Derrek Lee Rejects Trade to Angels

After considering for a moment whether he'd like to be traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Derrek Lee politely declined.

It was very tempting, I didn't just say no right away... For me and my family, the best thing to do is to stay here.

The Chicago Cubs first baseman used his veteran power to block the trade, having been in the league for ten seasons and with the same club for five.

You Hurt Your Knee Doing WHAT?

Poor Chris Coghlan.

In a season that's becoming dangerous for walk-off celebrations, the Marlins lost their left fielder to an injury after Sunday night's walk-off victory. After Wes Helms hit a walk-off single, Coghlan attacked him with a shaving cream pie to the face. It was during the pie attack that Coghlan managed to tear his meniscus while leaping toward Helms, and land himself on the DL for at least 6-8 weeks. Way to go, Slick.

Coghlan had this to say about what happened:

While the Marlins' lead-off batter is out, they've called up prospect Logan Morrison from triple-A New Orleans. The 22-year-old was batting .307 with six homers and 45 RBI with New Orleans this season. He went 1-4 with a strikeout and a single during his big league debut on Tuesday night.

Coghlan is currently exploring his options for treating the torn meniscus. There's no doubt surgery will be required, and for now, it's just a matter of when. He is trying to determine if he can postpone the surgery and play through the pain - while trying not to do any further damage - so he doesn't have to miss the last two months of the season. If he was able to tear his meniscus by pie-ing someone, playing on the bum knee is probably NOT the best idea ever. Just saying.

Kevin Face-Muff Ruins Haren's Debut

Thanks a lot, Kevin Youkilis.

Dan Haren's debut in an Angels uniform was cut short on Monday night thanks to a line drive to the fore arm from Kevin "I-have-a-mound-of-pubes-on-my-face" Youkilis in the 5th inning.

The former Diamondbacks pitcher struck out eight batters and had only given up two runs before leaving the game with the injury. He was credited with the loss, as the Halos were trailing 2-1 when he left the game. Boston ultimately won the contest 6-3.

Way To Go, Matt Garza!

After being on the losing end of TWO no hitters this season (one being a perfect game, no less!), the Rays have reason to celebrate. Matt Garza tossed the first no hitter in Rays history on Monday Night, shutting down the Tigers.

The contest started out as quite the pitchers duel, as Detroit's Max Scherzer kept the Rays hitless into the sixth inning. He ended up loading the bases without a hit, giving up two walks plus an error by catcher Gerald Laird, and then Matt Joyce hit it out for a grand slam. So much for Scherzer's no-no.

Nice Work, Camden Yards Security

I'm pretty impressed with the Camden Yards security from Thursday during the Orioles game against the Minnesota Twins.

This kid was allowed to run around the ballpark for so long that he eventually surrendered due to boredom after covering every inch of the field.

Thanks for the tip Shannon!

Going to Bat for Charity with State Farm

We're in the giving mood lately.

State Farm has teamed up once again with Major League Baseball to give people a chance to attend the 2010 World Series, while also making a difference for their favorite charity by "going to bat" for them!

It's super easy to do. Just visit www.statefarm.com/gotobat, play the online Home Run Derby game for the charity you'd like to "go to bat" for and once a week, for ten weeks. State Farm will then select a winner and their charity. The winner’s charity will receive a weekly donation ($100 for every home run hit that week in MLB) and the winner themselves will receive a trip for two the 2010 World Series.

Everybody wins!

[MLB.com] | [SF Go To Bat]

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The Pepsi Refresh Project

Last week, I mentioned how we love MLB players doing good deeds for their communities, and now we thought we should mention another project that we think is wonderful. The Pepsi Refresh project is currently underway, and we think you should be voting your little hearts out for your favorite project. You may have seen the commercials or seen snippets about it online, but we thought you should have all of the information, so you can cast your vote with confidence.

Pepsi is giving away millions of dollars to fund ideas that are refreshing communities across America. They are giving grants to people/groups to realize their dreams of bettering the world. The ideas range from helping the homeless, education programs, supporting our vets, recycling programs, and the list goes on and on. We, being obsessed with baseball, had to bring to your attention the fact that some of the MLB teams are getting involved as well. They're competing for a $200,000 grant for some very worthy causes and ideas.

Get Well Soon, David DeJesus

Kansas City's David DeJesus is out until at least September, if not for the remainder of the season. The Royals' smokin' hot left fielder tore a ligament in his thumb trying to make a play on Derek Jeter's inside the park homer at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night. DeHotness will be having surgery to repair the ligament on Monday.

