Top News:
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Hometown hero Bryce Harper wins MLB Home Run Derby — WASHINGTON — Fans packed Nationals Park for the All-Star Home Run Derby hoping for some heroics from hometown hero Bryce Harper. — He didn't disappoint. — Sporting a star-spangled bandana and a special cherry blossom bat …
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Gabe Lacques / Arizona Republic:
Booing Bryce Harper? Sean Doolittle mistakes Nationals fans' cheers during Home Run Derby — WASHINGTON — Sean Doolittle won't pitch in Tuesday night's All-Star Game, but the Washington Nationals reliever, on the disabled list with a toe injury, got a glorious shout-out from his hometown crowd during Monday's Home Run Derby.
Associated Press:
Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper to bat 6th in All-Star Game — WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper will get to enjoy at least one more grand celebration as a hometown fan favorite at Nationals Park when he trots out to right field at the beginning of the All-Star Game.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and ESPN
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Bryce brings down the house with epic Home Run Derby comeback — WASHINGTON — Too many days this season, Bryce Harper has looked more like a young athlete saddled with a terrible burden than a superstar on the precipice of an adventure. He's hitting .214.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Bryce Harper gets rid of the ‘elephant,’ everyone knows this could be last season with Nationals — WASHINGTON - They flocked toward him in waves Monday afternoon, with hundreds of reporters and camera crews stopping by to chat, get a glimpse, grab a sound bite, for perhaps the final time this season in a large media gathering.
Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Muncy finds that swinging for the fences in the home run derby is exhausting … Midway through his second round at the home run derby, as he tried in vain to distance himself from eventual champion Bryce Harper, Dodgers infielder Max Muncy felt the cumulative weight of swinging for the fences.
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer is the anti-hero baseball needs — WASHINGTON - From his unique training regimen to his scientific approach to pitching to his polarizing personality, Trevor Bauer may be the most misunderstood player in baseball. — Bauer's personality, charitably described as …
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Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Home Run Derby participant Jesus Aguilar finding stardom in Milwaukee — WASHINGTON - David Ortiz had just turned 27 when the Minnesota Twins released him in December 2002, thinking the first baseman/DH was starting to get expensive and wouldn't amount to much.
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Max Scherzer, Chris Sale get starting nods in All-Star Game rematch
Max Scherzer, Chris Sale get starting nods in All-Star Game rematch
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Latest On Manny Machado — The Orioles are getting “very close” to reaching an agreement on a Manny Machado trade, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (via Twitter). However, despite a report of a “handshake agreement” between the Orioles and Phillies by Barstool Sports …
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com, Phillies Nation and MLB Daily Dish
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Scott Boeck / USA Today:
All-Star Game could be the last time Manny Machado wears an Orioles uniform
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Manny Machado says his Instagram ‘like’ on photo of him in Yankees uniform was ‘just a mistake’
Manny Machado says his Instagram ‘like’ on photo of him in Yankees uniform was ‘just a mistake’
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
ESPN:
MLB trade deadline: Latest buzz, news and analysis
MLB trade deadline: Latest buzz, news and analysis
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News … and Talking Chop
Jim Salisbury / NBCSports.com:
As Phillies wait for answer on Manny Machado, keep an eye on J.A. Happ
As Phillies wait for answer on Manny Machado, keep an eye on J.A. Happ
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Phillies Nation and Philly.com
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Joey Votto talks to MLB Network's ‘Intentional Talk’ about when he had cornrows — Cincinnati Reds All-Star first baseman Joey Votto was on the set of MLB Network's Intentional Talk during All-Star Monday festivities preceding the Home Run Derby at Nationals Park, and he talked to co-hosts Chris Rose …
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Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
It has been a complicated year for Canadian all-star Joey Votto — WASHINGTON, D.C. — A year ago, Joey Votto was tearing up the National League on the way to an incredible season, one that earned him the Lou Marsh Award as Canada's outstanding athlete. — While it hasn't all gone downhill since …
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Astros are baseball's most dominant force — and they're having more fun than you — WASHINGTON — They are the envy of baseball, with a World Series championship last fall, another division champion in the pipeline and a six-pack of All-Stars here for the 89th All-Star Game.
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David Murphy / The Charlotte Observer:
Phillies' success isn't tanking, and it never was - it's a youth movement — It wasn't long ago that the Phillies found themselves facing some serious allegations from folks who insisted that their rebuilding effort amounted to “tanking.” From the ESPN airwaves to the pages of the local papers …
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Mitchell Gladstone / Philly.com:
Phillies minor leagues: JoJo Romero is turning things around at double-A Reading
Bob Ford / Philly.com:
Is the national pastime really more strikeouts than hits? | Bob Ford — Baseball has always been a sequence of pleasant lulls interrupted by brief bursts of action, and the deliberate, even sedentary, pace of the game as it meanders toward nine innings of play is part of its inherent charm.
Ed Barkowitz / Philly.com:
Quiz: One-time Phillies all-stars ... and where have you gone, Domonic Brown? — Mike Schmidt holds the Phillies record with 12 all-star selections. Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton are tied for the most among pitchers with seven. — But what about those flashes in the pan that pose …
Benjamin Hochman / The Charlotte Observer:
Will changes rejuvenate a Cardinals team that says it wants to win? — It's not as if the Cardinals have a purposeful playlist of metaphorical songs, played in the clubhouse to subliminally spread messages; it's just a cool song, so they played it after the fun win.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Some warn that pitching strategy comes at a price — WASHINGTON — The success the Rays have had during two months of using a game opener followed by a relieving starter seems to have tamed some of the criticism of the unusual plan. — Until Arizona ace Zack Greinke …