>>Beltran Fourth In HR Derby
(Kansas City, MO) -- Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran finished fourth in last night's Home Run Derby in
Kansas City. Beltran clubbed seven homers in the first round followed by five
in the second. Detroit's Prince Fielder defeated Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays
in the final round, 12-7.
>>La Russa Picks Cain As NL Starter
(Kansas City, MO) -- Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa announced
that Giants pitcher Matt Cain will start tonight's All-Star Game for the
National League. La Russa also revealed his starting lineup for the contest.
Carlos Gonzalez will be the designated hitter and lead off followed by Giants
center fielder Melky Cabrera and Milwaukee left fielder Ryan Braun. Reds' Joey
Votto will bat clean-up and play first base followed by Cards right fielder
Carlos Beltran and Giants catcher Buster Posey. San Francisco third baseman
Pablo Sandoval will hit seventh followed by Braves second baseman Dan Uggla and
St. Louis shortstop Rafael Furcal will hit ninth.
>>Cubs Sign Top-Pick Almora
(Chicago, IL) -- The Chicago Cubs
have reportedly agreed to a deal with first-round pick Albert Almora. The
"Chicago Tribune" reports the sixth-overall selection agreed to a
$3.9-million-dollar bonus. The 18-year-old outfielder from Mater Academy batted
.603 with six homers and 34 RBI and also had 24 steals last season.
>>Cubs, Sox Prep For All-Star Game
(Kansas City, MO) --
The Cubs and White Sox will be well represented at this evening's All-Star Game
in Kansas City. Shortstop Starlin Castro and first baseman Bryan LaHair
represent the Northsiders on the National League squad. Meanwhile, sluggers
Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn join pitchers Jake Peavy and Chris Sale on the Junior
Circuit.
The Northsiders and Southsiders both start the second half of
the season on Friday. The Cubs open up a three-game series against the Arizona
Diamondbacks on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The ChiSox stay in KC to
kick off the second half of the season on Friday evening with the opener of a
three-game set against the Royals.
>>White Sox' Youkilis Wins AL
Weekly Honor
(New York, NY) -- Chicago White Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis [[ you-KILL-is ]] has been named the top player in the American League for the last week of the first half. Youkilis hit .478 with three home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs scored over six games in just his second full week with the
White Sox. Since being traded to Chicago on June 25th after spending his first
eight seasons with the Boston Red Sox, the 33-year-old is batting .347 with
three homers, 14 RBI and nine runs scored over 13 games. It is the second
career weekly award for Youkilis.
>>Report: Bulls' Deng Commits To
Olympics
(Chicago, IL) -- Chicago Bulls forward has committed to play
for host Great Britian during the London Olympics. The Bulls had initially
tried to talk Deng out of playing because of a wrist ligament injury he suffered
in January. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said last week that Deng will not surgery
on the wrist this offseason and is expected at the team's training camp after
the Olympics.
