MIAMI -- Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco Angels of Anaheim Kendry Morales Jersey did not start Tuesday because of back problems.
"He said it was hurting a little Authentic Torii Hunter Jersey bit," Phillies manager Charlie Angels of Anaheim Torii Hunter Jersey Manuel Angels of Anaheim Jered Weaver Jersey said. "It comes and goes. He has a lot of aches and pains. He's not hitting well right now. He also thinks it's affecting his swing. I thought it was a good time to get him rested."
Polanco, who will Kendry Morales Jersey be the National League's starting third baseman in next Tuesday's All-Star Game in Authentic Zack Greinke Jersey Phoenix, is hitless in his last 15 at-bats. Brewers Zack Greinke Jersey He has hit Authentic Jered Weaver Jersey just .151 in 24 games since June 6.
"If he wants to go to the All-Star Game, that's fine with me," Manuel said. "If he can't go, that's different."Phillies' Lee lands NL Pitcher of Month AwardMIAMI -- Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee earned National League Pitcher of the Month honors for an incredible June.
Lee went 5-0 with a Major League-leading 0.21 ERA Jered Weaver Jersey in five starts. He led the league in wins, ranked third in innings pitched (42) Authentic Kendry Morales Jersey and ranked sixth in strikeouts (29). He finished the month with three consecutive shutouts to become the first big leaguer to accomplish the feat since Brandon Webb in 2007, and the first Phillies pitcher to do so since Robin Roberts in 1950.Worth notingPhillies closer Ryan Madson (right hand inflammation) threw a bullpen session Tuesday at Sun Life Stadium. It went well, and he Torii Hunter Jersey is expected to throw another one Thursday, although he is not expected to pitch before the All-Star break. ... Right-hander Brad Lidge's rehab appearance Monday with Class A Lakewood went OK. He could throw a second rehab appearance as early as Wednesday. Lidge has been on the disabled list the entire season because of a strained right rotator cuff.
 

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With some of the best power hitters in the game assembled and some tough decisions made, the 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby field is final. Set for Authentic Corey Hart Jersey 8 p.m. ET on Monday at the D-backs' Chase Field, a day before the 82nd Major League Baseball All-Star Game, this year's Derby will again showcase baseball's most prodigious hitters, starting with Boston's David Ortiz and Prince Fielder Jersey Milwaukee's Prince Fielder. Ortiz, who entered Tuesday hitting .301 with 17 home runs and won last year's Derby, is captaining the AL's four-man team, while Fielder, hitting .299 with 21 home runs and a Derby champ himself in 2009, is heading the NL contenders. "I remember, when I went back to my country [the Dominican Republic] after last year's season, man, it was unbelievable how Brewers Ryan Braun Jersey many people came Brewers Casey McGehee Jersey to me and told me how excited the whole country was about the Home Run Derby," Ortiz said. "It seemed like everything just stopped for the Home Run Derby last year. From here, I don't even have to tell you, everybody is really enjoying the Home Run Derby." Ryan Braun Jersey Named captains because they are the two most recent champs, Ortiz and Fielder hand-picked their squads. The former stuck to the powerhouse American League East, where teammate Adrian Gonzalez joins him with 16 home runs heading into Tuesday's action. "When we started talking about the Home Run Derby, they told me, 'You can pick three guys with you to go to the Home Run Derby,' Casey McGehee Jersey and the first thing that came to my mind was Gonzo," Ortiz said. "He's ridiculous when he hits in Corey Hart Jersey batting practice. He tells me things in batting practice, where he wants to hit the ball, and then he goes and hits it. That's how Authentic Ryan Braun Jersey easy he makes it look like. It's like, 'Wait a minute. That's my guy. I've got to bring Gonzo to the Home Run Derby." "That's going to be fun," Gonzalez said. "Hopefully I can do better the Authentic Prince Fielder Jersey second time around, but I'm going to enjoy it just like I did the first time and try my best." It wouldn't be a Home Run Derby without the Major League's big-fly leader, and Toronto's Jose Bautista will be there for the AL. He's hit a Major League-leading 28 home runs, after launching one Tuesday night in Boston."He's always reached out to me since I Zack Greinke Jersey was younger," Bautista said of Ortiz. "Having him pick me is great because I know the support he was giving me last year. Now, he has a choice and he obviously did what he thinks is right and he selected me. It's great coming from him, and I hope to do a good job and represent him well." Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano rounds out Ortiz's team and carried 14 home runs into Tuesday. In the NL, Fielder too turned to a teammate, one who happens to be his best friend in Brewers Rickie Weeks Jersey the game, Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks. Weeks had 15 home runs at the time of his addition to the Senior Circuit's Derby team."He's a teammate of mine, this is his first All-Star Game, and I'm really excited for him," Fielder said. "I want him to show people how far he Authentic Casey McGehee Jersey can hit it." Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday was invited with his .316 average and 10 homers, and Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp got the Authentic Rickie Weeks Jersey nod in the midst of the best year of his career. Kemp was tied for the NL lead in homers with 22. "I've been watching it since I was a kid and I've always dreamed of being in one," Kemp said. "I remember watching Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., all the big hitters on TV. Every kid that likes baseball Brewers Prince Fielder Jersey likes the Home Run Derby." Ortiz is the elder statesman of the participants, heading into his fifth Derby. This will be a third for Fielder ('07, '09) and Holliday ('07, '10) and a second for Gonzalez ('09). Bautista, Cano, Kemp and Weeks are first-timers. "That's the kind of thing that when you're a young kid, you look forward to and dream about one day," Cano said. "It's always good to taste what it's like to be there." There were other players on the cusp of joining. The Yankees' Mark Teixeira said he would have participated had he made the All-Star team, which he did not, and Fielder was considering Arizona's Justin Upton and told Fox Sports Wisconsin he was thinking about Florida's Mike Stanton, too. "I wish I could invite everybody I knew," Fielder said. "That was the only part that was tough." Besides being a spectacle of power, the Home Run Derby Brewers Corey Hart Jersey is also a charitable event, and as captains, Ortiz and Fielder will select a charity that their teams will support. State Farm and Major League Baseball collaborate to donate money to both teams, win or lose. For the winning captain's charity, there will be a $150,000 donation in the captain's name, along with a $100,000 contribution to Boys & Girls Club of America (BCGA). The losing team will have a $25,000 made to the charity of its captains choice and in his name. The remaining money -- determined by how many homers are hit in the competition, and how many are hit on Gold Ball tosses -- will be donated to BCGA on behalf of State Farm and MLB. State Farm and MLB will combine to donate $18,000 for every home run hit with a Gold Ball, a dollar figure chosen because it coincides with the number of State Farm agents throughout the U.S. and Canada. State Farm will also give $3,000 to BGCA for every non-Gold Ball hit out. Home runs hit in all rounds count toward the total money donated. All participants get 10 outs per round, with the four players with the most homers advancing to a second round. The two players with the highest cumulative number of long balls after the second round advance to the Championship Round, where first and Rickie Weeks Jersey second-round homers do not carry over. In addition to coverage on ESPN, the 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN HD, ESPN 3D, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV, and ESPN Radio in the U.S., as well as ESPN International, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday. For more information, visit allstargame.com or dbacks.com/asg.

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Braves closer Craig Kimbrel's 1-0 record, eight saves and a 1.93 ERA in 14 appearances in June earned the right-hander the Gillette Presents National League Rookie of the Month Award, the league announced on Tuesday. Kimbrel, who was selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2008 First-Year Anaheim Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey Player Torii Hunter Jersey Draft, received the distinction after allowing just three runs and seven hits with 25 strikeouts over 14 innings. Kimbrel Albert Pujols Jersey struck out at least Kendry Morales Jersey one batter in 13 of his Anaheim Rafael Furcal Jersey 14 outings. He finished the month by converting three consecutive saves from June 27-29 against the Mariners at Safeco Field. He Cardinals Torii Hunter Jersey fanned seven and allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings in the series.The Braves' fireman has burst onto the scene in 2011. He reached Authentic Albert Pujols Jersey 100 Authentic Torii Hunter Jersey strikeouts Authentic Kendry Morales Jersey faster than any pitcher in franchise Authentic Rafael Furcal Jersey history (59 1/3 innings), eclipsing Cardinals Kendry Morales Jersey the century mark on June 27. His 25 saves entering Tuesday not only tied him for the NL lead with Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan and Padres closer Heath Bell, but the total set a Major League rookie record Rafael Furcal Jersey for most saves before the All-Star break (Mike MacDougal, 24, '03). Kimbrel enters Tuesday's action with a 2-2 record, 2.51 Cardinals Albert Pujols Jersey ERA, 67 strikeouts and 18 walks in 44 games, which ranks second in the NL behind teammate Jonny Venters' 47 appearances.Other rookies who garnered consideration were Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, Mets right-hander Dillon Gee and Phillies right-hander Vance Worley.

