Baseball Shots Of The Week – July 8, 2014

Filed Under: Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Sports

1. Oakland Athletics (55-33)Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel make the A's the favorites to win the whole thing. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Yoenis Cespedes has officially been invited to defend his 2013 title in the 2014 Home Run Derby competition.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (52-37)A reminder that Francisco Rodriguez is having a good year for the Brewers. Again. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez ,Jonathan Lucroy and Francisco Rodriguez were named to the All-Star team.

3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (51-36)Joe Thatcher is a solid left-handed specialist, and Tony Campana can fly on the basepaths. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Jered Weaver said he feels much better and is likely to avoid the disabled list.

4. Atlanta Braves (49-39)The Braves are red hot. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman will join Julio Teheran on the NL All-Star team.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (51-40)Brandon League's peripherals aren't where you'd want them to be, yet his ERA has had a nice bounceback year. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)

Yasiel Puig will participate for the National League in the Gillette Home Run Derby.

6. Detroit Tigers (48-37)Who had Rajai Davis homering off Sean Doolittle? (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Victor Martinez was held out of the Tigers' lineup as he continues to recover from soreness in his left side.

7. Seattle Mariners (48-40)Kyle Seager is one of baseball's most underrated players. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Robinson Cano will start at second base for the American League All-Star team.

8. Washington Nationals (48-39)Another week, another Bryce Harper controversy. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Jayson Werth has been named the National League Player of the Week.

9. Baltimore Orioles (48-40)Zach Britton should probably make the All-Star team. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

Adam Jones will compete in the 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby.

10. San Francisco Giants (49-39)You have to wonder how aggressive Brian Sabean will be at the deadline. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Hunter Pence and Madison Bumgarner were named to the roster of the National League All-Star team.

11. Toronto Blue Jays (47-43)Dioner Navarro has been an upgrade over J.P. Arencibia. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Edwin Encarnacion is on the 15-day disabled list with a right quadriceps strain.

12. Pittsburgh Pirates (47-41)Josh Harrison has been a spark plug for the Pirates. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Francisco Liriano will be back in the rotation this weekend.

13. St. Louis Cardinals (47-41)Pat Neshek has been super effective. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Jaime Garcia is out with what was considered a shoulder problem, and is now set for season ending surgery.

14. Kansas City Royals (45-42)Surprise, surprise. Jason Vargas with another solid start. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

James Shields racked up 10 strikeouts for a 6-0 win over the Rays.

15. Cincinnati Reds (45-42)Billy Hamilton has recovered from a dreadful start. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Joey Votto went back on the 15-day disabled list with an injury to his left quadriceps muscle.

16. New York Yankees (44-43)Brandon McCarthy is better than his numbers suggest. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Yankees on Sunday designated veteran Alfonso Soriano for assignment and promoted right-hander Bruce Billings from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

17. Miami Marlins (43-45)Henderson Alvarez doesn't strike out a lot of batters, but his ERA might be shiny enough to get him a trip to the All-Star Game. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Giancarlo Stanton was named to the National League roster for the Home Run Derby.

18. Cleveland Indians (43-44)Scott Atchison isn't flashy. He has been effective, however. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)

Cleveland placed Justin Masterson on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his knee.

19. Tampa Bay Rays (41-50)The Rays' recent winning ways could impact their deadline plans. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Erik Bedard was moved to the bullpen to make room for Jeremy Hellickson.

20. Chicago White Sox (42-47)You wonder if Adam Dunn will catch the eye of a contending team wanting some added thump. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Chris Sale holds the early American League lead at the first voting update in Final Vote balloting.

21. Boston Red Sox (39-49)Mookie Betts' first home run? A shot over the monster, of course. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Shane Victorino will not return to the Red Sox lineup before the All-Star break and the start of his rehab assignment will be pushed back.

22. Minnesota Twins (39-48)After a two-month absence, top prospect Byron Buxton is back on the field" then it would be correct. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Twins placed Ricky Nolasco on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow.

23. New York Mets (39-49)Expect Daniel Murphy's name to surface in trade rumors. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Mets placed left-handed pitcher Jonathon Niese on the 15-Day disabled list with a left shoulder strain.

24. San Diego Padres (39-49)Seth Smith signed the same deal David Murphy did last winter. Both were about right. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Tyson Ross, who was selected to his first National League All-Star team, will not play in the All-Star Game.

25. Texas Rangers (38-50)The Rangers have been so robbed by injuries that Carlos Pena batted third this week. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Yu Darvish was hit in the head Tuesday during batting practice while he was playing catch in the outfield.

26. Philadelphia Phillies (37-51)Marlon Byrd is having another good year. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Cliff Lee will not rejoin the Phillies' rotation until after the All-Star break.

27. Colorado Rockies (37-52)LaTroy Hawkins continues to be more effective than his strikeout rate would indicate. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Charlie Blackmon will represent the Rockies at this year's All-Star Game.

28. Chicago Cubs (38-48)Addison Russell might be the best prospect traded this summer. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Anthony Rizzo is one of five players up for the 2014 All-Star Game Final Vote, competing for a spot on the National League team.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks (37-53)Chase Anderson has to qualify as a pleasant surprise, even with the home-run rate. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Bronson Arroyo will need season-ending Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

30. Houston Astros (36-54)Domingo Santana is a big feller with huge raw power and major concerns about his ability to make contact. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Astros have placed outfielder Alex Presley on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique.