If Jim Hendry can’t complete a Jacque Jones trade because of the Cubs’ unsettled ownership situation, how can he do a Carlos Zambrano extension or make a major addition before the July 31 deadline? The Florida Marlins believe their deal for Jones disappeared at a level somewhere over Hendry’s head, most likely because an accountant somewhere wouldn’t sign off on the Cubs reportedly paying about $6.6 million of the $7.2 million left on Jones’ contract through next season. … There may be a lot of disappointed people in Tokyo after the All-Star teams are announced. This is a deep year for pitchers, especially in the AL, and the possibility Mark Buehrle (or Bobby Jenks), Eric Bedard and James Shields could be needed as the lone reps of the White Sox, Orioles and Devil Rays, respectively, could keep Daisuke Matsuzaka off the team. It’s hardly a slam dunk he will be among the eight pitchers voted in, not with Dan Haren, Justin Verlander, Josh Beckett, Johan Santana, John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Jeremy Bonderman, Chad Gaudin and others pitching so well. Here’s hoping the entertaining Matsuzaka does make it. … If players don’t vote Curtis Granderson onto the AL team, AL manager Jim Leyland needs to wedge him in. The UIC product is having a better year than guys such as Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki and Grady Sizemore. Granderson is only the ninth big-leaguer since 1957 to go into the All-Star break with at least 10 doubles, triples and homers. The most recent was Nomar Garciaparra in 2003.
Following up on complaints that started with the Chicago chapter of the Baseball Writers Association, Commissioner Bud Selig recently met with a BBWAA committee to discuss this year’s relocation of the press box at U.S. Cellular Field from behind home plate to the right-field line. Selig won’t force the Sox to put the press box back where it was but isn’t likely to allow another team to move the scribes from behind the plate. … The Red Sox and Tigers have joined the Yankees in the pursuit of Eric Gagne, who has become one of the most widely pursued arms available. Detroit’s bullpen has become a major concern because of Todd Jones’ ineffectiveness (0-3, 12.54 ERA since May 28) and injuries to Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. … Alex Rodriguez gushed about San Francisco during the Yankees’ visit last weekend, saying he really was looking forward to coming back for the All-Star Game. Translated: Hey, I’m going to be a free agent after the season, can you spare $252 million? … While interim manager Dave Trembley gets a long look in Baltimore, White Sox bench coach Joey Cora and former Chicago managers Don Baylor and Jerry Manuel remain on the list of candidates. … This should be a big year for the Giants’ Omar Vizquel, who is approaching some huge career fielding records for shortstops, but a .236 average has made him a forgotten man at age 40.
