Mets rally late, top Reds for 10th straight victory
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 …

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Anticipation building for Cubs to end century’s worth of futility
After 99 years of waiting for a World Series title, the Chicago Cubs‘ next few months might further stoke a devoted fan base …

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A starry night to remember in New York
When the longest game in All-Star history ended with the American League winning 4-3 in 15 innings early Wednesday morning, nobody …

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‘Trailblazer’ Nomo officially announces retirement
Hideo Nomo, who pitched a pair of no-hitters and led a rush of Japanese players to the major leagues, is finished. Nomo announced …

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Cubs place RHP Lieber on DL (PA SportsTicker)
HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Chicago Cubs on Friday placed righthander Jon Lieber on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 11, with a right foot sprain.

Fans aflutter over Cubs‘ chances
Fans aflutter over Cubs‘ chances Entering the All-Star break tied with the best record in baseball is a first for Chicago, and Cubs fans are seeing it as a sign that this could be the year the North Siders finally win another pennant.

Stats help solve which teams are for real
The Tampa Bay Rays have been the best story in baseball, the Chicago Cubs have their fans thinking this might be the year, and …

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Fantasy spin: Red Sox, Cubs to get power boost
David Ortiz plans to return July 25 against the New York Yankees. That will mean less playing time for Coco Crisp and Sean Casey. …

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Mets rally late, top Reds for 10th straight victory
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 …

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Cubs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Cubs will open the second half Friday at Houston, and they’ll still be short-handed, at least for about another week.

Left fielder Alfonso Soriano remains on the disabled list as he recovers from the broken left hand he suffered June 11. Soriano will take batting practice with the Cubs this weekend before heading out on a minor league rehab assignment.

He’ll likely rejoin the Cubs and be activated June 24. In the meantime, the Cubs will go with a revolving door of Mark DeRosa and Reed Johnson in left until Soriano gets back.

Once Soriano comes off the DL, the Cubs will be able to move Johnson back and forth from left field to center, giving Soriano and Jim Edmonds a break now and then.

DeRosa, mainly a second baseman, then will be able to move to right…

Dempster proving his doubters wrong

It was one of those classic Ryan Dempster moments — a serious question met head-on with a seemingly serious answer.

Pertinent post-All-Star break issues (Yahoo! Sports)
Questions for each team come to mind two at a time as the season enters its second half.

Baseball Today (AP)

Cubs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Cubs will open the second half Friday at Houston, and they’ll still be short-handed, at least for about another week.

Left fielder Alfonso Soriano remains on the disabled list as he recovers from the broken left hand he suffered June 11. Soriano will take batting practice with the Cubs this weekend before heading out on a minor league rehab assignment.

He’ll likely rejoin the Cubs and be activated June 24. In the meantime, the Cubs will go with a revolving door of Mark DeRosa and Reed Johnson in left until Soriano gets back.

Once Soriano comes off the DL, the Cubs will be able to move Johnson back and forth from left field to center, giving Soriano and Jim Edmonds a break now and then.

DeRosa, mainly a second baseman, then will be able to move to right…

Roundup of other games

CHICAGO - Tim Lincecum was the first pitcher to upstage Ryan Dempster at Wrigley Field this season.

Cubs look to end 100 years of title misery

MAJOR League Baseball returns from the All-Star break today with the most exciting race expected in the National League Central division, where the front-running Chicago Cubs are aiming for a first championship …

Dempster proving his doubters wrong

It was one of those classic Ryan Dempster moments — a serious question met head-on with a seemingly serious answer.

Iowan who sang at Wrigley dies at age 23

An eastern Iowa man who became the first Chicago Cubs fan to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Wrigley Field has died from bone cancer.

Report: Chicago Real Estate Firm Bids for Wrigley

A Chicago-area commercial real estate group has made an offer to buy Wrigley field, the iconic and historic home of the Chicago Cubs.

Pertinent post-All-Star break issues (Yahoo! Sports)
Questions for each team come to mind two at a time as the season enters its second half.