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 PITTSBURGH -- A series of tests performed on infielder Josh Harrison on Tuesday confirmed that the infielder did not sustain a concussion during a collision at home plate Anaheim Casey Blake Jersey on Monday. Harrison was also Clayton Kershaw Jersey given clearance to return to the field after proving he had no issue throwing or running during early work.Manager Clint Hurdle kept Harrison out of the starting lineup for the second game of a three-game series simply to give him another day to recuperate."I'm feeling a lot better today," Harrison said. "I'm just ready to get back out there."That's all good news for the Pirates, who already have an infielder on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion. Ronny Cedeno is eligible to come off on Saturday, but the Pirates may wait until after the All-Star break to give the shortstop additional time to recover.    Harrison left Monday's game after feeling dizzy while running James Loney Jersey the bases in the bottom of the third. That was one Authentic Andre Ethier Jersey inning after he collided with Astros catcher Carlos Corporan as he attempted to score from second on a two-out single. Harrison also dealt with a bloody nose right after impact."The only thing I could feel was that my nose was a little sore," Harrison said. "It was just a funky play. He wasn't really blocking the back of the plate, and I was going to slide. Right as I was starting my slide, he retreated back to block it. I think I noticed it and kind of changed my body angle. That's what caused me to go into him that way."Players, fans alike giving Hanrahan respectPITTSBURGH -- Joel Hanrahan has earned the respect of his peers, who voted him into the All-Star Game on the Authentic Casey Blake Jersey players' ballot. He has earned the appreciation of fans, who blare "Hammer Time" in parking lots to celebrate his saves.  Now he has earned the title of June's Delivery Man of the Month, given to the best reliever in baseball each month. The awards, the admiration and even the songs have come as a result of Hanrahan's record-breaking stint as the Pirates' closer. He has opened the season 25-for-25 in save situations, breaking Mike Casey Blake Jersey Williams' club record for most saves before the All-Star break. In June, Hanrahan recorded nine saves and had an ERA of 0.71. He struck out 11 batters and walked three. In nine appearances from June 7-24, he did not allow a hit."It's just getting lucky," Hanrahan said of his knockout style of relief. "You need a lot of luck to be good in this game. I've had a lot of things go my way, and the defense has been good, too." Dating to the end of last season, Hanrahan has 27 consecutive saves, the longest streak Authentic Clayton Kershaw Jersey in the Majors and one under the Pirates' record. "You want the staff to feel confident in you that you can do it every time," Hanrahan said. Fans appreciate the right-hander's numbers. In 39 1/3 total innings, Hanrahan has a 1.37 ERA and 33 strikeouts compared to eight walks. But they also enjoy his unassuming personality. He has no reserves about painting his toenails black and yellow or donning an eyepatch for a fun Pirates video, and he knows he needs to keep working to stay perfect. "You always have to believe that you can get better," Hanrahan said. "There's things that I've done that I can do better. Once you think you're at the top, you can get humbled real quick."Rookie Presley feeding off Pirates' energyPITTSBURGH -- In his first PNC Park at-bat of the season on Monday, Alex Presley singled to right field and decided to try for a double. He arrived at second base before the tag, but slid Authentic James Loney Jersey over the bag and was tagged out. As he returned to the dugout, fans gave the rookie an appreciative cheer. "It was awesome they recognized that I was trying Anaheim Clayton Kershaw Jersey to play hard," Presley said. "That's what I do every day. It made me feel good that even though I was out, they saw what I did."Since being called up from Andre Ethier Jersey Triple-A Indianapolis on June 27, all the outfielder has done is play hard. Entering Tuesday's game, he was tied for third in the Majors with 12 hits since his June 28 debut. He holds a batting Authentic Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey average of .364 and an OPS of 1.027. His 12 hits include a double, two triples and a home run. "I have to do it longer than a week, but so far I'm happy with the way I've played," Presley said. "I think I've proven that I can play up here." Presley played 19 games with the Pirates last September  after the club had been mathematically eliminated from contention. He said the energy of the clubhouse he entered this year has been completely different. "It's real positive here. It's a belief we're going to win games," Presley said. "Everybody knows what they have to do to contribute to the team. Attitude's everything. If you think you're not going to win, you're probably not going to win. It's just an aura of confidence here."Beimel set to be activated after All-Star breakPITTSBURGH -- Assuming there are no setbacks in his rehab program this week, left-hander Joe Beimel will be activated off the disabled list prior to the Pirates' Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey July Anaheim James Loney Jersey 15 game in Houston. That will be the team's first game after the All-Star break.Beimel had his rehab assignment moved to Altoona, where he pitched a scoreless inning for the Double-A team on Monday. He was in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and is slated to return to Altoona for another outing on Wednesday. That will be followed by appearances on Saturday and Sunday.Beimel's last appearance with the Pirates came on May 27. He has been recovering from left elbow inflammation since.Other injury updates of note: Catcher Ryan Doumit has begun throwing and hitting in Florida, Anaheim Andre Ethier Jersey where he is rehabbing a sprained left ankle. Doumit has not begun on-field running or catching yet, though he continues to eye a late July return.
 Steve Pearce (right calf strain) is also rehabbing in Florida and has been cleared to work through a running, hitting and throwing program. Pearce has not begun full baseball activities and the Pirates have not a timetable laying out his expected recovery time.
 Starter Ross Ohlendorf threw a 45-pitch, three-inning simulated game at Pirate City on Monday. The Pirates are trying to get Ohlendorf stretched out before he begins an official Minor League rehab assignment, which can only last up to 30 days.
 Pedro Alvarez served as the designated hitter in his first rehab game with Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday. Alvarez finished 2-for-4 with two strikeouts.Bucs bits Infielder Jarek Cunningham was named Player of the Week for the Florida State League after batting .333, with three homers and 10 RBIs last week. Cunningham leads the FSL in extra-base hits with 42. His .547 slugging percentage is third best in the league.
 Teenage right-hander Luis Heredia has hardly hit a learning curve in his first taste of professional competition. Heredia, 16, has allowed one hit in his first three appearances (6 2/3 innings) for the Gulf Coast League Pirates.
