Dodgers‘ Furcal to have back surgery, out at least two months
Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal will have surgery on Thursday to relieve pressure on a disk in his lower back and could be out at least eight weeks, manager Joe Torre said.

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All-Star nod will affirm Hamilton’s climb from addiction depths
Josh Hamilton says the drug demons try to nudge him awake when he sleeps. They pester him when he’s alone, waiting for that moment of weakness. They are the ones that did everything imaginable to ruin his baseball career. Then, he says, they tried to kill him.

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D’backs sting Brewers with six runs in ninth inning
Conor Jackson hit the winning two-run single as the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied from a five-run ninth-inning deficit to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Thursday.

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Rockies reel in Marlins on Spilborghs’ two-run single in 11th
Ryan Spilborghs’ two-run single off Kevin Gregg with one out in the 11th inning rallied the Colorado Rockies to a 6-5 win over the Florida Marlins on Thursday night.

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Pettitte could be called to testify

Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte could be called to testify in Roger Clemens’ federal defamation suit against Brian McNamee as part of the trainer’s attempt to dismiss the case.

Matsui could out until ASB

Hideki Matsui could be out until the All-Star break as the New York Yankees slugger tries to work his way back from a sore left knee.

Poll: Red Sox pass Yankees in popularity among Connecticut baseball fans

HAMDEN, Conn. - Connecticut baseball fans are not fickle, but for the first time in five years the Red Sox have edged the Yankees in a poll of fan popularity.

Angels looking for offense to give K-Rod a break
With 33 saves in 35 chances, closer Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels is one save away from tying John Smoltz’s 2003 record for most saves at the All-Star break.

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Can Kim Ng break the gender barrier? (Yahoo! Sports)
Longtime Dodgers assistant general manager is the only female close to becoming a GM. Will she get a shot?

Major leage baseball notes

YANKEES: New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez will skip the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium later this month, choosing to protect his finely tuned swing.

Athletics‘ Chavez returns to disabled list
The Oakland Athletics placed six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday because of …

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Matsui could out until ASB

Hideki Matsui could be out until the All-Star break as the New York Yankees slugger tries to work his way back from a sore left knee.

Slumping Cabrera gets a night off
Slumping Cabrera gets a night off Center fielder Melky Cabrera says he has “no problem” with not being in the starting lineup for the Yankees‘ series finale against the Rangers on Wednesday.

Never a dull moment with A-Rod

You should see the view up here from Idiot Hill. How did I get here? Another A-Bomb from A-Rod , that’s how.

Rodriguez to skip Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium

Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez will skip the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium next month, choosing to protect his finely tuned swing.

The reigning AL MVP participated in three derbies before he joined the Yankees in 2004 and he feels the made-for-TV event held the night before the July 15 All-Star game can have an adverse affect on a batter’s mechanics.

‘Always has for me,’ Rodriguez said Tuesday before the Yankees lost to the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez spoke briefly on the subject on a day rumors about his personal life were published on a celebrity-gossip magazine’s Web site.

Overachievers are this season’s true fantasy All-Stars
Winning in fantasy baseball is all about profit. This year’s Fantasy All-Stars are players who have most exceeded their preseason …

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Giambi, A-Rod power Yankees to win over Rangers (AP)

Hank Steinbrenner demanded to see more offense, and Jason Giambi and the New York Yankees obliged. If only it were that easy all the time. Giambi hit a grand slam and drove in a season-best six runs, Alex Rodriguez added a three-run shot to move another notch up the career home run list, and New York pounded the Texas Rangers 18-7 Wednesday night to avoid a series sweep.

Lester pitches 5-hitter, Red Sox end 5-game skid (AP)

Jon Lester pitched a sharp five-hitter while the Boston Red Sox roughed up Andy Pettitte, beating the New York Yankees 7-0 on Thursday night to end a five-game losing streak. A throwing error by shortstop Derek Jeter gave the Red Sox a quick lead. Coco Crisp came back from a five-game suspension to score twice, and it was 6-0 by the fifth inning.

Just how close ‘friends’ are Madonna and A-Rod? (AP)
A-Rod and the Material Girl? That’s a lot of hits. Reports that Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez and Madonna have become close just as their marriages are disintegrating have both the celebrity gossip industry and the sporting world — each a chatty bunch — buzzing with questions about the two “friends.” A third boldface name was added to the saga when Rodriguez’s wife fled from New York to the…

Matsui still hobbled, minor leaguers go down (AP)
Hideki Matsui could be out until the All-Star break as the Yankees slugger tries to work his way back from a sore left knee. General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that Matsui was still hobbled by the injury, which landed him on the disabled list Friday. The club had hoped he’d be ready to take batting practice this weekend, but Cashman said that timeframe is no longer realistic.