A’s trade pitcher Joe 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.

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Top MLB prospects highlight U.S. Olympic baseball team
Matt LaPorta, the slugging outfielder the Milwaukee Brewers parted with in order to land pitching ace CC Sabathia, was among the 25 players picked Wednesday for the U.S. baseball team headed to the Beijing Olympics.

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D’backs acquire first baseman Clark from Padres
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired first baseman Tony Clark from the San Diego Padres on Thursday for minor league pitcher Evan Scribner.

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Red Sox’s Drew earns All-Star MVP honors
J.D. Drew and the Boston Red Sox had a rewarding All-Star week at Yankee Stadium. Drew hit a tying, two-run homer in the seventh inning Tuesday night and took home MVP honors after a wild Midsummer Classic, capping a strong performance by the rival Red Sox in New York.

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Roundup of other games

CHICAGO - Tim Lincecum was the first pitcher to upstage Ryan Dempster at Wrigley Field this season.

Mets rally late, top Reds for 10th straight victory
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.

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More curveballs coming in baseball’s second half?
Kevin Youkilis spoke as if he were explaining how the sun will rise tomorrow or the American League will win another All-Star …

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Few in position for short-lived mound work
Due to necessity or gimmick, baseball can make pitchers out of a small number of position players.

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Stats help solve which teams are for real
The Tampa Bay Rays have been the best story in baseball, the Chicago Cubs have their fans thinking this might be the year, and …

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Boy injured at Wrigley expected to head home

Hospital officials in Chicago say a 7-year-old boy whose skull was fractured by a foul ball at Wrigley Field is recovering well and expected to go home.

Yankee Stadium regular-season finale scheduled to be a night game
Yankee Stadium’s regular-season finale will be a night game.

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Boy injured at Wrigley expected to head home
Hospital officials in Chicago said a 7-year-old boy whose skull was fractured by a foul ball at Wrigley Field is recovering …

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Wood’s journey a long one

It was roughly a year ago when the pain in his shoulder was so intense that Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood resigned himself to his fate.

Fantasy spin: Red Sox, Cubs to get power boost
David Ortiz plans to return July 25 against the New York Yankees. That will mean less playing time for Coco Crisp and Sean Casey. …

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Sandberg joins President for tee ball

National League second-half preview
A look at the National League, team-by-team.

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Fantasy spin: Red Sox, Cubs to get power boost
David Ortiz plans to return July 25 against the New York Yankees. That will mean less playing time for Coco Crisp and Sean Casey. …

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Despite strong offense, Pirates below .500 again

The hitting is much better than expected, the pitching much worse. At the All-Star break, it adds up to a typical Pittsburgh Pirates season.

Report: Chicago Real Estate Firm Bids for Wrigley

A Chicago-area commercial real estate group has made an offer to buy Wrigley field, the iconic and historic home of the Chicago Cubs.

Roundup of other games

CHICAGO - Tim Lincecum was the first pitcher to upstage Ryan Dempster at Wrigley Field this season.

Cubs midterm report
Cubs midterm report Rich Harden now is in the rotation, and as long as Ryan Dempster pitches at Wrigley Field, all is right in the Cubs‘ world. They enter the second half with the best record in the National League, and have a chance to end the longest championship drought in professional sports.

Wrigley Field to host NHL game
Wrigley Field to host NHL game Hockey is coming to Wrigley Field on New Year’s Day. The oldest National League ballpark will play host to an outdoor regular-season NHL game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 1, the league announced on Wednesday.

Sandberg joins President for tee ball

Dempster proving his doubters wrong

It was one of those classic Ryan Dempster moments — a serious question met head-on with a seemingly serious answer.

Matt Holliday’s solo home run helps NL take 2-0 lead after 6 innings in All-Star game

Matt Holliday homered and National League pitchers wriggled out of trouble several times to build a 2-0 lead over the AL through six innings in the All-Star game Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

Wood’s journey a long one

It was roughly a year ago when the pain in his shoulder was so intense that Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood resigned himself to his fate.