Top News:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Former Red Sox GM Lou Gorman dies — Lou Gorman, who built three playoff teams in his 10 seasons as the Red Sox general manager, died this morning at age 82. — A family member confirmed to the Globe that Gorman died at 1:50 a.m. — The good-natured Gorman was the Red Sox general manager from 1984 to '93.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Yahoo! Sports, HardballTalk and FenwayNationWorld
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Star-Telegram / Foul Territory:
Rangers, Red Sox set Opening Day lineups
Rangers, Red Sox set Opening Day lineups
Discussion:
Sox #1 Fan dot com, Red Sox Monster, Baseball Time in Arlington and Lone Star Ball
Michael Rezendes / Boston Globe:
City questions Sox plan for mixed drinks
City questions Sox plan for mixed drinks
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Lone Star Ball, Over the Monster, Can't Stop The Bleeding, IT IS HIGH! and HardballTalk
Mark Kiszla / Denver Post:
Rockies' non-stars will determine how season goes — In pursuit of truth, rising Rockies star Troy Tulowitzki needed to pose a tough question to Albert Pujols, three-time MVP of the National League. — Does the best hitter on the planet fear failure? — The answer might keep you awake nights, worried about monsters under the bed.
Discussion:
Purple Row and Hardball Times
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Jim Armstrong / Denver Post:
Carlos Gonzalez among MLB's best five-tool players — Every five-tool major-leaguer has the same talents and, it turns out, almost the same short shelf life. For the most part, being a five-tool player — hitting for average, hitting with power, running, fielding and throwing — is a 20s thing.
Washington Post:
Opening day 2011: Nationals have added gloves — and strikeouts — Gallery: Nationals opening day: The Nationals drop their opener to the Braves, 2-0. — The Nationals can catch the ball now. They proved that on opening day. — Can they hit it? That may take months to answer and define their season.
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Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:
Nats play good defense, yet little hitting in loss
Nats play good defense, yet little hitting in loss
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Giants Extend Freddy Sanchez — The Giants have reached an agreement with second baseman Freddy Sanchez on a one-year, $6MM extension, MLBTR has learned. The Giants have confirmed the agreement (on Twitter). — Sanchez's previous contract, signed in October of 2009, runs through this year …
Discussion:
El Lefty Malo and McCovey Chronicles
Toronto Sun:
Morneau will be no picnic for Romero — The good news is that Ricky Romero says he's not scared. — The bad news is he has every right to be scared. — The Blue Jays' schedule the first month of the season is like a walk through baseball's version of Death Valley.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and Bluebird Banter
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mets' Mike Pelfrey gets his chance on Opening Day to prove he can be the ace with Johan Santana out — MIAMI - Mike Pelfrey grew as a pitcher and person last year, managed a midsummer slump and became the Mets' de facto ace when Johan Santana suffered a serious shoulder injury in September.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MetsBlog.com
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Matt Holliday to undergo appendectomy — Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday will undergo an appendectomy today. — Holliday, who hit a solo home run in the opener, went home after the 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Padres and began feeling pain. — General manager John Mozeliak said the club …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Dave Allen / Baseball Analysts:
Comparing 2011 Division Projections — Last year before the 2010 season started I looked at how a couple different projection systems saw the season playing out. With this season just one day old, I wanted to do the same for the 2011 projections. Here I take a graphical look at the number …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and joy of sox
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Charlie Manuel tweaks Phillies opening-day lineup — Ninety-four times last season, Charlie Manuel changed the batting order of his lineup. Injuries, ineffectiveness, and indecision prompted a new combination regularly. Yet his starting eight was arranged in exactly the same way for Game 1 as it was in Game 162.
Associated Press:
Dodgers Beat World Series Champion Giants 2-1 — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw struck out nine in seven dominant innings and Matt Kemp scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by catcher Buster Posey in the sixth, sending the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 victory …
Discussion:
USA Today, Hardball Times, True Blue LA, Associated Press, Batter's Box Interactive … and Yahoo! Sports
Toronto Sun:
Jays have a gambling chance for second place — As a baseball fan (I hate the word!), hope springs eternal for the Toronto Blue Jays—as it does on opening day every year. — This year, however, is a bit different — and not just because it's April Fool's Day. — First of all, let's clarify the “fan” aspect.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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
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