Top News:
Fox Sports:
Guerrero out-slugs Rios in HR Derby finals — FOXSports.com, Updated 2 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — Alex Rios' second-round outburst may have given Vladimir Guerrero the Home Run Derby crown. — The Blue Jays' Rios hit 12 homers in the semi-finals — the most by any slugger in any round …
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Making an already fantastic event even better … SAN FRANCISCO — Let's get this straight right from the first sentence: There's nothing "wrong" with the Home Run Derby. — Heck, we love the Home Run Derby. We're not the only ones, either. The whole country loves the Home Run Derby.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Trade talks fail, so Hillenbrand released — The Angels, unable to trade Shea Hillenbrand in the 10-day period after he was designated for assignment June 29, had no choice Monday but to release the former designated hitter, who is now a free agent. — In a similar position last season …
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Sports Illustrated:
Angels waive Hillenbrand — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -The Angels waived infielder-designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand on Monday, a disappointment for Los Angeles after signing a $6.5 million, one-year contract in December. — The 31-year-old Hillenbrand batted .254 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 53 games with the Angels.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
Associated Press:
NL's Peavy to oppose AL's Haren in All-Star Game — SAN FRANCISCO — Dan Haren will start the All-Star Game for the American League just across the bay from his home ballpark in Oakland. — The Athletics' ace was picked by AL manager Jim Leyland on Monday to oppose San Diego's Jake Peavy …
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Lynn Zinser / New York Times:
Milledge's Latest Chance to Make a Good First Impression — As the ball left his bat and rocketed toward the train tracks beyond left field Monday afternoon, most of the lingering questions about Lastings Milledge's timing sailed over the wall with it. — He rounded the bases matter-of-factly …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Football:
Dan Patrick to Leave ESPN on Aug. 17 — ESPN television and radio personality, Dan Patrick, finally announced today what many had been speculating for over a week: He is leaving the Worldwide Leader in Sports. — At the beginning of the second hour of his radio show, Patrick announced, "I'm going to leave ESPN August 17."
Discussion:
businessofsportsnetwork …
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Sandy Burgin / MLB.com:
Notes: Francoeur has been on tear — Braves right fielder hit 10th homer Saturday on anniversary — SAN DIEGO — Jeff Francoeur celebrated the second anniversary of his Major League debut Saturday by hitting his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot off the Padres' David Wells.
RELATED:
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Andruw: Braves need another starting pitcher
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Leitch / Deadspin:
Major League Baseball Is So Freaking Cool: Dane Cook Is The Face Of Postseason Baseball — If you're Major League Baseball, you have a veritable cornucopia of options of whom you should choose to serve as your postseason spokesperson. You could use Tommy Lasorda, like last year …
Discussion:
Awful Announcing
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Willis remains prime trade bait for Marlins — LIKE THIS STORY? — If ever the Marlins were to move left-hander Dontrelle Willis, the time is now. — The White Sox's signing of left-hander Mark Buehrle to a four-year, $56 million contract extension further depressed the trade market …
ESPN:
Are You For Real? Martin, Lackey, Saito — Most of the media attention in the week leading up to the All-Star Game isn't on the actual All-Stars. Much more common are lists of players who were snubbed, debates about the process — how the fans should or should not vote …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Bill Finley / New York Times:
Native American Prospect Has Red Sox Fans Buzzing — Jacoby Ellsbury went back to the minors Friday, but not before he gave the Red Sox a glimpse of the future. He can hit, he has Gold Glove potential and he can really run. Widely acclaimed as the best prospect developed …
Discussion:
Yankees 2000
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Buchholz moving up — If you read Amalie Benjamin's minor league notebook last week, you know all about Justin Masterson, and the Eastern League got their first exposure to him this afternoon and it was dazzling. Masterson pitched 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Joseph A. Reaves / Arizona Republic:
Upton working way up — SAN FRANCISCO - Justin Upton hadn't really thought about it, but his face lit up when someone mentioned that the home run he hit into the left field bleachers at AT&T Park sailed high over Barry Bonds territory. — "That's pretty cool," Upton said with a laugh.
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Leitch / Deadspin:
Oh Holy Ball: Happy Birthday, Wiffleball! — It's a big day in the world of sports birthdays: The wiffleball (and bat, we presume, unless they were just playing catch) turns 54 years old today. We would compare the wiffleball's age to our mother's, but she'd get all mad at us.
Discussion:
sportsocracy [dot] org
