The butcher's bill is especially high today.
- Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka has a partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament. The Yankees are hoping it will heal with six weeks of rest, but of course if it doesn't, the specter of Tommy John surgery looms.
- Andrew Marchand tries to sum up what this could mean for the Yankees and Tanaka.
- Buster Olney (ESPN Insider only) says that many people predicted that someone who threw so many splitters so hard was destined for a UCL injury. He also lists possible trade targets for the Yankees to try to replace Tanaka.
- David Lennon says there is no replacing Tanaka.
- Jonathan Bernhardt writes that just when you think things can't get worse for the Yankees, they do. He also says they need to start planning for next season.
- Phil Rogers says the Yankees are in real trouble if Tanaka is gone for more than six weeks. Ya think?
- The bad news for the Yankees doesn't stop there. Carlos Beltran went on the 7-day concussion disabled list after a ball he hit in batting practice rebounded off the pitching screen and hit him in the face. He also has some fractured facial bones too.
- Going from the team that has won the most World Series titles to the team that has won the second-most, the Cardinals are going to lose Yadier Molina for 8 to 12 weeks with a torn thumb ligament.
- David Schoenfield thinks that losing Molina could cost the Cards between three and five wins.
- Staying in the NL Central, Brandon Phillips has the exact same injury as Molina and will miss the same 8 to 12 weeks.
- Jerry Crasnick thinks the NL Central contenders need to start searching the trade market for replacements. (He includes the Brewers, who aren't injured but just crappy lately.)
- Adam Lind will miss six to eight weeks with a foot fracture.
- Jason Vargas will miss three to four weeks after an appendectomy.
- C.J. Wilson went on the DL with a sprained ankle.
- Good injury news is that Carl Crawford is healthy. The bad news (for him, at least) is that he doesn't have a starting job in Los Angeles anymore.
- The Red Sox designated A.J. Pierzynski for assignment.
- And in what is now a Red Sox tradition with any player or manager they get rid of, the team (anonymously, of course) threw Pierzynski under the bus.
- David Brown admits that Pierzynski had a "reputation," but the Red Sox just need to keep their mouths shut. It's not Pierzynski that looks bad in this situation, it's the team.
- Craig Calcaterra concurs, and points out that no other franchise feels the need to rip every player that goes out the door.
- A jury found the Dodgers partially negligent in the beating of Bryan Stow.
- Good news for the Athletics. They just signed a 10-year lease to stay in the Oakland Coliseum. Bad news for the Athletics. It might be torn down after the 2015 season. I guess they could play in the parking lot.
- Marc Normandin thinks that the trade deadline has lost its luster because too many teams are still in the playoff hunt.
- He also thinks that the Mariners should make a major deal. He suggests David Price.
- Two Phillies with 10-5 rights have publicly said they want to remain with the team. Jonathan Papelbon says that's crazy. He's got spirit, yes he does.
- When the Cubs traded Josh Harrison, I wrote something like "The Cubs might regret it, but probably not." Shows you how smart I am. Mark Simon makes the case that Harrison is a worthy All-Star.
- Bob Nightengale says the Pirates current outfield might end up being one of the greatest trios of all time. Then he adds they've got Harrison backing them up.
- Grant Brisbee asks: Would you rather be the GM of the Astros or the Rangers? It's actually an interesting question.
- Clayton Kershaw's scoreless innings streak ended at 41. He still won the game.
- I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but how is it that Hawk Harrelson is still on the air?
- Maybe he won't be if the White Sox travel to San Francisco, as AT&T Park is considering banning "culturally insensitive attire." Meaning headdresses, mostly.
- Duane Kuiper doesn't think umpire Angel Hernandez belongs in the major leagues and he's unafraid to say it on the air.
- The White Sox signed first-round pick Carlos Rodon to a $6.6 million bonus.
- I know this is a Cubs story, but Manny Ramirez came this close to managing the Iowa Cubs the other day. It would have been glorious.
- This is a really good story about Yu Darvish's interpreter. Fascinating guy. He speaks fluent Spanish as well.
- With the All-Star Game coming to Minneapolis, Jim Caple has an extended look at the past and present of baseball in the Twin Cities.
- Dennis Brackin thinks the state of baseball in Minnesota is good, but could be better.
- And finally, I don't care about the Home Run Derby, so you should believe me when I say this article is fascinating anyway. Erik Malinowski has the story of how the first All-Star home run derby came about during the last All-Star Game in Minneapolis. You better believe Chris Berman wasn't there making a fool of himself.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.