Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats won't ask Desmond to change approach — WASHINGTON — Entering Sunday's action against the Braves, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond was 0-for-9 with no walks at the leadoff spot. — The Nationals don't want Desmond to change his approach at the plate. They want him to be aggressive, according to hitting coach Rick Eckstein.
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Burnett has significant role in Nats' relief corps — WASHINGTON — Nationals manager Jim Riggleman came close to naming left-hander Sean Burnett the team's closer on Saturday. — Burnett picked up his first save, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Braves.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Cora, Hairston set to start for Nats on Tuesday — WASHINGTON — Because of the two off-days in less than a week, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman hasn't been able to give his bench enough playing time. Only outfielder Laynce Nix had been able to get official at-bats entering Sunday's action.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Saltalamacchia gets ring from Rangers — ARLINGTON — One day after the Rangers received their American League championship rings, Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia got his on Sunday morning. — Rangers general manager Jon Daniels came into Boston's clubhouse and personally presented Saltalamacchia with his ring.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Kinsler, Beltre go deep as Rangers beat up on Red Sox
Kinsler, Beltre go deep as Rangers beat up on Red Sox
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Associated Press, Lone Star Ball and Boston Globe
Jeff Wilson / Dallas Morning News:
Tee party: Rangers bash Boston again, 12-5
Tee party: Rangers bash Boston again, 12-5
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog
NY Daily News:
For once, the joke is on Brian Cashman, Yankees in signing of former Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano — MIAMI - In one gilded corner: the royal spendthrifts from the Bronx, with their haughty pennants flapping in the breeze, their self-important Yankeeographies and their fancy 2-and-0 start this season.
Discussion:
New York Post, Real Dirty Mets and NorthJersey.com
RELATED:
Tim Reynolds / Associated Press:
Mets score 3 in the 10th, hold off Marlins 6-4
Mets score 3 in the 10th, hold off Marlins 6-4
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Fish Stripes, Yahoo! Sports and CBS New York
Mike Mazzeo / ESPN:
Brian Cashman: New York Mets' usage of LHP Pedro Feliciano ‘abusive’
Brian Cashman: New York Mets' usage of LHP Pedro Feliciano ‘abusive’
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Deadspin, Tedquarters and MetsBlog.com
Globe and Mail:
Twins win stops Jays sweep — The Minnesota Twins salvaged the finale of a three-game series against Toronto by hanging on to defeat the Blue Jays 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre. — Danny Valencia and Denard Span homered while starter Nick Blackburn (1-) threw five-plus effective innings …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Bluebird Banter and Canadian Press
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Indians turn triple play against White Sox — CLEVELAND — It unlikely that Carlos Santana will forget his debut as a first baseman for the Indians. — Manning first for the first time in his Major League career, Santana helped begin a triple play during the fourth inning of Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Phil Hughes hit hard by Tigers, Mark Teixeira & Jorge Posada homers aren't enough in 10-7 loss — Sunday, Phil Hughes said he was not worried about his dwindling velocity in spring training. All Yankee manager Joe Girardi would say was that he was curious, but not worried, about the speed of the young righthander's fastball.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Lee fans 11 in debut as Phillies beat Astros — PHILADELPHIA — In his first game back with the Phillies in front of fans who adore him, Cliff Lee even heard cheers after striking out. — Lee can do no wrong in Philadelphia. — The lefty struck out 11 in seven impressive innings …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and The Good Phight
RELATED:
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
A first looms for Oswalt: Facing the Astros
A first looms for Oswalt: Facing the Astros
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball, Phillies Nation and The Good Phight
Mike Mazzeo / ESPN:
Derek Jeter ties Al Simmons on hits list — NEW YORK — On Opening Day, Derek Jeter put his much-maligned 2010 season behind him. On Saturday, he picked up his first two hits of the 2011 campaign. — The New York Yankees shortstop went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored in his team's 10-6 win over the Detroit Tigers.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
LHP Jaime Garcia bats 8th for Cardinals — ST. LOUIS — Matt Holliday's injury convinced St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to bat his pitcher eighth for the first time this season. — La Russa said if Holliday were healthy he would have used a standard lineup card Sunday …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Viva El Birdos
Associated Press:
Britton pitches six effective innings as Orioles sweep Rays — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Zach Britton pitched six sharp innings in his major league debut while J.J. Hardy hit a two-run double as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 on Sunday to complete a season-opening three-game sweep.
Discussion:
Camden Chat and Associated Press
RELATED:
Fred Goodall / Associated Press:
Tillman, Roberts lead Orioles past Rays
Tillman, Roberts lead Orioles past Rays
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Yahoo! Sports
Globe and Mail:
Suzuki becomes Mariners career hits leader — Ichiro Suzuki had two infield hits to become Seattle's career leader, including a bouncer in the ninth that drove in the go-ahead run in the Mariners' 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night. — Suzuki reached on an infield single …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
BetFirms:
Baseball Lines — The BetFirms free baseball lines feed comes from five of the top online sportsbooks in the world. All of the MLB betting sites listing their odds below have been tested and researched so you know that you will be able to deposit your money quickly, your funds will be safe …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Richard Sandomir / Bats:
A Prank on the Mets, but SNY Isn't Laughing — Through two late-season collapses in 2007 and 2008 and then the last two sub-.500 seasons, the Mets have endured plenty of criticism and no little bit of mockery. — But on Friday night, an employee of SNY, the Mets' network, played a prank …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online, The Big Lead and SNY