Around The Majors- Wednesday

You guys can do it! Just one more day without baseball until the end of October. Hopefully I can help you get by your baseball blues with a recap of last night's All Star Game, news and notes, studs and duds for the season's first half, and the latest rumors all today on ATM.

Tuesday Recap
Ichrio went 3-3 including the first inside the park homer in ASG history as the AL narrowly edged the NL 5-4 at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Ichiro was named the game's MVP, Josh Beckett picked up the win, Chris Young was the loser, and K-Rod picked up the save when the game got too close for comfort for AL manager Jim Leyland. JJ Putz gave up a 2 run jack to Alfonso Soriano to make it 5-4 and then gave up a walk before the Angels closer was inserted into the game. Rodriguez then walked the bases loaded with 2 outs before retiring Aaron Rowand to end the contest. The NL took an early 1-0 lead when Ken Griffey drove in Jose Reyes with a single. Ichiro's homer was a 2 run shot that made it 2-1 AL. Carl Crawford then homered in the 6th to give the Junior Circuit a 3-1 advantage. A KGJ sac fly made it 3-2 after 6 frames. Victor Martinez then hit a 2 run homer in the 8th to make it the 5-2 game before Soriano made it close in the 9th. Barry Bonds was given the biggest cheers of the night in front of his home crowd, and NL skipper Tony LaRussa benched his star player Albert Pujols. More on that later.

News and Notes
- Ichiro and the Mariners are close to a 5 year contract extension that could pay the outfielder as much as 100 million. The deal could be made official tomorrow. He has seemed more willing to stay in the PacNW since Mike Hargrove resigned.
- Later is now, El Hombre is pissed. "It's the All-Star Game. He (LaRussa) can do what he wants, He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come up here." Pujols said. The Cards skipper didn't really care, as per usual:
"If he wants to get upset, he can get upset, whatever he wants to do, he can do. It's America. That wasn't the most important thing tonight."
- Bud Selig still hasn't decided whether he'll attend Barry Bonds' 756.
- The Mets and the Angels have emerged as the primary candidates to host future all star games. Anaheim may host in 2010 and the Mets in 2011 or 2013. Washington, Arizona, Los Angeles, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay also want to host games. The game will be at Yankee Stadium next year, and in St Louis at the new Busch Stadium in 2009.
- It seems quite likely that games will be played in Tokyo next season. The Red Sox, Yankees, A's, Mariners, Dodgers, Pirates, and Padres have shown interest in playing east. MLB may play exhibition games in Beijing, but talk are progressing slowly.
- The Angels finally released Shea Hillenbrand, Toronto released Victor Zambrano, and Cleveland claimed John Koronko off waivers. Tampa Bay optioned JP Howell, and the White Sox sent down Gavin Floyd.

1st Half Studs & Duds
Hitting Studs
1) Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY
2) Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN
3) Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI
4) Chase Utley, 2B, PHI
5) Gary Sheffield, DH, DET
Hitting Duds (min 200 AB's)
1) Dioner Navarro, C, TB
2) Jay Gibbons, OF/DH, BAL
3) Jacque Jones, OF, CHC
4) Adam Kennedy, 2B, STL
5) Ronny Paulino, C, PIT
Pitching Studs
1) Jake Peavy, SP, SDG
2) Dan Haren, SP, OAK
3) CC Sabathia, SP, CLE
4) Brad Penny, SP, LAD
5) Aaron Harang, SP, CIN
Pitching Duds (min 50 innings pitched)
1) Anthony Reyes, SP, STL
2) Edwin Jackson, SP, TB
3) Jeremy Sowers, SP, CLE
4) Jae Seo, SP, TB
5) Casey Fossum, P, TB

Rumors
- The Mets are very interested in Jermaine Dye, and insiders say that the Marlins will trade Dontrelle Willis, but not to anyone in the NL East. (NY Post)
- A-Rod needs to make a decision soon about his future, and the Yanks could get Miguel Cabrera after the 2008 season. Torii Hunter may get even more money now that Ichiro will be off the open market. (NY Daily News)
- Hunter could end up in Texas after the season. The Rangers will likely be much faster in trading Teixeira, Lofton, or Sosa, then in dealing away Gagne or Otsuka. (Dallas Morning News)
- The O's would like to deal Mora, Trachsel, Patterson, Payton, and Gibbons, but it'll be really difficult to trade Tejada. (Baltimore Sun)
- The Indians and Travis Hafner have began talks of a contract extension. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
- The Twins may go after A's 1B Dan Johnson, especially with the emergence of prospect Daric Barton in AAA. (St Paul Pioneer Press)
- Paul Lo Duca appears to be very expendable. (Bergen Record)
- David Ortiz's knee has been hurting all season, and he'll likely need surgery after the season. (Boston Globe)

NBA Free Agent Frenzy starts tomorrow.