This comes as a crushing blow to the Kansas City lineup, as DeJesus is definitely one of their better players. Going into the game on Thursday, he had been batting .318 with 5 bombs and 37 RBIs. For now, the team has called Alex Gordon up from AAA Omaha to take DeJesus's spot on the roster. When Gordon was sent to Omaha in May, he was hitting a whopping .194. Since then, he's been batting .215 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs.

Babes Love Charity Events

A Major League Baseball player's job isn't always to hit a fastball out of the park, or make a spectacular game saving catch. Some of their best work is done outside of the ballpark. Many players get involved with charities and community events, and they don't get nearly enough credit for doing so. That being said, Babes Love Baseball would like to tell you about - and commend - Denard Span and Orlando Hudson from the Minnesota Twins, along with Friends of St. Paul Baseball, for the upcoming "Twins & Pins Bowling Classic."

The folks who brought you the Mauer Golf Tournament and the Molitor Golf Classic are doing it again, this time they're hoping for lots of strikes - on the bowling lanes. Hosted by Orlando Hudson and Denard Span, members of the Minnesota Twins are signing up to participate in the Twins & Pins Bowling Classic to raise money for charity, and you can join them. The Classic will be on Thursday, July 29th at 7pm at the Brunswick Zone XL in Brooklyn Park, MN, and there are still spots open for you to participate as well.

Happy 70th Birthday Joe Torre

Happy 70th birthday, Joe Torre. Here are some things that happened the year you were born:

The New York Yankees finished third in the American League

The Brooklyn Dodgers finished second in the National League

White Sox The Club Premieres Sunday

The highly-anticipated Chicago White Sox reality show The Club premieres on MLB Network -- the greatest channel ever in the history of television -- Sunday at 9pm ET.

Personally, I'm pretty pumped. Sure, as a Twins fan, I'm supposed to despise the White Sox. I'm not supposed to like their manager either. Unfortunately, Ozzie Guillen is just too awesome. And how could anyone not love Carlos Quentin or Paul Konerko? Mercy!

As Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse put it:

MLB Network got full access to a group that includes the game's most entertaining manager, Ozzie Guillen, and its most unpredictable GM.

Welcome Back, Edinson Volquez

Edinson Volquez allowed just three hits over six dominant innings Saturday in his first game back from reconstructive elbow surgery for an 8-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

After undergoing elbow surgery last August and serving a 50-game suspension for taking fertility drugs, the righty was throwing 95 mph heat, fanning nine and walking two for the win.

Just before getting a face full of shaving cream from teammate Johnny Cueto during his post-game interview, Volquez said:

It wasn’t easy, but I felt comfortable after the first inning. That first inning, I was really excited -- big crowd. It felt like my first time in the big leagues. I let my emotions get to me in the first.

Adam Wainwright: Perfect at Home

Adam Wainwright pitched six solid innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday for a 2-0 St. Louis Cardinals victory to improve to an incredible 10-0 with a 1.31 ERA at home.

The All-Star right-hander, who is 14-5 on the year with a 2.02 ERA, has allowed just one earned run over his last 29.1 innings pitched. Saturday night, he surrendered five hits and struck out three batters for his fourth straight victory and sixth of his last seven. Also, he's managed 19 scoreless innings in a row.

Braves and Blue Jays Switch Shortstops

In an effort to bolster their lineup midseason, the Atlanta Braves have swapped shortstops with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Braves also gave the Blue Jays left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes in the five-player deal, adding lefty minor leaguer Tim Collins and minor league shortstop Tyler Pastornicky.

Joe Mauer Only Struck Out Once in High School

Joe Mauer may not have pulled anything fancy during the All-Star game Tuesday night, but he was a huge hit in this interview with Ken Rosenthal.

Wait, what? That's Kid Pitch reporter Eugene? My mistake...

(Thanks Shannon!)

[Kid Pitch] | [Kid Pitch on Twitter]

Enjoy Tonight's 2010 MLB All-Star Game

The MLB All-Star game is still an exhibition, but it means more than any other All-Star game in any other sport. The winning league of tonight's 8pm ET game on FOX will gain home field advantage in the World Series. Kind of a big deal, as it has been since the game ended horribly in a 7-7 tie in 2002 at Miller Park.