 Top prospect Jameson Taillon pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his start on Monday. Taillon, who allowed two hits in the outing, has allowed just one earned run in his past four starts (15 1/3 innings). He has struck out 20 and walked only two during that span.
 The Pirates sent Minor League pitcher Cesar Valdez to the Marlins on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Valdez had joined the Pirates organization over the winter as a part of the team's deal to send Zach Duke to Arizona.
 

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 ATLANTA -- Left-handed pitcher Sean Gilmartin said Tuesday that he doesn't anticipate taking until August to sign a contract with the Braves, who selected him with the 28th overall pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Adam Lind Jersey / "To be honest with you, I really don't want to wait that long," Gilmartin said. "I want to get Authentic Adam Lind Jersey out and play as quick as possible. At the same time, if it takes that long, then Mariners Ichiro Suzuki Jersey it takes that long. It's really something me and my family are going to have to sit down Felix Hernandez Jersey and look at a lot."
The junior out of Authentic Ichiro Suzuki Jersey Florida State is in town after being invited to Turner Field to meet those within the organization.
"We invited Sean to come in so he'd get a chance to meet us, see everything, introduce him around, see our facilities," general manager Frank Wren said. "As he's contemplating his decision, it gives him a chance to get more familiar with Atlanta and everything going on here."
Gilmartin, whose season ended June 13 when the Seminoles lost to Texas A&M, resumed working out last week after taking some time off to relax in Tallahassee, Fla. He threw 120 1/3 innings Mariners Felix Hernandez Jersey over 18 appearances this year for Florida State, but believes he'd be able to Ichiro Suzuki Jersey pitch this year once he signs.
"I'm definitely going to be ready for it, I think," he said. "Obviously that's up to the organization if they want me to do anything like that. I'll definitely be ready to play whenever I get the call."
Gilmartin -- who compiled a 12-2 record with a 2.09 ERA Authentic Ken Griffey Jersey this season -- knows his decision will be an important one, but doesn't necessarily think it will be one that's incredibly difficult.
"I'm not really sure how Authentic Felix Hernandez Jersey tough the decision is going to be, but it's definitely what I want to do," he said. "I want to play Major League Baseball. It's been my lifelong goal ever since I can remember. As far as the decision being tough, I don't think it will be a tough one. I'm very excited and I'm ready to play."
Gilmartin, who is represented by Ryan Gliechowski in Gainesville, Fla., believes he steadily improved during his time with the Seminoles. He was a member of the First-Team All-ACC squad in Mariners Ken Griffey Jersey 2011 after going 9-8 with a 5.24 ERA in 2010.
"I think every single time I went out to pitch last year, I tried to improve Nationals Adam Lind Jersey myself, whether it be mentally or Ken Griffey Jersey physically or with the pitches that I made," he said. "I tried to learn something every single time out. I feel like I accomplished that and I was very pleased with the kind of season I had."
Gilmartin was getting his first look inside Turner Field on Tuesday and had the opportunity to meet third baseman Chipper Jones.
"I'm very Blue Jays Adam Lind Jersey excited with everything that's going on. It's definitely a fun process," he said. "Obviously, I've never done this before, so it's the first time for me doing everything. I'm just enjoying everything."
 

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LOS ANGELES -- Given the way Mike Pelfrey's 94 mph fastball hit Aaron Miles -- square in the right elbow with a loud thud before bouncing back a few feet toward the mound -- Miles was justifiably pessimistic about his elbow contusion following Tuesday night's game.So it took him by surprise a bit when the Dodgers infielder arrived at the ballpark Wednesday with a bruise but Angels of Anaheim Torii Hunter Jersey no damage or severe soreness.Miles was not in Wednesday's lineup, a move manager Don Mattingly said was precautionary. He had his entire elbow thickly wrapped, but appeared to have no problems throwing during batting practice."Yeah [I'm surprised it's feeling this good]," said Miles, who receieved X-rays after Tuesday's game that were negative. "I got hit by a pitch in not a very good spot. But the mobility seems to be coming back."Miles' initial worry was that the ball hit him square in the elbow rather than glancing off his arm or hitting muscle.He said a serious injury would have been extremely disappointing, given his recent hot streak. Miles is hitting .320 and led the National League with a .419 average in June."I feel real good at the plate, and I've been playing a lot lately, and I want to keep playing," he said. Authentic Kendry Morales Jersey "It was really frustrating last night to just have the thought that something could set me back."Jamey Carroll got the start at second base and hit second for the Dodgers on Wednesday against the Mets. Mattingly said so long as Miles feels OK in batting practice, he'll be available to pinch-hit."He feels better today than he thought he was going to," Mattingly said. "But we've got Jamey sitting there, so we can give him the day to get healthy and we can pinch-hit him off the bench."Miles hit third on Tuesday in place of Andre Ethier, who missed the game with a fever but was back in the lineup Wednesday. It was the first time he's batted third since Brewers Zack Greinke Jersey 2003, and he joked that with Ethier's return, and given Monday's Brewers Rickie Weeks Jersey results, he doesn't plan on doing so again.As for