Thanks, kids; Next time make it the Cardinals
TRIVIA TIME
July 19 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
An Angels baseball cap was among the goodies a group of youngsters from Orange County gave the pope yesterday at World Youth Day festivities in Sydney, Australia.
Reuters reports that at lunch the OC folks also presented Pope Benedict XVI with a Mickey Mouse cap with ears, and a stress ball.
More Baseball News
July 19 (UNION-TRIBUNE)Cahill journey just beginning: Trevor Cahill's journey to Yankee Stadium almost never happened. Heading into the 2006 baseball draft, Cahill had an offer to attend Dartmouth. The Vista High graduate had every intention of pitching for the Big Green – assuming he wasn't taken in the draft's first five rounds. 6:41 a.m. July 19 (AP)
Baseball Today: SCOREBOARD Sunday, July 20 Toronto at Tampa Bay (1:40 p.m. EDT). Scott Kazmir (7-5), the winning pitcher in the All-Star game Tuesday, faces the Blue Jays.
CINCINNATI, 8:04 p.m. July 17 (AP)
Mets rally late, win 10th straight, 10-8 over Reds: David Wright's two-run homer in the ninth inning rallied the Mets to their 10th straight victory Thursday night, a 10-8 win over the Cincinnati Reds that moved once-languishing New York back into first place in the NL East.
WASHINGTON, 9:40 a.m. July 18 (AP)Nationals put OF Pena on DL, reinstate C Estrada: Nationals outfielder Wily Mo Pena went on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of an injured left shoulder that will require surgery. He was hitting .205 with two homers and 10 RBIs.
MINNEAPOLIS, 5:16 p.m. July 17 (AP)
Liriano's agent calls for union investigation: After watching his client dominate Triple-A hitters for the past month, the agent for Minnesota pitcher Francisco Liriano wants to know why the Twins have not called him up to the big leagues.
OAKLAND, 5:02 p.m. July 17 (AP)A's trade Blanton to Phillies: The Oakland Athletics traded away their second starting pitcher this month, dealing burly right-hander Joe Blanton to the Philadelphia Phillies for three minor leaguers on Thursday. PHILADELPHIA, 5:21 p.m. July 17 (AP)
Coroner: Intoxication contributed to Marzano death: Former major leaguer and baseball commentator John Marzano was intoxicated when he fell down the stairs and died in his home, the medical examiner's office said Thursday. WASHINGTON, 11:42 a.m. July 17 (AP)
Nationals in need of capital improvements: If the Washington Nationals decided not to return from the All-Star break, would anyone really notice? WASHINGTON, 11:24 a.m. July 17 (AP)
Nats draft pick agrees, passes up Alabama football: Second-round draft pick Destin Hood agreed to terms on a contract with the Washington Nationals on Thursday, bypassing playing college football at Alabama. TOKYO, 8:49 a.m. July 17 (AP)
Darvish named to Japan's Olympic baseball team: Star pitcher Yu Darvish was one of the 24 players selected on Wednesday for the team Japan hopes will win the final gold medal before baseball is dropped from the Olympics. DETROIT, 12:45 a.m. July 17 (AP)
Tigers can't just be average any more: A .500 record at the All-Star break used to be satisfying for the Detroit Tigers and their fans. NEW YORK, 4:47 p.m. July 16 (AP)
Radomski finds shipping slips under TV: Convicted steroid dealer Kirk Radomski looked under his television last weekend and found overnight mail slips from packages he claims were used to send human growth hormone to Roger Clemens' house, according to the lawyer for Brian McNamee. NEW YORK, 4:24 p.m. July 16 (AP)
Rays, Cubs have big hopes for second half: Raise your hand if you had this in your preseason picks. Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays are sandwiched between the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and leading the wild-card race in – gasp! – mid-July. NEW YORK, 3:47 p.m. July 16 (AP)
Drew vs. Wright: The matchup that might have been: Marquee starters were long gone. So were nearly all the other pitchers. His bullpen empty, National League manager Clint Hurdle approached David Wright and asked whether he had the right stuff to take the mound and close out the All-Star game. COMMENTARY, 4:13 p.m. July 16 (AP)
Baseball gets it right, and not just for one night: The Boss appeared to be shedding a tear behind those sunglasses, something no one ever thought they would see at Yankee Stadium. George Steinbrenner getting soft in his old age seemed almost as alien as New York fans cheering for Jonathan Papelbon to get out of a jam in the eighth inning. SAN FRANCISCO, 2:54 p.m. July 16 (AP)
Giants still very much in NL West chase: The San Francisco Giants have yet to produce the kind of run teams count on when they're in the playoff race. They have been downright lousy at home. ALL-STAR NOTEBOOK, July 16
Is a quick fix possible for Padres?: Adrian Gonzalez favors the quick fix to the five-year plan. He wants to believe the Padres' problems are temporary and that the solutions are in sight. ARLINGTON, Texas, 2:35 p.m. July 16 (AP)
Hamilton uses growing platform to tell story: In two weeks, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton turned Yankee Stadium taunts of “Josh smokes crack” into awe-struck cries of “Ham-il-ton.”
