The New York Yankees have been awarded the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and will host the Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008, during the final year that the ballpark will be open, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced at a press conference today at City Hall. Commissioner Selig was joined by the Mayor of New York, Michael R. Bloomberg, and Steve Swindal, General Partner of the New York Yankees.

• The 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be the 79th Midsummer Classic.

• This will be the first time in baseball history that an All-Star Game has been held in a ballpark in the final year that it will be open.

• It will mark the fourth time that Yankee Stadium has played host to the All-Star Game, joining 1939, 1960 (the second ASG of the season) and 1977, and it will be the eighth Midsummer Classic staged in New York City (Polo Grounds, 1934 and 1942; Ebbets Field, 1949; and Shea Stadium, 1964).

• The National League has a 2-1 advantage in the three previous All-Star Games played at Yankee Stadium, winning the last two contests. The American League won by a 3-1 score in 1939; the National League blanked the A.L. 6-0 in 1960; and the N.L. prevailed 7-5 in 1977.

Previous All-Star Games at Yankee Stadium

July 11, 1939 (The 7th ASG)

NL	0	0	1		0	0	0		0	0	0		1	7	1
AL	0	0	0		2	1	0		0	0	0		3	6	1

NL - Derringer, LEE (4), Fette (7)
AL - Ruffing, BRIDGES (4), Feller (6)
HR - DiMaggio
W - Bridges
L - Lee
A - 62,892
TOG - 1 hour, 55 minutes

July 13, 1960 (2nd; The 29th ASG)

NL	0	2	1		0	0	0		1	0	2		6	10	0
AL	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		0	8	0

NL - LAW, Podres (3), Williams (5), Jackson (7), Henry (8), McDaniel (9)
AL - FORD, Wynn (4), Staley (6), Lary (8), Bell (9)
HR - Mathews, Mays, Musial, Boyer
W - Law
L - Ford
A - 38,362
TOG - 2 hours, 42 minutes

July 19, 1977 (The 48th ASG)

NL	4	0	1		0	0	0		0	2	0		7	9	1
AL	0	0	0		0	0	2		1	0	2		5	8	0

NL - SUTTON, Lavelle (4), Seaver (6), Reuschel (8), Gossage (9)
AL - PALMER, Kern (3), Eckersley (4), LaRoche (6), Campbell (7), Lyle (8).
HR - Morgan, Luzinski, Garvey, Scott
W - Sutton
L - Palmer
A - 56,683
TOG - 2 hours, 34 minutes

Some good reading material as we begin a new week:

- Geoff Young at Ducksnorts takes the field at Friarfest 2007 in San Diego. Watch as Geoff takes a lead, warms up in the bullpen, and assesses the damage from the dugout :)

- Ken Rosenthal has an interesting take on why the Rockies are looking to trade Todd Helton.

- Uh oh...it's not even Spring Training and 40% of the Marlins starting rotation is experiencing arm discomfort.

- FanGraphs has combined the CHONE, MARCEL, and ZIPS projections all in one spot. Pretty cool stuff. 

- A little football stuff not related to the Super Bowl...for those Cowboys fans who are trying to figure out who the new head coach may be, just stay tuned to Blogging the Boys for all the latest details!

- Looks like Jason Kubel is in great shape and ready to fight for the LF position in Minnesota after all.

- I'm starting to get excited about Spring Training...especially my trip out to the Cactus League

- Do I sense another round of collusion on the horizon? The commissioner is a little upset over the spending spree this winter.

- Do you think you or I would have the charges dismissed if we just apologized?

- Oregon State got off to a great start in defending their National Championship with a no-hit victory in Hawaii

- And finally, The Hardball Times has a nice new article that looks at how three projection systems rate some of the league's best hitters for 2007

The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed free agent infielder Miguel Cairo to a one-year Major League contract. To make room for Cairo on their 40-man roster, the Yankees designated RHP Matt DeSalvo for assignment.

The Boston Red Sox today announced that the team has officially signed free agent outfielder J.D. Drew to a five-year contract extending through the 2011 season.

The Minnesota Twins announced today that former third baseman Gary Gaetti, the 1987 ALCS Most Valuable Player who helped lead the Twins to their first World Series Championship, and Director of Minor Leagues, Jim Rantz have been elected to the team’s Hall of Fame. Gaetti and Rantz will become the 17th and 18th members of the Twins Hall of Fame when they are inducted during special on-field pre-game ceremonies, Saturday May 5th (Rantz) and Sunday, August 19th (Gaetti).

The Chicago White Sox agreed to terms on a one-year, $1-million contract, which includes a 2008 club option, with free agent outfielder Darin Erstad.

The Detroit Tigers announced yesterday that the club has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with lefthanded pitcher Joey Eischen and invited him to major league camp.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda will be inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame.  On Sunday, January 28, Lasorda will enter the Hall as part of the inaugural class at the Anaheim Hilton.  Lasorda, who is already enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, is being enshrined into the CSHOF for his contributions to California throughout his 58 years of service with the Dodgers.  This induction marks the eighth Hall of Fame in which Lasorda will be enshrined. 

Rob McQuown's newest addition to BDD is a look at The Golden Age of Baseball Analysis! Head on over and check it out today.

In the news today...

Edgar Martinez, the best designated hitter in Major League Baseball history, has been selected for induction into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame.  Martinez joins first baseman Alvin Davis, Dave Niehaus, the Voice of the Mariners, and outfielder Jay Buhner.

An update from Chicago...outfielder Scott Podsednik of the Chicago White Sox underwent outpatient surgery in Dallas on Tuesday to repair a sports hernia.  Recovery time is expected to last between 6-8 weeks.

