Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 5: Yankees at Royals — YANKEES (2-2) — Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia. — ROYALS (2-2) — Crisp CF — Callaspo 2B — DeJesus LF — Butler DH — Gordon 3B — Aviles SS — Jacobs 1B — Olivio C — Bloomquist RF — Pitching: LHP Horacio Ramirez.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
CC carries confidence into second Yank start — KANSAS CITY - CC Sabathia's first start as a Yankee was a false start, but the big lefthander will try to improve on his Opening Day dud Saturday night when he takes the mound against the Royals. — Sabathia allowed six runs on eight hits …
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Inside a Tempting World of Easy Steroids — When an All-Star third baseman needed help recovering from a shoulder injury, he knew from one of his agents whom to call: a doctor who mailed him steroids and syringes without ever seeing him. — A journeyman catcher, fearing he would not be able …
Associated Press:
Halladay outpitches Lee, helps Blue Jays keep Indians winless — CLEVELAND (AP) — Not even Cliff Lee could stop Cleveland's slide. — The reigning Cy Young Award winner lost his second consecutive start and the Indians, expected to contend this season, remained the AL's only winless team …
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Promising start doesn't last for Indians — Trio of homers wasted when pitching, defense unravel — CLEVELAND — The Indians waited through a three-hour, 47-minute rain delay to finish Friday's home opener against the Blue Jays. — The wait for their first win of 2009 is ongoing.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Rain, extras don't damper Braves win — Johnson's 10th-inning RBI single propels team over Nats — ATLANTA — There were definitely more efficient ways the Braves could have opened the home portion of their schedule. But watching Jordan Schafer slide across the plate with the winning run …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves outlast Nationals in home opener — Come hail or high water — and in this case, both — the Braves were determined to complete and win their home opener Friday night. They managed to do both, though it was a grueling drill. — Their bullpen blew a pair of late-inning leads …
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Anderson is designated — MIAMI — As expected, the Mets designated pinch-hitting specialist Marlon Anderson for assignment this afternoon to make room for Livan Hernandez. If Anderson clears waivers, he can either accept a spot at Triple-A Buffalo or become a free agent.
Eric Neel / ESPN.com:
Los Angeles Angels trying to cope with Nick Adenhart's loss — Angels try to carry on with baseball, business on day after Adenhart's death … ANAHEIM, Calif. — The women brought white potted lilies and set them on the ground beside bouquets and balloons, among lit candles and signed jerseys and caps outside the stadium.
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Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Swisher at first, Teixeira scratched — Out here at the new K, Mark Teixeira is a late scratch from the lineup with a sore left wrist. Nick Swisher had been slated to hit second and play leftfield, as they try to keep Swisher involved. But Johnny Damon is back in the lineup and in leftfield now.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Mike Puma / New York Post:
MARTINEZ WILL PLAY THIS SEASON, FRIEND SAYS — Pedro Martinez hasn't started the clock on his five-year waiting period for the Hall of Fame just yet. — Though Opening Day passed with Martinez still unemployed, the right-hander fully expects to pitch in the major leagues this season …
William K. Rashbaum / New York Times:
Stadium Work Done by Firms New York Shuns — Millions of dollars worth of work associated with the new baseball stadiums for the Yankees and Mets was performed by companies that New York City avoids doing business with because of prior allegations of corruption and ties to organized crime.
R.J. Anderson / FanGraphs Baseball:
Kindling Juan Morillo's Heat — Juan Morillo is 25-years-old with an average fastball velocity near 97 miles per hour. As far as baseball chances go, the only thing that Morillo could do to make himself more endearing to a long-term career - minus becoming a good pitcher - is to throw left-handed.
