Tyler Lavigne Named To 2010 Frontier League All-Star Team

Normal’s Tyler Lavigne headlines the West pitching staff with his League-leading seven wins and 1.53 ERA. Fellow starting pitchers Joe Augustine (Southern Illinois, 6-0, 2.28 ERA) and Mark Brackman (Gateway, 3-4, 3.94) join relievers Jason Lowey (River City, 12 saves, 3.00 ERA, third All-Star selection), Jake McMurran (Southern Illinois, 3-0, three saves, 0.61 ERA), Mike Damchuk (Southern Illinois, 4-1, six saves, 0.70 ERA), Nick Sottung (Evansville Otters, 3-1, three saves, 2.51 ERA), and Liam Olhmann (Florence, 2.38 ERA in 25 appearances.

Frontier League Official Site

Former Cardinals Independent Transactions June 28-July 5, 2010

June 28: Rockford of the Northern League signed Ian Church to a contract for the 2010 season.

June 29: Lancaster of the Atlantic League signed and activated Charlie Weatherby.

June 30: Lancaster of the Atlantic League traded Charlie Weatherby to St. George of the Golden Baseball League.

July 1: Long Island of the Atlantic League placed Ivan Maldonado on the inactive list.

July 1: Schaumbueg of the Northern League traded Reid Price to Tucson (American Association)

July 3: Rockford of the Northern League released Justin Knoff.

July 4: Newark of the Atlantic League activated Scott Spiezio from the disabled list.

July 5: St. Paul of the American Association claimed Chad Gabriel off waivers from Grand Prairie.

Athletics Option Clayton Mortensen Back To Triple-A

While placing outfielder Conor Jackson on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with a strained right hamstring, the A's called up outfielders Matt Carson and Matt Watson from Triple-A Sacramento, optioning right-hander Clay Mortensen back to Triple-A.

Athletics Official Site

Tyler Greene Will Get His Shot At SS

Tyler Greene was expected to become the starting shortstop of the St. Louis Cardinals someday when he was taken with the 30th pick in the 2005 MLB draft. The Cards just thought it might happen a little bit sooner than this.

101 ESPN

Dmitri Young Jailed In Bloomington, IL

Former major league baseball player Dmitri Young was arrested by McLean County Sheriff's Department police early Monday on preliminary charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

Pantagraph

Rangers Not Getting Involved In International Signings

The Rangers, having made a big splash in January, are sitting out the current international signing period. As of July 2, clubs are allowed to start signing the latest clash of amateur free agents out of Latin America, but the Rangers aren't getting heavily involved.

The Rangers signed catcher Jorge Alfaro out of Colombia in January for $1.3 million and that will stand as their biggest acquisition this time around. With the uncertainty about their ownership situation still unresolved, the Rangers prefer to direct their limited financial resources toward any possible acquisitions at the Major League level.

The Rangers have often been one of the most active teams in Latin America and spent approximately $2.5 million a year ago to sign shortstops Jurickson Profar, Luis Sardinas and several other players after the July 2 deadline.

Rangers Official Site

Tony LaRussa Says He Needs His Team Focused

With six games remaining until the All-Star break, the Cardinals say they need a breather.

KMOX

Carlos Oraa: Done For The Year

The Cardinal Nation

Handful Of Teams Contact Padres About Sean Gallagher

A "handful" of teams have called the Padres to discuss trading for pitcher Sean Gallagher, a team source said Monday.

North County Times

At Long Last, Adam Wainwright Gets Recognition

Adam Wainwright didn't expect to win the National League Cy Young Award last fall. He's not wired that way. But he at least thought he had a pretty good chance. Instead, he finished a disappointing third behind Tim Lincecum and teammate Chris Carpenter.

Cardinals Official Site

Reds Interested In Cliff Lee

The Reds have talked to Seattle Mariners about left-hander Cliff Lee. The talks happened when the Reds were in Seattle a couple of weeks ago.