The Pittsburgh Pirates unveiled their 2007 promotion days. There are a few pretty cool ones this year...Kids Willie Stargell Replica Jersey day...Smash Mouth post game concert...and my personal favorite, Ronny Paulino Bobblehead day!

RHP Homer Bailey has been named winner of the Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award as the Cincinnati Reds’ Minor League Player of the Year for 2006. 1B Joey Votto was named the organization’s Hitter of the Year and RHP Johnny Cueto Pitcher of the Year.

Chase Utley and the Phillies agreed to a seven-year, $85 million extension Sunday, avoiding salary arbitration. The extension covers the final three arbitration seasons for Utley and his first four seasons of free agency.

"We view Chase as not only a great second baseman but also one of the top 10-15 players in the game," Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "He's a hard-nosed, full-throttle player who exemplifies the spirit of Philadelphia. He is tailor-made for this city and we couldn't be happier to lock him up for years to come."

In a sad moment for the baseball world, the Cincinnati Reds announced this morning that former major leaguer and pitching coach Vern Ruhle died at 11:00 p.m. last night at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston of complications from a donor stem cell transplant for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Ruhle, 55, is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Rebecca and son Kenny.

Ruhle entered last season as the Reds’ Major League pitching coach, but during routine physical examinations in February he was diagnosed with cancer. He missed the entire season while receiving treatment for multiple myeloma. 

For the 2007 season, Ruhle had been assigned to work as the organization’s pitching rehabilitation coordinator at its minor league complex in Sarasota, Florida.

“The baseball and Cincinnati Reds families mourn the loss of an excellent coach, wonderful husband and loving father,” the club said in a statement. “In his 35 years in professional and collegiate baseball, Vern touched many people inside and outside the game. We are privileged to have been a part of his life. He will be greatly missed.”

There were all kinds of things going on today. Some deals were finalized...there were conference calls...there were luncheons...Here's a synopsis of the day's activities.

Cubs Sign Samardzija

The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club and right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija have agreed to a five-year Major League contract with club options for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Samardzija, who will focus solely on his baseball career, will report to Big League camp in Mesa, Ariz., on February 14.

Samardzija, 21, was Chicago’s fifth round selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He made seven starts between Single-A Boise and Single-A Peoria, posting a 2.70 combined ERA (9 ER/30.0 IP) and was named the Cubs’ fourth-best prospect by Baseball America at season’s end.

Samardzija was also a star wide receiver on the Notre Dame football team. He led the football team with 78 receptions and 1,017 receiving yards in 2006, his senior season, and was named first team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America. In 2005, he set Notre Dame single-season records for yards receiving (1,249) and touchdown catches (15).

Comments from Samardzija:

“I am pleased to announce that today I have reached an agreement on a five–year Major League contract with the Chicago Cubs.  Consequently, I will devote my full time and attention to professional baseball and forego a potential career in the National Football League.  I am honored to be given the opportunity to pursue this career path as a member of the Chicago Cubs. This is a dream come true for a kid who grew up in Northern Indiana looking up the road at this great city and its loyal fans.  I feel very comfortable that this is exactly where I belong. 

“Obviously, my decision means I have played my last football game.  That does not mean I have lost my passion for the game.  I will always love football.  My four years at Notre Dame – playing for the Fighting Irish – were amazing.  I could not have asked for more from my teammates, our fans, and our coaches.  I appreciate fully that another amazing experience awaited me in the NFL.  But, as much as it seemed like a real possibility last summer, I have concluded that playing two sports professionally is impossible. 

Indians Sign Nixon

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent OF Trot Nixon to a one-year Major League contract for the 2007 season.  The deal is worth an estimated $3 million, and Nixon can earn an additional $2 million in incentives.

In 2006 Trot hit .268 (102-381) with 24 doubles, 8 homer and 52RBI in 114 games.  He compiled an on-base percentage of .373 after drawing 60 walks over the 114 games, hit .311 (82-264) in the first half with 6HR & 43RBI in 78 games and hit .288 (83-288) off RHP.   

Cleveland Indians Executive Vice President and General Manager Mark Shapiro on today’s announcement - “The addition of Trot Nixon not only gives our club another quality outfielder who excels against RHP, but it gives our team another veteran presence with championship experience and adds to the overall depth of our organization and Major League club for 2007.”   

To make room for Nixon (who will wear #33) on the 40-man roster the Indians have designated RHP Jeremy Guthrie for assignment. 

Braves and Pirates Finalize Swap

The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates completed a four-player trade today, as the Braves acquired left-handed relief pitcher Mike Gonzalez and minor league shortstop Brent Lillibridge from the Pirates in exchange for first baseman Adam LaRoche and minor league outfielder Jamie Romak.

Gonzalez, 28, was perfect in save opportunities in 2006, converting all 24 chances.  In 54 games, he posted a 3-4 record and 2.17 ERA, the fifth-best ERA among all National League relief pitchers. Gonzalez's .213 opponents' batting average ranked eighth in the league.

"Mike has established himself as one of the top relief pitchers in baseball," Braves Executive Vice President and General Manager John Schuerholz said. "We believe that his addition to our club has strengthened our bullpen - especially in the late innings."

Our own Rob McQuown took part in the Schuerholz conference call later in the day and you can read about it here.

Royals Media Forecast Luncheon

Craig Brown attended the Kansas City Royals media forecast luncheon today. This year, Luke Hudson, John Buck and general manager Dayton Moore were the headliners at the luncheon.  Craig got a chance to mingle with the guys before the event kicked off…Read all about it and check out some pictures here!