Top News:
New York Post:
Yankees' Hughes struggling with velocity for weeks — Do you want the bad news or the worse news? — Do you want to hear that Phil Hughes lacked velocity or that he compounded it by being unable to locate? — Or do you want the really, really, really troubling news? That this has been going on for weeks.
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com and WasWatching.com
RELATED:
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Hughes' slow start means quick hook — Yankees to keep close eye on righty after Tigers feast on his not-so-ferocious fastball — NEW YORK — Phil Hughes knows he can't live under these speed limits. He makes too many mistakes to have his fastball consistently at 89-91 mph.
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible …, HardballTalk and South Side Sox
NY Daily News:
Madden: Concern grows fast over Hughes — All spring, Phil Hughes was the Yankee high command's silent worry. — The public posture was, yes, there are issues with the No. 4 and 5 spots in the rotation and, yes, A.J. Burnett has got to be straightened out.
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Phil Hughes hit hard by Tigers, Mark Teixeira & Jorge Posada homers aren't enough in 10-7 loss
Phil Hughes hit hard by Tigers, Mark Teixeira & Jorge Posada homers aren't enough in 10-7 loss
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jeff Blair / Globe and Mail:
Back to reality for Blue Jays — Toronto— From Monday's Globe and Mail — It was a frustrating end to a weekend when all your Toronto Blue Jays dreams seemed possible: First-pitch swinging Adam Lind hits a curveball that was Joe Nathan's 31st pitch of the inning, rolling out down the first-base line …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
RELATED:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Opponent really got the best of them — ARLINGTON, Texas — So far, this looks a little like the Charlie Sheen Torpedo of Truth tour. Is it possible to be mathematically eliminated before you play your home opener? — The Best Team Ever staggered through one of its worst opening weekends ever.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Red Sox Beacon, The Soxaholix and Associated Press
RELATED:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Salty gets ring during tough weekend
Salty gets ring during tough weekend
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster and Lone Star Ball
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Suppan returns to Royals on Minor League deal — Expected to provide depth, veteran to report to Triple-A Omaha — KANSAS CITY — After nine years, pitcher Jeff Suppan is back with the Royals. — Suppan, 36, signed a Minor League contract with Kansas City late Sunday night and will report …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Cora, Hairston set to start for Nats on Tuesday
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Kinsler, Cruz carve out slice of history with jacks — ARLINGTON — Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz continue to get off to a terrific start for the Rangers and are now making Major League history. — Kinsler and Cruz both hit home runs again on Sunday, becoming the first pair of teammates …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Batter's Box Interactive … and baseballmusings.com
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
MLB “authenticator” at Coors Field will monitor baseballs from humidor to game use — Major League Baseball has added trained eyes to eliminate suspicious minds. For the second time since September, the commissioner's office has modified how baseballs are removed from the Coors Field humidor and monitored during games.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Messy Giants Leave LA With 3 Losses in 4 Games — LOS ANGELES (AP) — The San Francisco Giants left Los Angeles having lost three of four games to the Dodgers for the first time since 2001 in a messy defensive series for the defending world champions. — The Giants committed five errors …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Revamped Orioles excited to open home slate — Arrieta honored to start at Camden Yards against Tigers — ST. PETERSBURG — A year ago, Jake Arrieta was in Minor League camp getting ready to start the season at Triple-A Norfolk. On Monday, the 25-year-old will christen Camden Yards …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers mulling fifth-starter choices — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers still plan to use a fifth starter next Sunday in San Diego and still plan to pick between John Ely, who is on the 40-man roster, and Tim Redding, who is not. — But manager Don Mattingly conceded Sunday that Jon Garland …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price open to long-term deal, but specifics remain elusive — Signing young, talented players to long-term deals, as the Rays did again last week with right-handed pitcher Wade Davis, is a way, and perhaps the only way, for the team to keep them around.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Rays Index and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Treanor's Homer Lifts Royals Over Angels in 13 — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Matt Treanor hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 13th inning to lift Kansas City over the Los Angeles Angels 12-9 on Sunday, the Royals' third straight victory in their last at-bat.
Discussion:
6-4-2, Yahoo! Sports and Chicago Breaking Sports
Associated Press:
After Ichiro's record night, Matsui follows with 2,500th hit — OAKLAND, Calif. — Mark Ellis drove in three runs to back Gio Gonzalez's strong 2011 debut and the Oakland Athletics avoided a season-opening weekend sweep by the AL West rival Seattle Mariners with a 7-1 win Sunday.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing