Top News:
Newsday:
Rickey Henderson hired as Mets hitting coach — Newsday has learned that Rick Down has been relieved of his duties and that the future Hall of Famer will take over immediately. — The Mets will begin the season's second half with a dramatic change in their coaching staff, Newsday has learned.
Discussion:
Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats, NJ.com, Mets Fever, Mike's Mets, Catfish Stew, Can't Stop The Bleeding and Hot Foot
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Yahoo! Sports:
Diamondbacks fire hitting coach Seitzer, promote Schu — PHOENIX (TICKER) — The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Wednesday they have replaced hitting coach Kevin Seitzer with the organization's hitting coordinator, Rick Schu. — Schu, 45, is in his 10th season with the Diamondbacks franchise.
New York Times:
Mets Fire Coach and Add Henderson — The Mets, seeking to inject some life into a struggling offense, have fired their hitting coach, Rick Down, and have added Rickey Henderson to the coaching staff. — Henderson will most likely replace Down, but according to a club official …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Associated Press:
Rickey Henderson named Mets new hitting coach — NEW YORK — Rickey Henderson is replacing Rick Down as hitting coach of the New York Mets starting Thursday. — Henderson, who had been a special instructor for the Mets this season, is a 10-time All-Star who set career records for stolen bases (1,406) and runs (2,295).
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Hafner gets 4-year, $57M extension — FOXSports.com, Updated 8 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Indians have signed designated hitter Travis Hafner to a four-year, $57 million contract extension, FOXSports.com has learned. — Hafner, 30, was eligible for free agency after the 2008 season.
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Tribe, Hafner agree to four-year extension — 'Pronk' to remain in Cleveland through 2012 season — CLEVELAND — It appears Pronk is here to stay. — On Thursday the Indians are expected to announce their second long-term agreement with a core player this season, designated hitter Travis Hafner …
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer Sports:Hafner will sign four-year, $57 million extension with Indians on Thursday
Discussion:
Twins Nation Blog
David Steele / Baltimore Sun:
Ichiro's worth not measured by long ball — Just one more reason baseball deserves all the angst it's getting right now: All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Ichiro Suzuki. — Nobody in Tuesday's game in San Francisco was more fun to watch play than Ichiro.
RELATED:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hummel's take: La Russa was right ... and wrong — Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick Hummel covered the All-Star Game for the Post-Dispatch. Here's his take on the ninth-inning situation in which NL manager Tony La Russa left Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols on the bench with the bases loaded, two out and the NL trailing 5-4:
ESPN:
Yanks want to talk deal with A-Rod during season — The New York Yankees are willing to bend their own rules to keep Alex Rodriguez in pinstripes beyond this season. — The Yankees have changed their traditional stance and are now willing to negotiate during the season with their star third baseman …
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Selig: System working — Commissioner against changing playoff format; no decision on following Bonds — SAN FRANCISCO — Commissioner Bud Selig continues to weigh a decision on whether to attend games when Barry Bonds has put himself on the threshold of breaking Hank Aaron's career home-run record.
RELATED:
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:AL participants say All-Star dominance merely coincidence
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Angels quietly dominating AL West — Despite potential weaknesses, Halos manage to click — Major League Baseball, like life, is defined by checks and balances and decisions to live with. Teams are forever juggling strengths and deficiencies, especially in this big-ticket era.
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
2007 ALL-STAR GAME — GIANTS: Magowan wants Sabean to stay — Contrary to rumors that the Giants are preparing to fire Brian Sabean, ownership has decided it wants Sabean back next year for a 12th season as general manager, and the two sides have begun discussions about a contract extension, The Chronicle has learned.
Discussion:
The Biz of Baseball
Sports Illustrated:
Fog forces cancellation of tied Eastern League All-Star Game — NORWICH, Conn. (AP) -Dense fog that rolled into eastern Connecticut late Wednesday forced the cancellation of the Eastern League All-Star Game in the top of the third inning. — The Southern and Northern divisions were tied …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Yanks, Twins may enter Hillenbrand fray — LIKE THIS STORY? — Infielder Shea Hillenbrand, who cleared waivers on Wednesday, is expected to draw interest from the Yankees, Twins and possibly one other club, according to major-league sources. — Hillenbrand, who turns 32 on July 27 …
RotoAuthority / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins, Yankees Like Dan Johnson — There's a lot of buzz going around that the A's may become sellers soon, nine games back in their division and eight out in the Wild Card. Typical impending free agent parts like Mike Piazza and Shannon Stewart are candidates to be moved.
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