Venditte’s versatility prompts new rule
Venditte’s versatility prompts new rule It’s rare for a first-year pro to inspire creation of a new rule, but ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte has done just that. Henceforth, a pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) with which arm he will begin pitching to the batter.

Rodriguez to skip Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium (AP)
Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez will skip the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium later this month, choosing to protect his finely tuned swing. The reigning AL MVP participated in three derbies before he joined the Yankees in 2004 and he feels the made-for-TV event held the night before the July 15 All-Star game can have an adverse affect on a batter’s mechanics.

Bonds’ 756th homer ball finally lands in Hall
The ball Barry Bonds launched for his record-breaking 756th home run took a strange turn Tuesday on its possible path to …

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Longoria’s hot bat helps Rays sweep Red Sox
Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Wednesday night, helping the surging Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox …

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Overachievers are this season’s true fantasy All-Stars
Winning in fantasy baseball is all about profit. This year’s Fantasy All-Stars are players who have most exceeded their preseason …

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Nine-run seventh vaults Yanks to win
Nine-run seventh vaults Yanks to win The Yankees scored a season-high nine runs in the seventh inning to reclaim the lead and went on to post an 18-7 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday.

Kweli: ‘Baseball a metaphor for life’
Kweli banks on Yanks Talib Kweli, who stopped by Bonnaroo to perform material from his new album Ear Drum, discusses the Yankees and the future of baseball.

Are A-Rod, Madonna rounding the bases? (Yahoo! Sports)
Just friends? He went to her concert, she went to his game. Now reports of late-night tete-?-tetes between…

Yanks react to Steinbrenner’s remarks
Yanks react to Steinbrenner’s remarks Hank Steinbrenner has delivered a message to the Yankees‘ slumbering lineup — it’s time to wake up and start getting the job done. And Steinbrenner’s comments were met with a certain level of expectation inside Yankees‘ clubhouse.

Rodriguez to skip Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium (AP)
Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez will skip the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium later this month, choosing to protect his finely tuned swing. The reigning AL MVP participated in three derbies before he joined the Yankees in 2004 and he feels the made-for-TV event held the night before the July 15 All-Star game can have an adverse affect on a batter’s mechanics.

A-Rod passes Foxx on home run list
A-Rod passes Foxx on home run list Alex Rodriguez hit his 535th career home run on Wednesday, passing Jimmie Foxx for sole possession of 14th place on baseball’s all-time list and drawing within one of Yankees great Mickey Mantle.

Slumping Cabrera gets a night off
Slumping Cabrera gets a night off Center fielder Melky Cabrera says he has “no problem” with not being in the starting lineup for the Yankees‘ series finale against the Rangers on Wednesday.

Matsui still hobbled, minor leaguers go down (AP)
Hideki Matsui could be out until the All-Star break as the Yankees slugger tries to work his way back from a sore left knee. General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that Matsui was still hobbled by the injury, which landed him on the disabled list Friday. The club had hoped he’d be ready to take batting practice this weekend, but Cashman said that timeframe is no longer realistic.

Kweli: ‘Baseball a metaphor for life’
Kweli banks on Yanks Talib Kweli, who stopped by Bonnaroo to perform material from his new album Ear Drum, discusses the Yankees and the future of baseball.

Rodriguez to skip Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium

Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez will skip the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium next month, choosing to protect his finely tuned swing.

The reigning AL MVP participated in three derbies before he joined the Yankees in 2004 and he feels the made-for-TV event held the night before the July 15 All-Star game can have an adverse affect on a batter’s mechanics.

‘Always has for me,’ Rodriguez said Tuesday before the Yankees lost to the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez spoke briefly on the subject on a day rumors about his personal life were published on a celebrity-gossip magazine’s Web site.

A-Rod Is Cuckolded

It sucks to be Alex Rodriguez this week! The New York Yankees star player first had to endure a firestorm of false media accusations that he has been having an inappropriate relationship with Madonna .

Longoria’s hot bat helps Rays sweep Red Sox
Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Wednesday night, helping the surging Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox …

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A-Rod passes Foxx on home run list
A-Rod passes Foxx on home run list Alex Rodriguez hit his 535th career home run on Wednesday, passing Jimmie Foxx for sole possession of 14th place on baseball’s all-time list and drawing within one of Yankees great Mickey Mantle.