Some changes to this year's contest include the adoption of the designated hitter, regardless of what league's ballpark is holding the event. This means pitchers won't have to worry about injuring themselves on a whiff and one more National League slugger gets a shot at making the roster.

Rest in Peace George Steinbrenner

George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, died this morning of a massive heart attack. He was 80 years old.

Mr. Steinbrenner bought the Yankees for $8.7 million in January 1973. He saw the team win seven world championships and pretty much dominate the majors time and time again. He's been a colorful and controversial figure within the Yankee organization and Major League baseball, known for his famous feuds, firings, and deep pockets.

Ubaldo Jimenez vs. David Price

The 2010 All-Star starting pitchers have been chosen.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has called on Colorado Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez to take the hill for his National League All-Star team. Meanwhile, New York Yankees skipper Joe Girardi has picked who else, but Tampa Bay Rays phenom David Price to start for his American League squad, which was pretty much a no-brainer.

OMG Ichiro Just Slapped Me in the Face!

OMG LOLOL ICHIRO JUST TOUCHED MEEEEEEEEEE!!!!1!!!1!!!

Chickens Make John Kruk Hungry

This baseball season, Denny’s is teaming up with ESPN to sponsor Wednesday Night Baseball’s K Zone and Value Player features, and the Touch 'Em All and Grand Slam Moment elements during Baseball Tonight. As part of Denny’s commitment to baseball, The Chickens Show interviews Celebrity All-Star Softball skipper John Kruk.

That was awesome.

Enter to win one of 1500 gift card prizes in the Denny's 2-4-6-8 Home Run Challenge.

Get on the TwinsTrain, Minnesota Fans!

Even though my hometown Minnesota Twins dropped this weekend's series to their American League Central rival Detroit Tigers and sunk to third place in the standings, I still had a blast watching both beat-downs on Friday and Saturday at Comerica Park on the TwinsTrain. Here are a few pictures and some details about the amazing trip...

It's 2010 Home Run Derby Time!

Update: Good job, Big Papi.

Here is the lineup for the Midsummer Classic 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby contest, in order of appearance. Who ya got?

Did I Just Make That Weird?

An older ESPN Sunday Night Baseball commercial featuring Prince Fielder, Ian Kinsler and of course, Party Down's Adam Scott.

Yankees Seek World Domination

Because the New York Yankees needed all the help they could get to finally win a championship (insert eye roll here), they now have their eye on one more weapon in their overpaid arsenal. Rumors are flying about the imminent acquisition of All-Star pitcher Cliff Lee by the Yankees today, and it sounds like they're close to closing the deal.

The All-Star Roster Has Been Decided

The All-Star final fan votes are in. It was no surprise that ass-kicking Joey Votto made it for the National League team. The only surprise was that he didn't make the roster prior to the fan voting. He promptly thanked his voters this afternoon by hitting bomb number 22 on the season. He's the first ever Cincinnati Reds player to make it into the game based on the final fan vote. Way to go, Joey!

In a much tighter race, Nick Swisher managed to eek past Kevin Face-muff Youklis to claim the final spot for the American League. There were five very deserving players up for the final spot, and based on their numbers, some might say that Michael Young, Delmon Young, or Paul Konerko have been having better seasons than Swisher or Youklis. But the Youngs and Konerko just couldn't compete with Swisher's Twitter campaign, the celebrity and/or senate endorsements for Swish and Youk, or the sheer number of voters the larger market teams have.

Get Well Soon, Jake Peavy

The Chicago White Sox have placed Jake Peavy on the disabled list with a muscle tear in his pitching shoulder.

The right-hander suffered the injury in the second inning of his team's victory over the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday night. After delivering a 2-2 pitch to Mike Napoli, he leapt off the mound and lifted his right arm before walking straight to the dugout with a team trainer. Peavy then landed on the 15-day DL the following day, and will likely be shut down for the rest of the season. His reaction after Wednesday's MRI:

Vote Votto

Need I say more?

If this picture isn't worth a thousand words to you, check out our recent post on the badassery of Joey Votto and how he's pretty much a wild animal.

Then vote him onto the 2010 NL All-Star team!! And do it pronto, because you only have until 4pm ET today to do so.

The Cincinnati Reds first baseman is batting .313 on the season with 21 homers and 59 RBI.

[Cincinatti.com] | [Cincy Jungle] | [Front Office Fans]

The Amazing David Price

David Price pitched into the eighth inning of his team's 6-4 win for a sweep of the Boston Red Sox to become the American League’s first 12-game winner. Badass.

