Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
12:45 PM ET, July 29, 2013

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Jesse Crain trade close  —  The Chicago White Sox are close to trading All-Star reliever Jesse Crain in a “complicated” deal involving two teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.  —  The complicated part could center on the fact …
Discussion: MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Edward Creech / MLB Rumors:
Jake Peavy Rumors: Sunday
Darren Rovell / MLB:
Brewers offering August vouchers  —  Challenged by the news of Ryan Braun's suspension and a disappointing season, Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio is reaching into his wallet.  —  The team announced Monday that each fan that shows up with a ticket to any of the team's 12 home games …
Discussion: SI Wire
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Fans eat free for all August games at Miller Park  —  Fans should plan to bring their appetite for baseball, food and drinks to upcoming games at Miller Park because for the month of August, the Brewers are treating.  —  Milwaukee Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio today announced …
Discussion: Al's Ramblings
Fox Sports:
Has baseball set bad precedent?  —  Whatever happens with Alex Rodriguez, no matter how many players baseball suspends, the debate over the sport's investigation of Biogenesis does not figure to end anytime soon.  —  To some, Ryan Braun's acceptance of a 65-game suspension indicated that for baseball, the end justified the means.
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
If Alex Rodriguez refuses deal from MLB, Bud Selig is expected to pursue lifetime suspension
Discussion: River Avenue Blues
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Papelbon: Phillies need changes from top, down  —  DETROIT — Jonathan Papelbon had only a couple minutes to talk Sunday morning at Comerica Park, but he said plenty, expressing the need for changes in the organization if things do not improve on the field.  —  Papelbon signed a four-year …
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Will Phillies be able to trade Lee?
Discussion: Phillies Nation
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Waiting for a surge, underachieving Nats not in selling mode  —  “We are certainly not giving up on this season,” Rizzo said.  —  The Nats were widely viewed not only as the NL East favorite, but the NL favorites and — because of young talents such as Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper …
Discussion: MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Braves Acquire Scott Downs  —  The Braves found their left-handed reliever, acquiring veteran Scott Downs from the Angels for righty reliever Cory Rasmus, according to Halos communications director Eric Kay.  —  Downs, 37, has a 1.84 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 0.31 HR/9, and 63.1% groundball rate in 29 1/3 innings this year.
Discussion: Talking Chop
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Tigers Acquire Jose Veras  —  The first-place Tigers augmented their bullpen, at a time the back end finally seemed to have stabilized.  Detroit acquired reliever Jose Veras today from the Astros for outfield prospect Danry Vasquez and a player to be named later, which will be decided on or before September 15th.
Fox Sports:
Giant change of fortune for champs  —  They played 15 postseason games in 2010 and 16 in 2012.  They sent nine players to the World Baseball Classic last spring, and six of them later suffered injuries.  No one should be surprised that for the San Francisco Giants, the bill finally is coming due.
Discussion: MLB Rumors and McCovey Chronicles
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Short-term interests on Mets' minds at Deadline  —  Byrd holds trade value, but GM Alderson not willing to disrupt roster plan  —  WASHINGTON — At last year's non-waiver Trade Deadline, the Mets shocked many of their peers by holding onto Scott Hairston, a valuable asset who likely could have fetched a reasonable prospect in return.
Discussion: Metsblog
USA Today:
Nightengale: Baseball braces itself for punishment  —  BIOGENESIS' IMPACT ON MLB  —  As many as 20 Major League players have been linked to MLB's investigation into performance-enhancing drugs and the Biogenesis clinic in Miami.  Here's a look at some of the high-profile players that are linked …
Discussion: HardballTalk
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
All signs point to quiet Trade Deadline for Reds  —  Cincinnati banking on return of injured player more than outside help  —  LOS ANGELES — As Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline closes in, the Reds find themselves at a crossroads of sorts.  —  Adding a right-handed bat …
Discussion: Red Reporter
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres looking to parlay chips into arms at Deadline  —  GM Byrnes wants to make improvements to club's starting rotation  —  SAN DIEGO — The Padres' freefall in July saw them drop to last place in the National League West.  But it didn't end their pursuit of roster upgrades.
Discussion: MLB Rumors
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 12:45 PM ET, July 29, 2013.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Rob Schumacher / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks weigh whether to deal or not deal
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Heyward's Homer Helps Braves Sweep Cardinals, 5-2
Discussion: Talking Chop and TSN.ca
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
With No Living Inductees, Only Echoes Stir the Quiet at the Hall of Fame
Discussion: Hardball Times
Associated Press:
Yasiel Puig smacks walk-off HR in 11th to lift Dodgers
Discussion: Red Reporter
Associated Press:
Franklin Hits 2 Homers, Mariners Beat Twins 6-4
Discussion: Lookout Landing and Twinkie Town
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Rollins unlikely to waive no-trade clause
Discussion: HardballTalk and Phillies Nation
 Earlier Picks: 
Associated Press:
Rasmus Has Winning Hit; Blue Jays Beat Astros 2-1
Associated Press:
Nats pitching coach taken to hospital
Nick Cafardo / The Boston Globe:
MLB trade deadline certain to create a frenzy
Discussion: Bluebird Banter
Doug Brown / Scene and Heard:
Texas Rangers pitcher sucker-punched in Cleveland, police say no big deal (updated)
Associated Press:
Lester, Ortiz Carry Red Sox Over Orioles 5-0
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Final Score: Nationals 14 Mets 1
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Jeff Francis recalled by Rockies to help in bullpen
Discussion: Purple Row
Edward Creech / MLB Rumors:
Reds Designate Greg Reynolds For Assignment
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Kate Middleton Seen in New Video Enjoying Windsor Farm Shop with William

Richard Simmons:
I have some news to tell you.  Please don't be sad.  I am ....dying.  Oh I can see your faces now. …

Snejana Farberov / New York Post:
King Charles is not dead, despite Russian media ‘announcement’ forcing palace to scramble

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page