Red Sox expected to activate Timlin for Yankees (Yahoo! Sports)
The Boston Red Sox are expected to reactivate right-handed reliever Mike Timlin today and he will be available…

Three’s company in AL East showdown
It’s three’s company in AL East showdown It’s time to strike up the band for another Boston-New York showdown, but this series has a decidedly different feel to it — the Tampa Bay Rays have cut in as serious threats to both the Red Sox and the Yankees, marking themselves as the third wheel in the usual tango between the AL East powerhouses.

A-Rod passes Foxx on home run list
A-Rod passes Foxx on home run list Alex Rodriguez hit his 535th career home run on Wednesday, passing Jimmie Foxx for sole possession of 14th place on baseball’s all-time list and drawing within one of Yankees great Mickey Mantle.

Slumping Cabrera gets a night off
Slumping Cabrera gets a night off Center fielder Melky Cabrera says he has “no problem” with not being in the starting lineup for the Yankees‘ series finale against the Rangers on Wednesday.

Yanks’ Rasner gives solid performance in defeat

The Yankees took a positive from yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Mets in that although Darrell Rasner struggled somewhat, he was closer to his first four starts of the season than his next five .

Yankees Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

You can almost hear Hank Steinbrenner’s hand tapping against his back in a self-congratulatory pat.

George Steinbrenner used to love taking credit for shaking his team out of a slump with some bluster-filled barbs, and it’s not too much of a stretch to picture his son doing the same.

But as much as Hank timed his rip job of the club’s slumbering offense well, it’s more likely Jason Giambi snapped the Yankees out of their slump—twice.

A day after Steinbrenner criticized the Yankees for their anemic hitting, Giambi led the way with a grand slam in the third and a two-run double that keyed a nine-run seventh.

The result was an 18-7 win over Texas and a much improved mood in the clubhouse after a string of low-scoring games.

“Today was a big win…

Pettitte to kick off Yanks-Red Sox tussle
Pettitte on the hill for Red Sox opener It will have the touches of what makes the Yankees-Red Sox games the ones to circle on the pocket schedule every spring, with the same passion flowing through the grandstands and the opposing colors screaming “big game.”

Baseball Today (AP)

Baseball Today (AP)

Athletics give Dominican prospect $4.25 million signing bonus
The Oakland Athletics and prized 16-year-old pitching prospect Michael Inoa agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract with …

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Hank Steinbrenner tries to awaken Yanks’ shaky offense
Hank Steinbrenner wants the New York Yankees to flash their offense as they enter what could be a key point of their season. …

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Rodriguez to skip Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium (AP)
Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez will skip the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium later this month, choosing to protect his finely tuned swing. The reigning AL MVP participated in three derbies before he joined the Yankees in 2004 and he feels the made-for-TV event held the night before the July 15 All-Star game can have an adverse affect on a batter’s mechanics.

Yanks starting to believe Rays, Red Sox will be tough to catch (Yahoo! Sports)
Normally any Boston Red Sox loss is good news for the Yanks, but not this one. The New York Yankees know the Sox…

Yankees‘ Derek Jeter gets night off to rest (AP)
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter responded to being left out of the lineup Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers by smiling. Jeter entertained a crowd of reporters at his locker in the Yankees clubhouse with mock answers to question not yet asked as he was dressing for pregame warmups. “No, I’m not hurt.

Wednesday’s NL Capsules (AP)
Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer and Pat Burrell added a solo shot as Philadelphia survived a ninth-inning scare to beat Atlanta 7-3 on Wednesday night. The Phillies improved to 5-0 in Atlanta this season and 7-1 overall in the season series. The Braves (40-45) fell a season-worst five games under .500 with their second straight loss in the series, despite homers from Chipper Jones and Ruben…

Giambi, A-Rod power Yankees to win over Rangers (AP)

Hank Steinbrenner demanded to see more offense, and Jason Giambi and the New York Yankees obliged. If only it were that easy all the time. Giambi hit a grand slam and drove in a season-best six runs, Alex Rodriguez added a three-run shot to move another notch up the career home run list, and New York pounded the Texas Rangers 18-7 Wednesday night to avoid a series sweep.

Yankees Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Alex Rodriguez has shown an affection for being the center of attention, but he won’t take a prime opportunity during the All-Star Game festivities.

Rodriguez will turn down another shot to participate in the Home Run Derby, despite the fact it’ll be held at Yankee Stadium, according to a New York Daily News report.

Rodriguez said he is worried about the contest affecting his swing, and he doesn’t want anything to interfere with his allegiance to his team.

It’s the type of news fans groan about but players respect. It would obviously be an appealing attraction to have Rodriguez compete in front of his hometown fans, but A-Rod is known to become easily distracted mentally at the plate.

If he thinks it could be a problem, then that should be enough to keep…