The 24-year-old lefty was dominant at Tropicana Field Thursday, allowing just two runs on eight hits, walking one and fanning 10 for his 100th strikeout of the season. Rays skipper Joe Maddon had this to say about Price's mean heater:

Happy Trails, Dontrelle Willis

Arizona Diamondbacks interim general manager Jerry DiPoto's first order of business? Get Dontrelle Willis the hell out of Arizona.

After continuing to experience the same old pesky control problems, Willis has been designated for assignment. Yeah, he lasted all of 33 days in the desert.

Jim Thome Mashes Taters No. 573, 574

Congratulations to Jim Thome, who tied the legendary Harmon Killebrew for 10th on the All-Time Home Runs list with career longball No. 573 Saturday afternoon.

Jim Jam took right-hander Wade Davis deep in the bottom of the second inning to give the Minnesota Twins a 1-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field.

Two innings later, on the very next swing, he launched home run No. 574 to take sole possession of 10th place on the All-Time Jacks list. Incredible. Then he hugged every single person in the dugout.

Joey Votto is Out of Control

After nailing his 19th home run of the season Friday, Joey Votto has now reached base in 40 straight games, marking the longest streak by any player this season.

The Cincinnati Reds first baseman also walked twice in his team's 12-0 whoopin' over the Chicago Cubs, bringing his average to .314 on the year.

Carlos Zambrano to Apologize to Cubs

After completing his mandatory anger management treatment and returning from the restricted list, Carlos Zambrano will be apologizing to his Chicago Cubs teammates.

The ornery righthander has been in touch with bullpen catcher Edgar Tovar since his dugout blowout on June 25 where he got into a screaming match with first baseman Derrek Lee after giving up four runs in the first inning.

Tovar claims Big Z is very sorry and went on to say:

He feels bad about everything. He loves Chicago and he loves playing for the Cubs and wants to stay here.

Diamondbacks Fire GM and A.J. Hinch

According to a couple of anonymous spources, the 31-48 Arizona Diamondbacks have fired general manager Josh Byrnes along with manager A.J. Hinch.

It didn't take a crystal ball to know that Hinch's days with the club were numbered, but canning your GM who was under contract through 2015? That's hardcore.

Hinch was hired back in May of 2009 without even one day of managerial experience. Why on earth things didn't work out for him in Arizona, I'll never understand.

The team is expected to make an official announcement sometime Friday, including the news that they've appointed 1988 MVP folk hero Kirk Gibson -- who has also never managed a ballcub in his life -- as interim manager. Now that guy knows how to rock a mustache.

[Daily Pitch] | [MLB Trade Rumors]

Manny Hurts Himself, Donates Porsche

Manny Ramirez is scheduled to get an MRI on his injured right hamstring today, a day off for his Los Angeles Dodgers.

The wacky left fielder, who spent 15 days on the disabled list from April 23 until May 8, hurt himself in the first inning of Tuesday night's 4-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants rounding second. He stopped and dashed back to the bag, his foot making contact with shortstop Edgar Renteria's glove, which made the ball pop out for a safe call.

Buster Posey Steals Bengie Molina's Job

Wednesday night, the San Francisco Giants traded Bengie Molina (yes, he still plays baseball) to the Texas Rangers for reliever Chris Ray, minor league starter Michael Main and a bag of cash.

The veteran catcher has been replaced by youngster Buster Posey (great baseball name) who you may recognize from the 2008 draft, where he was chosen fifth overall. He started off hot this season, batting .444 with a 1.079 OPS by June 10, but has struggled since then, going 8-for-52 to drop his average down to .289. Granted, he wasn't called up until May 29.

Now not only does the 23-year-old Posey have to step it up at the plate, but behind it as well, with the added responsibility of calling games full time.

Molina, who turns 36 this month, will join the Rangers in Arlington on Friday with his .257 batting average, three homers and 17 RBIs.

[ESPN] | [Talking Points]

Go to Your Room, Charlie Manuel

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has been suspended for one game after making contact with an umpire. Not only was he fined an undisclosed amount, he will not be present for tonight's game at Pittsburgh against the Pirates.

Manuel was tossed in the top of the 10th inning during his team's 9-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday for arguing balls and strikes: a big no-no. Home plate ump C.B. Bucknor was apparently none-to-pleased after the skipper bumped his forehead with the brim of his cap while ranting and raving.