Top News:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Francona releases Red Sox lineup — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — HOUSTON — The source of much conversation and expectation, the Red Sox [team stats] Opening Day lineup was unveiled this morning by manager Terry Francona. Only two real discussion points …
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
RELATED:
Ben DuBose / MLB.com:
Red Sox cruise behind five-run first, Beckett — Righty limits Astros to one hit in five innings in spring finale — HOUSTON — The Red Sox scored five first-inning runs off Astros starter Nelson Figueroa while Josh Beckett silenced Houston hitters, leading to a 10- exhibition victory …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Viva El Birdos, The Crawfish Boxes and Surviving Grady
Richard Dean / MLB.com:
Crawford leaves 70 tickets in return home
Crawford leaves 70 tickets in return home
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Boston Globe, Over the Monster and Sox #1 Fan dot com
Associated Press:
Reds rally to stun Brewers on Hernandez's walkoff HR — CINCINNATI (AP) — Ramon Hernandez hit a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in an opening-day flashback to their NL Central title season.
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Weeks, Gomez hit back-to-back jacks — CINCINNATI — Sure, the Brewers were bummed about Zack Greinke's place on the Opening Day disabled list. But they showed Thursday how they'll try to get by in his absence. — Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez delivered back-to-back home runs in the Brewers …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Almonte could see early action
MLB:
Rays sign Wade Davis to extension — The Tampa Bay Rays signed starting pitcher Wade Davis to a four-year extension Thursday. — The contract, which contains three club option years (2015-17), guarantees Davis $12.6 million. If the Rays exercise the three option years, the 25-year-old Davis will make approximately $35.1 million.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, baseballmusings.com and Associated Press
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
D'Backs Sign Josh Wilson — The Diamondbacks signed infielder Josh Wilson to a minor league deal, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (Twitter links). Wilson, who was released by the Mariners earlier in the week, will report to Triple-A Reno.
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Hamels learned value of between-starts preparation — It came in the stifling St. Louis heat, everything Cole Hamels had worked for. — Players and coaches still talk about that game on July 22, 2010, and not just because it was the turning point for the Phillies, a chaotic day that ended …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ankiel, Riggleman note Cox's absence — WASHINGTON — Nationals manager Jim Riggleman and outfielder Rick Ankiel said that it will be weird not seeing former Braves manager Bobby Cox in the opposing dugout. — Cox retired after the 2010 season. He guided the Braves to five pennants and one World Series title.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Pirates Sign Tim Wood — The Pirates signed recently-released right-hander Tim Wood, MLBTR has learned. It didn't take long for Wood to find a job after the Nationals released him and two others. — Wood logged 27 2/3 innings for the Marlins last year, posting a 5.53 ERA with more walks (15) than strikeouts (10).
Discussion:
Pirates Prospects and Bucs Dugout
Mike Petriello / Baseball Prospectus:
Value Picks in the Bullpen — Just hours after this article goes live, the first pitch of the 2011 season will be thrown by either by CC Sabathia or Livan Hernandez. It's Opening Day! Or, as I like to think of it, “the equivalent of Christmas plus your birthday multiplied by ten Super Bowls"-not to overstate it, of course.
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Derek Jeter, equipped with new contract from Yankees & swing from Kevin Long, out to defy history — Sometime this summer, the collective gaze of the baseball world will descend on Derek Jeter as he becomes the first Yankee in history to record 3,000 hits. — Those same eyes are likely …
Discussion:
Bats
Joe Christensen / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins up to date on stats, but not loud about it — 2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW The Twins pride themselves on scouting but say they also are in line with trends about statistics. — The Twins haven't been ignoring baseball's statistical revolution. They're just not out front talking about it all the time.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Strasburg, Harper get to visit Nationals Park — Young stars among non-active players in clubhouse at NatsFest — WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper, Cole Kimball, Derek Norris, Stephen Strasburg and Chien-Ming Wang were seen in the Nationals' locker room before attending NatsFest on Wednesday afternoon.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Family to catch Broderick's Nats debut
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Gorzelanny's first start remains uncertain