the Dodgers, Miles' injury -- or lack thereof -- comes as a bit of a surprise for a team that has had 23 disabled-list stints, including infielders Casey Blake and Rafael Furcal a combined total of five times. Asked whether it was a relief to finally get some good news on injuries, Mattingly laughed."We've had our share," he said.Ethier resumes Final Vote chase with RBI, runLOS ANGELES -- Forced to a sickbed with a 103-degree fever Tuesday night, Andre Ethier resumed his bid Wednesday for a National League roster spot in the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint.Ethier went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and two strikeouts in the Dodgers' 5-3 loss to the Mets. Ethier scored the first Dodgers run in the fourth inning, reaching on a forceout after Jamey Carroll's bunt single, taking Authentic Torii Hunter Jersey third on Matt Kemp's bloop single and scoring on Juan Uribe's groundout. Then Ethier drove in the Dodgers' second run in the sixth inning, following Rafael Furcal's leadoff walk and Carroll's third hit of the game by punching a single through the hole into left field as Furcal scored and Brewers Ryan Braun Jersey Carroll took second. Ethier then was erased at second on Kemp's fielder's choice grounder. Ethier is batting .316, sixth in the NL, with 100 hits, eighth in the league. Ethier, who had a 30-game hitting streak earlier this season, the best in MLB, has the second-highest average in the league against right-handed hitters. Less than one day is left in voting, as the polls close Thursday at 1 p.m. PT. Through Wednesday's update, Ethier was second to Philadelphia's Shane Victorino for the NL's Final Vote spot.Mattingly optimistic amid Dodgers' strugglesLOS ANGELES -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly doesn't have a choice but to be optimistic.Despite a loss Tuesday that dropped the Dodgers deeper into last place in the National League Jered Weaver Jersey West and a season-high 13 games under .500, he was upbeat and positive in his meeting with the media Wednesday. He said, regardless of record, he expects his team to constantly be playing as if it's playing for a championship."We're the Los Angeles Dodgers, and you know what, we've got a lot to uphold," Mattingly said. Authentic Ryan Braun Jersey "It's been a great organization, no matter what's going on, we have got to play the game right. We can feel sorry for ourselves and talk about not getting hits with men on base. We can talk about not getting outs, but we can't carry ourselves in a way that says, 'We're not gonna Authentic Jered Weaver Jersey play hard' or 'We're Torii Hunter Jersey gonna give up.'"Mattingly pointed to his days playing for the Yankees in the early 1990s. He said those struggling teams showed winning character, which paved the way for five World Series titles.He spoke of having a winning foundation, specifically on the mound, citing those teams and last year's Giants squad. He said the Dodgers have that in their pitching staff with Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Rubby De La Rosa."If you're gonna start anywhere, start with those three," he said."How about that Kemp guy?" a reporter responded, referring to All-Star outfielder Matt Kemp."Yeah, who is that guy?" Mattingly joked.Ellis tries to Kendry Morales Jersey make most of chances to startLOS ANGELES -- The plight of the Dodgers' catchers -- injuries and offensive inefficiency -- has left manager Don Mattingly searching for an answer.For now, he at least has Ryan Braun Jersey a temporary one in A.J. Ellis, who started his fourth straight game Wednesday, when the Dodgers faced the Mets in the third game of a four-game series.To make the most of his opportunity, Ellis plans to keep everything exactly as he's always done it."I just have to keep being the person I've always been, and that's always trying to get better," Ellis said. "It took a lot of hard work, a couple breaks here and there, to get here. It's gonna take a lot of hard work to stay."Ellis Authentic Zack Greinke Jersey has struggled a bit at the plate, hitting just .225 in 14 games, and all nine of his hits are singles. But it's still above average for his role, as the four Dodgers who have caught this season are hitting a combined .204.Mattingly acknowledged the obvious lack of offensive production, especially with starter Rod Barajas, who is hitting just .220 but has eight homers, sidelined with a sprained ankle. He said his choice of Ellis, who was called up when Barajas went down, over Dioner Navarro is a result of Ellis' ability to handle the pitching staff."I want to make sure I never put somebody in a bad spot," Ellis said. "Every finger I put down, every pitch I make."At the plate, Ellis said he can certainly improve, but he has a job to do hitting in the eighth spot. His average may be low, but with less than two outs, he said he needs "to reach base and turn the lineup over," and he has done that with a .367 on-base percentage.One of the things Mattingly loves most is the way Ellis is constantly aware of his roles both offensively and defensively. He shied away when asked if Ellis was a long-term solution this season."For right now," he responded. "Rod's out, and I don't mind having [Dioner] back there. But I feel like A.J.'s been the one who when he puts down a finger, he knows there's a reason why."Ellis hasn't thought much about what happens when Barajas returns. Zack Greinke Jersey Mattingly said he likely won't keep three catchers, and Navarro is out of options, leaving Ellis as the odd man out.It won't stop Ellis from continuing to work, however. When Angels of Anaheim Jered Weaver Jersey asked about his approach at the plate, Ellis said he wants opposing pitchers to view his at-bat the way he views baseball."Nothing's easy," he said. "Nothing's for Angels of Anaheim Kendry Morales Jersey free."
