Mizzou Baseball in the Minors & Majors

■ Voting for Ian Kinsler could mean winning a prize (Dallas News)

The Rangers are offering fans an incentive to voting for Ian Kinsler (03) as part of the on-line balloting for the final spot on the American League team. Fans could win one of two packages:

A suite for 20 at the Rangers game with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, July 21 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington or an All-Star package featuring autographed bats from Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, and Michael Young.

You have until Thursday at 3 p.m. to get your vote in.

■ Kinsler deserves to be on All-Star team (Tahlequah Daily Press)

Ian Kinsler (03) has helped the Rangers become a playoff contender in the AL West despite slugger Josh Hamilton missing time on the disabled list. Other than
maybe Dustin Pedroia, he has established himself as the best second basemen not
only in the American League, but in all of Major League Baseball.

■ Surprised Kinsler was overlooked? Don't be (FoxSports.com)

So, as opposed to a year ago when AL manager Terry Francona at least was able to
undo the injustice by adding Kinsler to the team, this year, AL manager Joe
Maddon had to address the oversight of Toronto's Aaron Hill, who has had the
best first half of any AL second baseman, leaving Kinsler as the odd man out.

■ James Boone (03-05) has signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the independent American Association.

■ Frey learns from the best (Columbia Tribune)

Being around veteran major leaguers such as Gibson, now the Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach, and Brett Butler, the manager of the Triple-A Reno Aces, during spring training forced Ryan Frey (05-07) to empty his head of star-struck thoughts and fill his mind with the little tidbits of advice that will advance his baseball career.

“I got tons of information on outfield play, hitting, baserunning,”

■ Closer Andrew Johnston (05), who leads the Texas League in saves, has been placed on the disabled list (OSC.com)

■ WFAA.com has an interesting feature on Athletes, teams, fans embrace social networking

Social media sites are still in their infancy. But they've gone from an uncertain novelty where anyone can post a picture or quickly write a few words to a popular conversation tool among athletes, teams and fans. That transformation has taken only a few months. The sites have allowed athletes and leagues to bypass the media and communicate directly with fans.
. . .
But leagues and players also have to be aware of the potential dangers of giving the fans a closer look at the lives of athletes.

"We have our security meetings, and that comes up," said Rangers reliever Doug Mathis, who has the same Facebook page he started in college. "They say to watch what you put on there and watch who you are friends with because there are a lot of people that you never know what their motive is for doing that."

■ He hasn't been getting much publicity online, but former Tiger shortstop Lee Fischer (06-07)is still making the plays in the pros, according to MLNtheRawFeed.com:

The offense gave him all the help he would need in the bottom of the fourth,
tallying five runs off of Delmarva starter Oliver Drake (4-5). Each of the first five hitters reached base and scored in the inning, with Lee Fischer picking up a clutch, bases-loaded double to drive in two.

■ Garrett Broshuis (02-04) must be getting plenty of frequent flyer miles: Broshuis' return too much for Rock Cats (Norwich Bulletin)

Garrett Broshuis, making his first start for Connecticut since last season, blanked rival New Britain for 6 2/3 innings Tuesday night to lead the Defenders to a 3-0 win.

Broshuis, who joined the team from Triple-A Fresno just days earlier, allowed six hits and one walk while striking out two. Matt Yourkin and Dan Otero closed out the final 2 1/3.