Cincinnati Enquirer

Springfield Cardinals Texas League All-Stars

Photos of the eight Springfield Texas League All-Stars in action this past Wednesday night in Midland, Texas.

The Cardinal Nation

Kevin Millwood Not Being Traded

Brittany Ghiroli Twitter

Cardinals Not Serious About Cliff Lee

The Cardinals, Phillies and Tigers had talent evaluators on hand at Lee’s last start, but they don’t appear to be among the most serious suitors.

Fox Sports

Troy Glaus Hopes To Return Tuesday

Mark Bowman Twitter

Blake Hawksworth Slated To Start Thursday

Derrick Goold Twitter

Jack Clark, Al Hrabosky To Appear At Frontier League All-Star Festivities

The Southern Illinois Miners are excited to announce that former St. Louis Cardinals greats Jack Clark and Al Hrabosky will speak at the All-Star Luncheon and participate in the Celebrity Softball Game during All-Star Week presented by Peoples National Bank.

Frontier League Official Site

Early Follow List For 2011 Draft

The follow list is a key component of how amateur players are evaluated. At this point in the scouting season, it's about identifying the players to focus on next spring. Some of these players will be viewed as high-level follows or guys who could go in the top few rounds (like LSU's Mikie Mahtook, right), and others as follows that could go a little later in the draft.

MLB Fanhouse

Pirates Net Six International Prospects

I have word on six agreements the Pirates have reached with international 16-year-olds for Major League Baseball’s signing period that began July 2. But I have to stress here that these are agreements pending the standard MLB investigations into age and identity, and no actual signings will take place until those are complete.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Tigers Sign Venezuelan Catcher Danry Vasquez, Dominican Right-Hander Fernando Chalas, & Left-Hander Vijandrick Jacobs From Aruba

The Tigers don't usually get into bidding wars during the international amateur signing period each summer, preferring to spread out their money among several lesser-publicized talents that they scout. In the case of Venezuelan teenager Danry Vasquez, however, they feel like they've found a special talent.

Tigers Official Site

All-Star's, My Guys, & Utility Players

Hello all. The All Stars were announced yesterday, and as is the norm, everyone is losing their minds over who made it and who didn’t. I really have tried to stop letting this meaningless/meaningful game get to me, but the inconsistencies in how this game operates, keeps reeling me back in. One thing I have stopped caring about is the fan vote. It is what it is. There are enough spots to make sure the elite are in there even if they aren’t voted in.

Sportsnight

Allen Craig: 60 In 60

The Cardinal Nation

Johnson City Provides Fireworks Against Danville

hnsoA grand slam home run by Oscar Taveras helped the Johnson City Cardinals to an 11-5 victory in the series opener against the Danville Braves Sunday. The win moved the Cardinals to 7-6 while Danville shares a similar record. The two will meet in game two of the series Monday at 7 p.m.

Johnson City Cardinals Official Site

A Look In On FIP & The Cardinals

In my “What do ya’ll want to see post”, Bob asked about FIP and the Cardinals. Before I throw the summary table out there let me say a few things about FIP. First, here’s some good reading on it from Fangraphs. There was also some good discussion at BtB on xFIP/FIP/other metrics and how to judge past performance.

Play A Hard Nine

Johnson City Cardinals Notebook 7-5-10

Middle infielder Greg Garcia was 11-for-28 (.478) with three doubles and five runs scored in seven games this week. Garcia’s .357 batting average leads the Johnson City Cardinals and is tenth in the Appalachian League.

The Cardinal Nation

Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals Notebook 7-4-10

The Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals bookended four losses with opening and closing wins last week.

The Cardinal Nation

Cardinals Minor League Notebook 7-5-10

The Cardinals farm system went 4-5 as Lance Lynn, Blake King, Adam Reifer, Francisco Samuel, Joe Kelly, Jonathan Rodriguez, Rainel Rosario, Houston Summers, Oscar Taveras, David Medina, Romulo Ruiz, Juan Castillo, Starlin Rodriguez, Luis Pimentel, Cesar Aguilar, and Marlon Sucre starred on Sunday.