 

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 WASHINGTON -- Nationals first baseman Michael Morse has done everything he can to be on the National League All-Star team. Morse leads the team in hitting and is among the team leaders in homers and RBIs. That explains why Cardinals Torii Hunter Jersey Morse was selected as a candidate in the All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint. With less than 24 hours left to go in the voting, which ends Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, Morse ranks fourth. Morse is competing against Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, D-backs right-hander Ian Kennedy and Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino for the final spot on the National League roster. Victorino has the lead. If he wins the Final Vote, Morse will join reliever Tyler Clippard Rickie Weeks Jersey in representing the Nationals."Why not get two players from the Nationals in the All-Star game?" Morse said. "I would love to join Clip and watch him work his magic."Morse, 29, is getting help trying to get the more votes. His girlfriend, Jessica Etably, and her family are not only trying to get Morse the votes in South Florida, they are telling people in Colombia to vote for Morse. The Giraldos, who are on Jessica's mother's side, are from Colombia.  Morse is humbled by what Jessica and her family are trying to do for him. "The biggest help has come from my girlfriend and family. They are running a campaign. I wouldn't be in this situation without them,"  said Torii Hunter Jersey Morse. "They put in countless Brewers Prince Fielder Jersey hours of voting. Her family is very supportive. I tell them, 'You guy don't have Authentic Kendry Morales Jersey to do this.' They say, 'We want to, we want to help you as much as we can, because you are deserving Authentic Torii Hunter Jersey of it."Mobile voting in the U.S. and Canada is open to everyone. In the U.S., to receive the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint mobile ballot, text the word "VOTE" to 89269. To vote for a specific player, simply text message your choice to 89269 (Example: Text "A3" to vote for AL Player 3 or "N3" to vote for NL Player 3). In Brewers Corey Hart Jersey Canada, fans should text their choices to 65246. Standard message and data rates may apply. The fun doesn't end there, however. Fans, having already decided the starters and final player on each team, once again will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevy via the 2011 All-Star Game MVP Vote Sponsored by Sprint on MLB.com during Authentic Rickie Weeks Jersey the All-Star Game. The 82nd Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally on Tuesday by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and Le Reseau des Sports, and around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Game coverage. There will be an extra treat for fans who participate in the Final Vote. If you are not a current MLB.TV subscriber (MLB.TV or MLB.TV Premium), you are eligible to receive a 10-day free trial of MLB.TV from July 9-19. If you are a current MLB.TV subscriber (MLB.TV or MLB.TV Premium), you will receive a 15-percent discount to the MLB.com Shop. MLB.com will send an email on Friday to all Final Vote voters with instructions on how to redeem the applicable offer.
If Morse makes the All-Star team, he wants to show the baseball world what it's like to persevere. "There are a lot of guys that are playing that are in the same situation that I was in," Morse  said. "It just shows, you never know what that guy on the bench can do unless you play him. There are late-blooming guys. All of a sudden by the latter ages, they are doing well. Look at Raul Ibanez, a guy like Jayson Werth. Sometime you bloom late and do real well."  During the spring of 2009, Morse was at a crossroads. He was in his 10th season of professional baseball, languishing in the Mariners' organization. Up to that point, Morse had played in 102 big league games.During Spring Training of that year, Morse was designated for assignment, later agreeing to play for Triple-A Tacoma. It was obvious to Morse that he wasn't in Brewers Casey McGehee Jersey Seattle's future plans. While in Tacoma, Morse called his agent, Peter Pedalino, and Casey McGehee Jersey told him to start soliciting offers from teams in Japan. Morse then called his stepdad, Stan Crisson, a former wide receiver for Duke University and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, to seek advice on what to do with his baseball career.Morse told Crisson his future plans and said that he wanted out of the Mariners' organization because he was on Tacoma's bench. Crisson's response was to give Morse some tough love, which upset Morse."It's just easy to give up," Crisson told his stepson.Crisson even went so far to tell Morse that he wasn't good enough to play in the big leagues."The things he would say would get under my skin," Morse said about his stepdad's comments. "I would get a little mad."Morse was so furious that he called his mother and promised her he would get back to the big leagues. Morse then called Pedalino to inform him that he Authentic Casey McGehee Jersey was not going to Japan."I told him, 'We are getting back up [to the big Corey Hart Jersey leagues].' He was like, 'Let's do it,'" Morse said.Morse would get more playing time with Tacoma and put up solid numbers, hitting .312, with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs.However, on June 28, Tacoma manager Daren Brown told Morse to come to his office. Morse thought he was going to be promoted to the big leagues because third baseman Adrian Beltre was getting ready to be placed on the disabled list. Instead, Brown told Morse that he had been traded to the Nationals for outfielder Ryan Langerhans. "My reaction was, 'Man, a guy gets hurt, and I go somewhere