera also had company. — Seeking to get the struggling pitcher …
Fox Sports:
Stats 101: Detecting a fluke season — Special to FOXSports.com, Updated 1 day ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — In case you haven't noticed, Magglio Ordonez is having a darn nifty season. — At present, the Detroit Tigers' right fielder has a batting line of .369 AVG/.446 OBP/.614 …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Phil Hughes update — Just got an e-mail back from Phil Hughes. He threw his second session of batting practice today in Tampa today and it went well. — He is scheduled to make a rehab start for Class A Tampa on Monday at home against Dunedin then will head for Trenton and Scranton.
La Velle E. Neal III / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins send Slowey to minors; Cali recalled — NEW YORK - Twins rookie righthander Kevin Slowey was sent back to Class AAA Rochester after Thursday's 7-5 loss and replaced by lefthanded reliever Carmen Cali. — After watching the bullpen log too many innings during the Yankees series …