The Cardinal Nation

Esteban Yan Pitches Seven-Inning Complete Game Shutout For Mexico (Triple-A Mexican League)

Boxscore
MiLB Official Site Post Game
Google Translate

Hyang-Nam Choi Released By Dodgers, Plans Tryout With Orix In NPB

t appears the Orix Buffaloes will be giving 39-year-old right-handed pitcher Hyang-Nam Choi a tryout between 7/6 and 7/11. Choi will likely also get a chance to practice with the Ichi-gun team on the 8th.

Yakyubaka

Yankees Sign Colombian Alfredo Junior Castellon

The player Cartagena Castellón Alfredo Mora Junior is a new player in the New York Yankees

Castellón passed the test and became the 22nd Colombian player to be signed by a New York for the ninth Poveda Fabio Ruiz

Last week, on a family trip to the U.S. Castellón Mora, Alfredo was able to show at the headquarters of the mules of Manhattan in the city of Tampa to the searching eyes and evaluators of mr Gordon Blakeley, personal assistant Brian Cashman, General Manager of the current world champions.

Castellón passed the test and became the 22nd Colombian player to be signed for a New York ninth.

The player will sign his contract today Cartagena Friday, July 2, in the presence of Luis "El Mello" Smith, a scout for the Yankees in Colombia. Castellón, 18, will travel to the Dominican Republic in the coming days to play the rest of the season with the Yankees in Dominican Summer League. Castellón was playing with the team of Maria La Baja on the ball first class of Bolivar.

Junior hopefully become the first Colombian player to wear pinstripes in the major leagues. (Translated)

Team Renteria
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Giants Notebook: No Spending Spree On International Players

The Giants did not spend multimillions on teenage talent Friday, when major league clubs could begin signing international free agents. And they probably won't make any splashes in the coming months, scouting director John Barr said.

Contra Costa Times

Ceremony A Natural Fit For Memphis Redbirds Athletic Trainer Chris Conroy

The Memphis Redbirds' game against the Round Rock Express wasn't over until almost 10 p.m. Saturday.

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Cardinals Ask Back Of Rotation To Step Up Vs. Rockies

The Cardinals, with their All-Star duo of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, have been pitching-rich the past few seasons.

MLB Game Day

Joel Pineiro Pitches Seven Shutout Innings, Collects Sixth Straight Win

Maybe it was the holiday. Hunter, who finished 3-for-4 with a walk, is 16-for-40 with four home runs in 11 career games on the Fourth of July, and has a 10-game hit streak on the day. His first long ball, a three-run shot off Lerew in the third inning, matched the Angels' total offense from the first two games of the series, which saw two stellar pitching performances end in losses. The four-run third inning alone, though, was enough for Joel Pineiro, who won his sixth successive decision with a seven-inning, six-hit performance.

Angels Official Site

Adam Wainwright's Big July 4th Boom Stick

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright was the team’s top pitcher – and hitter – on Sunday.

The Cardinal Nation Blog

Johnson City Outslugs Danville

There was plenty of extra pop in the Johnson City bats prior to an Independence Day fireworks display Sunday night at Cardinal Park.

Johnson City Press

Adam Wainwright Turns In An All-Star Performance

His peers made their pronouncement official Sunday morning. The pitcher wasted no time ratifying their belief in the afternoon.
STL Today


All-Star Adam Wainwright pitched and hit the Cardinals to an Independence Day win over Milwaukee at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinal Nation

Cardinals Have Five Players On All-Star Team

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, the leading vote-getter in the National League at 4.38 million, was named to his ninth National League All-Star team Sunday. It was the second year in a row he led the balloting.

STL Today

Tyler Greene Relieves Brendan Ryan At Shortstop; Pitching Outlook; All-Star Leftovers; Roster Move Being Considered; David Freese Moves On In Rehab;..

It's probably too soon to say whether shortstop Brendan Ryan is back in his manager's dog house, but he definitely has been placed on a shorter leash.

STL Today
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STL Today