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 …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Bonds not participating in Home Run Derby — CINCINNATI (AP) — Barry Bonds will sit out of the Home Run Derby on Monday night, opting to rest his tired body before Tuesday night's All-Star game. — "Nope," Bonds said Thursday when asked about the Derby. "Especially when you're 42.
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 …
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Okajima wins Star slot — Oki wins. — Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima was just selected to the American League All-Star team in the final vote balloting for the 32nd spot on the roster. — Okajima joins Red Sox All-Stars Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Manny Ramirez, Jonathan Papelbon, and David Ortiz on the team.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Oswalt replacing Smoltz as All-Star — Braves right-hander experiencing discomfort in shoulder — HOUSTON — Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt won't need to win the National League Final Vote campaign to go to the All-Star Game after all. — Atlanta's All-Star right-hander John Smoltz withdrew …
Discussion:
Rain Delay
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 …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Watchdog:
Ticked-Off MLB Limits ESPN Presence at All-Star Game — In olden times, l would not have reported this until I had gotten official comments from both sides and fleshed out every last detail. But I have to tell you about this right now, because I know the basics are true …
Yahoo! Sports:
Okajima, Young are named last two All-Stars — NEW YORK (Ticker)- Boston Red Sox rookie lefthander Hideki Okajima and San Diego Padres righthander Chris Young were the final two players named to the 2007 All-Star Game on Thursday. — Okajima and Young were named by Major League Baseball's online voting …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:Hideki Okajima Wins AL All-Star Final Vote
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Associated Press:
Gomez out 6-8 weeks with broken hand — HOUSTON (AP) — New York Mets outfielder Carlos Gomez will miss 6-8 weeks after breaking a bone in his left hand. — Gomez, 21, broke the hamate bone in his hand on a check swing in the sixth inning of the Mets' 17-7 loss to Colorado on Wednesday, assistant general manager John Ricco said.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
A National Celebration — Chico and Young Combine to Make This Fourth of July One to Remember: Nationals 6, Cubs 0 — The Washington Nationals could be scoring runs by the bushel or shriveled up in a drought, and Matt Chico would betray none of it on his 24-year-old face.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:Acta Eagerly Awaits Return Of Escobar
Discussion:
dcprosportsreport.com
Michael Phillips / MLB.com:Notes: Slumping Church gets some rest
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
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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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 83: Twins at Yankees — Here is the lineup: — YANKEES — Damon CF — Cabrera LF — Jeter SS — Matsui DH — Posada C — Abreu RF — Cano 2B — Phillips 1B — Cairo 3B — Igawa LHP — Pregame chatter: Alex Rodriguez (left hamstring) is out of the starting lineup for the first time this season.
Discussion:
Fox Sports
Sports News Canada:
Burnett a $55 M fourth starter? — Sportsnet.ca - Blue Jays' general manager J.P. Ricciardi had harsh words for often-injured starter A.J. Burnett on a Toronto radio station, saying that Burnett may now be considered a third or fourth starter, and if he had to do it all over again …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Two Final Pitches Leave Mussina Taking the Blame — Mike Mussina has pitched long enough to know the nuances of each loss, and he usually shows his feelings. He reacts differently depending on what happened, whether the umpire squeezed him, or his teammates let him down, or the other team simply hammered him.
RELATED:
John Harper / NY Daily News:Santana's a money pitcher fit for the Bombers' bucks
Discussion:
Twins Geek
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:Bombers let Santana, Twins off the hook
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
R.B. Fallstrom / Associated Press:
Wainwright helps Cards beat Diamondbacks — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Before Miguel Montero made contact, St. Louis second baseman Aaron Miles was poised for another of the Cardinals' season-high five double plays. — Miles started the last twin-killing on Montero's bouncer with the bases loaded …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Associated Press:
Reliever signs 2-year contract extension — ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Franklin, who's been successful as their setup man, signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday that includes a team option for 2010. — The 34-year-old right-hander was 3- with a 1.29 ERA …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