else?'" Morse said. "But Prince Fielder Jersey it was a blessing in disguise."According to Nationals general manager Mike Authentic Prince Fielder Jersey Rizzo, the Mariners were looking for a defensive-oriented outfielder. "It was a team scouting effort on our part," Rizzo said. "We had seen [Morse] a lot and had a good history on him. We bandied about a bunch of names, but we stuck on him. He wasn't the first guy the Mariners wanted to give up, but we stuck on him and he was the guy we wanted them to trade. They felt they needed Langerhans enough that they gave Cardinals Kendry Morales Jersey us a guy they thought could be a good player someday." Morse turned out to be a great acquisition for the Nationals. He became a valuable bench player in 2009 and '10. By Spring Training this year, then-manager Jim Riggleman announced that Morse would be the everyday left fielder. After getting off to a slow start, Morse Kendry Morales Jersey found himself on the bench -- until late May, when Adam LaRoche was put on the disabled list because of a serious shoulder injury. Morse took advantage, and finds himself as the team's leading hitter -- not to mention being an above-average defensive first baseman. "It felt good to get that opportunity again, to come out and play every day and knowing you are going to be in the lineup," Morse Authentic Corey Hart Jersey said. "I just keep telling myself, 'I'm going to out there and I'm going to get three hits. I'm going to drive in runs. I'm better than this pitcher. There is no reason that this guy should get me out.' I think having that mentality is helping me a lot."

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 MIAMI -- Something unusual took place during the sixth inning with the Phillies at bat Wednesday night at Sun Life Stadium.Domonic Brown lined a ball to left-center that scooted past a sliding Bryan Petersen to the wall. Brown made it to third for a leadoff triple. After Logan Morrison threw the ball into the infield, the Marlins appealed the call to second-base Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey umpire Kerwin Danley when Anaheim James Loney Jersey Mike Dunn threw to Hanley Ramirez, who was standing at second. "Those guys were Albert Pujols Jersey really alert out there to recognize that, and it was the key to getting that out," Marlins Anaheim Clayton Kershaw Jersey interim manager Jack McKeon said. "That would've been something with a man at third and nobody out."Danley said that Brown didn't touch the base as he rounded it and therefore made the first out of the inning."I didn't touch the base," Brown said. "Right there, I've at least got to go back and take the double. I don't know what I was thinking about there. Too aggressive, I guess. Right there, it cost us the game. Live and learn."Stanton sees doctor to look into eye issueMIAMI -- Mike Stanton visited an ophthalmologist again on Wednesday to check his right eye that has been giving him problems since mid-June."They ran a bunch of tests and whatnot, and we needed to dilate them to be confirmed," Stanton said. "By that time it was too late, so I wouldn't have been able to play tonight.""They know what's going on and it should be situated, Anaheim Rafael Furcal Jersey so don't ask me what's going on. It's too complicated -- all those big words."For now, the Marlins' starting right fielder will take eye drops and visit an eye doctor during the All-Star break. He doesn't believe it should be a season-long issue. "It's not like I'm seeing out Authentic James Loney Jersey of one eye. It's partially blurry and it's there and then it's not," said Stanton, who collected two hits on Tuesday. "It's usually there the whole time. Just because I hit a ball hard doesn't mean it's not there."The 21-year-old outfielder missed three games last month because of a right eye infection, which he first mentioned in the mid-June series against the Rays. Stanton said it Authentic Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey bothers him at times during night games."[It's] pretty frustrating, because I don't want to complain about it or make it a big deal, but then again, you can't shun facts," Stanton said. "It's been feeling better, but try to get it back to normal."Meanwhile, Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon learned from Authentic Albert Pujols Jersey head trainer Sean Cunningham Tuesday night that the appointment had been arranged weeks ago."They told me that he went to a routine followup from his previous one, not what the ticker said on ESPN that he's gone to see an eye specialist," McKeon said. "He'll probably have his routine followup whenever, but if you looked at him last night, I hope it stays blurry or whatever his problem was the way he hit the ball last night."Reliever Sanches takes one for team in lossMIAMI -- During Tuesday night's 14-2 loss to the Phillies, Brian Sanches threw 78 pitches over three innings of relief. In the ninth inning, he was kept in the game and allowed six runs to score as Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon stretched him out to finish the frame.Following the game, Sanches appeared to be frustrated about being left in for so long. McKeon said that since a few guys had pitched three days in a row, and Burke Badenhop had warmed up three out of four days, he needed Florida's long man to close it out. "I would probably be frustrated, but I thought he did a yeoman's Anaheim Casey Blake Jersey job handling and saving our bullpen," McKeon said. "To be honest, I thought he did a marvelous job bailing us out."McKeon said that Sanches would get the next few days off, and that part Cardinals Albert Pujols Jersey of the reason he was kept on the mound was because of the difficulty in getting Authentic Rafael Furcal Jersey a reliever to warm up that quickly."How can you get somebody warmed up in a hurry? It's