OAKLAND, 1:33 p.m. July 16 (AP)
Duchscherer a pleasant surprise as A's are in contention: Sometime last winter, manager Bob Geren and general manager Billy Beane began discussing the Athletics' starting rotation for this season.
LOS ANGELES, 1:28 p.m. July 16 (AP)
Saito out at least 6 weeks: The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without closer Takashi Saito for at least six weeks. Saito was diagnosed with a sprained ligament in his pitching elbow Tuesday by a team doctor.
NEW YORK, 10:45 p.m. July 15 (AP)Lincecum hospitalized before All-Star game: Tim Lincecum didn't make it to his first All-Star game Tuesday night. The National League sure could have used him. NEW YORK, 10:42 p.m. July 15 (AP)
Red Sox get harsh welcome at Yankee Stadium: The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees does not take a day off for the All-Star game. NEW YORK, 10:23 p.m. July 15 (AP)
Report: Radomski gives feds evidence on Clemens: Convicted steroid distributor Kirk Radomski handed over shipping receipts to federal investigators for a package of human growth hormone that he claims he sent to Roger Clemens' home in Texas in 2002 or 2003, The Daily News reported late Tuesday night on its Web site. NEW YORK, 7:30 p.m. July 15 (AP)
Hall of an intro: New, old All-Stars take places: Alex Rodriguez cut across the diamond to third base, then warmly embraced Chipper Jones, Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt, George Brett and Wade Boggs.
NEW YORK, July 15 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Hamilton the star, not winner, of HR Derby: Josh Hamilton turned the Home Run Derby into a marathon. Then he lost it as a sprint. In a show of sustained power befitting Yankee Stadium's final season and striking awe in an audience of his big league peers, the Texas Rangers' prodigal slugger belted a record 28 home runs in the first round of last night's All-Star exhibition.
NEW YORK, 3:10 p.m. July 15 (AP)Matsui could be headed for knee surgery: Hideki Matsui's left knee swelled, increasing the possibility he will need season-ending surgery and perhaps giving the New York Yankees reason to contemplate signing Barry Bonds. MIAMI, 3:10 p.m. July 15 (AP)
A-Rod's wife seeks evidence of spying: The wife of Alex Rodriguez wants to know if the New York Yankees star hired private detectives or installed wiretaps to spy on her. NEW YORK, 2:06 p.m. July 15 (AP)
MLB likely to defer worldwide draft to 2012: Baseball owners likely will postpone any effort to institute a worldwide draft until their next labor contract with players begins in 2012.
NEW YORK, 8:58 p.m. July 14 (AP)
Hamilton hits record 28 HRs in Derby first round: Josh Hamilton dreamed it. Now he's done it. With a dazzling display of power Monday night, the Texas Rangers slugger hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium before he was beaten out by Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the finals.
CINCINNATI, 9:14 p.m. July 14 (AP)Reds, Ariz. city seal deal to move spring training: The Cincinnati Reds have finalized an agreement to move their spring training facility from Florida to Arizona in 2010.
NEW YORK, 3:20 p.m. July 14 (AP)
Sweaty Babe Ruth cap auctioned in NY for $328,000: A baseball cap worn by New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth has been auctioned for a record $328,000 on Monday.
NEW YORK, 1:57 p.m. July 14 (AP)
Bonds' rep on 2008 return: 'Prospects look bleak': Don't expect to see Barry Bonds showing up in a pennant race. Bonds has not received a single offer, agent Jeff Borris said Monday. He dismissed recent reports of interest from Arizona, the New York Mets and Boston.
CLEVELAND, 12:25 p.m. July 14 (AP)
'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' turns 100: It's the third most frequently sung song in the United States, yet few know all its lyrics. It's been recorded by more than 400 artists, from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa. It's been performed live by Mike Ditka and Ozzy Osbourne – with varying skill levels.
12:27 p.m. July 14 (AP)
Lyrics to 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game': The original 1908 lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game:”
NEW YORK, 10:27 a.m. July 14 (AP)
Longtime official scorer Red Foley dies at 79: Red Foley, the most celebrated official scorer of his time in major league baseball, has died. He was 79.
DARREN BALSLEY / MY TURN, July 13 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Mid-inning relievers never get the glory: Middle relief pitchers are a lot like offensive linemen. They are an extremely important part of a baseball team, but very few people know their names.
NEW YORK, 4:36 p.m. July 12 (AP)
Ex-Yankees star Bobby Murcer dies at 62: Bobby Murcer, a five-time All-Star outfielder who spent nearly four decades with the New York Yankees as a player, executive and announcer, has died. He was 62.
