Top News:
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins MVP, American League takes eighth straight MLB All-Star Game — DENVER — Shohei Ohtani made history. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. nearly beheaded a Hall of Famer, then unleashed his unparalleled power into the thin air of Coors Field.
Discussion:
Orange County Register, MLB Baseball News … and Denver Post
RELATED:
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Staying true to what was ‘a strong focus,’ Los Angeles Angels use all 20 draft picks to select pitchers — The Los Angeles Angels made unique draft history this week: They made 20 picks in the 20-round draft and selected 20 pitchers. — The only other team to select all pitchers in a draft …
Discussion:
Orange County Register and baseballmusings.com
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Shohei Ohtani pitches perfect inning, goes 0-for-2 in MLB All-Star Game — DENVER - Shohei Ohtani made major league history Tuesday night, controlling the All-Star Game as no player ever has before - leading off the game for the American League, and then pitching a scoreless bottom half of the inning.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Baseball News …
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Befitting kings: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. reach All-Star Game exceeding lofty expectations — DENVER — Fernando Tatis and Vladimir Guerrero carry the Juniors that follow their names with grace and dignity, knowing their mere bloodlines will reset expectations and perceptions …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Baseball News …
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Ohtani is AL starting pitcher, bats leadoff in All-Star Game
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
MLB likely to drop seven-inning doubleheaders, extra-innings runner rule in 2022, commissioner Rob Manfred says — DENVER — Banning the shift, eliminating seven-inning doubleheaders and playing extra innings without a runner starting on second base are all on the table as Major League Baseball continues …
Discussion:
New York Post, MLB Baseball News …, Lookout Landing, Twinkie Town and The Good Phight
RELATED:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Say goodbye to seven-inning doubleheaders. Will MLB say hello to limiting shifts? — DENVER — Prior to Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game in Denver, commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark addressed a range of issues concerning the sport at a Baseball Writers' Association of America meeting.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Shams Charania / The Athletic:
Sixers opening up Ben Simmons trade talks, Knicks interested in Collin Sexton, plus more NBA news — With the 2021 NBA Draft less than three weeks away and free agency shortly thereafter, teams are beginning to discuss their offseason plans both internally and externally with colleagues.
Discussion:
Marc Stein, New York Post, Hoops Rumors, Clips Nation, Silver Screen and Roll, Liberty Ballers, Mercury News, Peachtree Hoops, The Bird Writes, Rockets Wire, Bleacher Nation, Sports Illustrated, Posting and Toasting, Denver Stiffs, Sactown Royalty, SBNation.com, Golden State Of Mind, Pounding The Rock, Detroit Bad Boys and Blazer's Edge
David Lennon / Newsday:
Pete Alonso successfully defends Home Run Derby title — DENVER — Shortly after obliterating the Home Run Derby competition like a belt-high fastball, Pete Alonso sat down at the interview podium late Monday night, placed the crossed-bat trophy on the table and spun the giant gold medallion hanging from his neck.
RELATED:
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
Kansas City Royals' Sal Perez set a new Home Run Derby record for catchers Monday night
Discussion:
Kings of Kauffman and Royals Review
ESPN:
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer has administrative leave extended to July 27, sources say — The administrative leave for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer has been extended by nearly two weeks to July 27, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. — The move pushes Bauer's leave past …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, Orange County Register, New York Post and baseballmusings.com
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Mets reached out to Yoenis Cespedes about possible reunion during injury crisis — DENVER — The Mets, pummeled by injuries in the season's first half, spoke with Yoenis Cespedes' representation about a possible return of the lively outfielder, multiple industry sources told The Post.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Sports Illustrated
Kyle Davidson / Detroit Free Press:
Muskegon County man unearths more than 150 bowling balls during renovations — On a normal day, most people don't expect to find a bowling ball sitting on their back step, but one man in Norton Shores found more than 158 beneath his. — David Olson, 33, was demolishing the back steps …
Discussion:
New York Post and Chicago Sun-Times
Gary Washburn Globe / The Boston Globe:
With a new coach and fresh motivation, Celtics star Jayson Tatum wants to be seen as one of the league's best — Amid all the organizational changes in Boston, Jayson Tatum remains focused on ascending into stardom while pairing with teammate Jaylen Brown to bring the Celtics a long-awaited championship.
Discussion:
Celtics Wire, Boston.com, Hoops Rumors and CelticsBlog