impossible," McKeon said. "You keep saying, Anaheim Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey 'Oh, he'll get the next guy.'"Sanches also made two spot starts earlier in the season and went 5 1/3 combined innings. "You need guys who'll go out there and do that, but I know when you give up a few runs you don't feel good about it. I don't feel good about it either," McKeon said. "He James Loney Jersey might be the reason we win the Clayton Kershaw Jersey next two, three games Authentic Casey Blake Jersey because of what he did."McKeon reflects on managing All-Star teamMIAMI -- Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon reflected on his opportunity to manage the 2004 National League All-Star team after Florida won the World Series the Rafael Furcal Jersey previous October."I wasn't getting lobbied, but there was a lot of hard feelings because you didn't pick certain guys," McKeon said.  The 80-year-old skipper remembers the Phillies being upset at him for not selecting then-closer Billy Wagner.Since All-Star rules state that each team must be represented at the game, McKeon chose Livan Hernandez from the Nationals and Jack Wilson from the Pirates."It's a tough job, because when you get five or six choices, and you don't have anybody on Montreal, Colorado or Milwaukee, well then maybe some of the guys you'd like to pick are bumped because you have to take somebody," McKeon said.This season, McKeon expressed his dissatisfaction at Marlins starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez not making the club despite a 6-2 record and 3.30 ERA."I think sometimes we get the feeling that certain guys should be on there because they were in the past, but don't quite have the stats that some of these other guys have," McKeon said. "I would like to fill those spots [with guys] worthy of being there. I did my ballot and I put guys on there that were deserving to be on the All-Star team this year, not because they've been on it four, five years in the past."

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 MIAMI -- A day after being acquired from the Red Sox, Mike Cameron was in a Marlins uniform before Wednesday night's game against the Phillies at Sun Life Stadium.The 38-year-old was designated for White Sox Michael Jordan Jersey assignment by Boston last Thursday and has not played in a Authentic Nellie Fox Jersey game since. He was batting .149 with three homers and nine Mariners Ken Griffey Jersey RBIs in just 33 games.Marlins Anaheim Andre Ethier Jersey interim manager Felix Hernandez Jersey Jack Mariners Felix Hernandez Jersey McKeon said that he envisions Cameron as a starter Authentic Ichiro Suzuki Jersey and letting all of his outfielders "get plenty of work" once the former All-Star shakes off some of the rust."It's going to be a good, refreshing feeling to get a chance to run out there every day and see where my body's at," Cameron said.Cameron is a 16-year veteran who is one of just five active players to record at least White Sox Nellie Fox Jersey 250 career home runs and 250 stolen bases.Last season, Cameron had double sports hernia surgery after struggling through an abdominal tear, and he missed 114 games. "It was hard. I tried to do as much as I could and it just didn't work," Cameron said. "I got it fixed, worked hard in the offseason, so I expect to play a little better than I did in Boston."Cameron is also a three-time Gold Glove Award winner who has spent seasons with the White Sox, Reds, Mariners, Mets, Padres and Brewers.The veteran already knows some of his teammates, having played against Dewayne Wise, John Buck and Omar Infante. On Tuesday, Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said that the team has been searching for a veteran presence for the young ballclub."We've been kind of poking around and tried with Ken Griffey Jersey [Jose] Lopez, and it didn't work out," Beinfest said. "We tried to add some veteran presence here to help with some of our younger guys here in the second half. We just thought it made sense."Beinfest believes that Cameron's leadership -- something the outfielder Ichiro Suzuki Jersey learned from coming up in the big leagues with Barry Larkin, Greg Vaughn and Frank Thomas surrounding him -- could be very important. Cameron sees himself as both a vocal and lead-by-example leader."I understood that when they sent me here. My job is to Casey Blake Jersey be able to come here and Mariners Ichiro Suzuki Jersey get into the moment of where I'm at now, opposed to looking at where I was," Cameron said of going from the contending Red Sox to a last-place team. "Take the ride and enjoy it. I've had a lot of years of playing baseball, and this is another opportunity for me to play a little more than I was doing over there." Over the Nellie Fox Jersey past few days, Cameron said he has been watching the Marlins."It's refreshing, obviously coming out of Boston and having an opportunity to come here with a lot of young kids and talent," Cameron said. "They need to find a way to put it together as a unit, instead Authentic Andre Ethier Jersey of guys sparsely standing above each other."In exchange for Authentic Ken Griffey Jersey Cameron, Florida will send either a player to be named or cash to Boston.To make room for the outfielder, reliever Jose Ceda was sent back down to Triple-A New Orleans. Ceda appeared in just three games after being called up June 20."He brings experience. He's a good guy on the club," said McKeon, who coached Cameron in Cincinnati. "I think he'll certainly be able to help some of the young outfielders, and he's Authentic Felix Hernandez Jersey a gamer. He likes to play the Andre Ethier Jersey game and keeps the clubhouse loose. He's a fun guy, good competitor. He can still run, [he's a] good center fielder and he's got some good pop.

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