¤ milky moon ¤

Troy Tulowitzki just hopes no one will hold any grudges when he picks the National League participants for the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game. The Colorado Rockies shortstop will serve as captain of the NL side and select the four other members for the derby. Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays is in charge of the American League. "To be the captain, I dont know if thats something Im looking forward to because of how tough the decisions are going to be," Tulowitzki said Monday before the Rockies played the St. Louis Cardinals. "You cant put everybody that wants to participate on your team. So with that, you open yourself up. "But, at the same time, Im honoured to be the National League captain." The event will be held July 14 at Target Field, the night before the showcase game in Minneapolis. Bautista is a two-time major league home run champion. Tulowitzki has hit at least 25 homers in three of the past four seasons. Although the honour was just recently bestowed on Tulowitzki, hes already mulling over his options. Giancarlo Stanton of Miami is high on his list, especially since he leads the league in homers with 20. Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers is also a consideration. Tulowitzki may even select teammate Justin Morneau, especially since the first baseman came up in the Twins organization and it would be a homecoming. "That would be neat for him," said Tulowitzki, who has 18 homers this season. "Obviously, hes a guy I have a relationship with." Given Tulowitzkis relationship with St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday, he could be a pick, too. Tulowitzki spent some time catching up with his former teammate before Mondays game. Did Holliday lobby to be included? "I dont think so," Tulowitzki said, smiling. "Holliday is just a good friend of mine, someone that I have a great deal of respect for. "If he wanted to participate, hed definitely be someone on the list, but he wasnt (lobbying)." Tulowitzki is hoping players around the NL reach out to him. Rockies pitcher Brett Anderson, whos currently on the disabled list, wrote on his Twitter account: "Fingers crossed Tulo picks me for the home run derby!" Hes listening -- and doesnt want to hear excuses about how the derby may mess up a batters stroke. "You take a look during (batting practice), sometimes Ill go out there and try to hit a home run on every single pitch," Tulowitzki explained. "Its no different from being in the Home Run Derby. "Those are my thoughts. I dont really want to entertain that thought, either. You get back on track. And if youre not doing good, you put some (work in the cage). Its not because of a Home Run Derby." . As future stars prepare to make the big leap to the professional ranks, TSNs Draft Week delivers wall-to-wall coverage of both the NHL and NBA Entry Drafts, highlighted by exclusive live coverage of both events. . -- Dee Ford prefers to keep things simple: Play hard and fast, and let others worry about his NFL draft stock. http://www.hockeybluejacketsauthority.c ... rsey-c-13/. Napoli hit two home runs, Jonny Gomes and prized rookie Xander Bogaerts also connected, and the Red Sox kept up their dizzying scoring spree at Yankee Stadium by bashing New York 13-9 Saturday for a fifth straight win. . -- At the beginning of training camp, Andrew Bogut set a goal to play all 82 regular-season games and regain his place among the NBAs best centres. . Brad Malone had the other goal for the Monsters (1-1-0), while Elliott chipped in an assist for a three-point night and the games first star. Bryan Lerg also had two assists. Corban Knight and Max Reinhart scored for the Heat (1-1-0), who opened their season Friday with a 5-2 win over the Monsters in Cleveland.PRAGUE - Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will lead the Czech Republic and Angelique Kerber will play for Germany in next weeks Fed Cup final.Following an early exit from the WTA Finals, Kvitova has a chance to win the Fed Cup title for the third time in four years while Germany is seeking its first triumph since 1992.Kvitova is 3-2 against the 10th-ranked Kerber.Captains Petr Pala of the Czech Republic and Barbara Rittner of Germany announced their four-player teams on Wednesday.Andrea Petkovic and Sabine Lisicki are the other two German options to join Kerber in the singles, while Julia Goerges is the remaining player.Karolina Pliskova, a 222-year-old rising star of Czech tennis, made the squad for the first time.dddddddddddd Pliskova won the Generali Ladies last month for her second WTA title this year and is a career-high 24th in the rankings.Big serving Lisicki defeated Pliskova 7-5, 6-3 in the final of the Hong Kong Open in September for her first WTA title in three years.Lucie Safarova is also in contention for singles for the Czechs, while doubles specialist Lucie Hradecka has been selected for the Nov. 8-9 best-of-five series on an indoor hard court in Prague.The Czechs, who beat Germany in their previous three encounters, won the Fed Cup in 2011 and 12. ' ' '