Top News:
Michael S. Schmidt / Bats:
Manny Ramirez Retires After Testing Positive — Manny Ramirez retired from baseball Friday instead of facing a 100-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, according to two people briefed on the matter. — Ramirez tested positive for the performance-enhancing …
Discussion:
NESN.com and Bleacher Report
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MLB:
MLB announces Manny Ramirez is retiring after drug issue — Tampa Bay Rays slugger Manny Ramirez has notified Major League Baseball that he is retiring after being notified of an issue under MLB's drug policy. — Ramirez — Ramirez tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug during spring training …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Bleacher Report, Baseball Nation, True Blue LA, Lone Star Ball, Associated Press and Deadspin
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Manny Ramirez Retires — Manny Ramirez has retired, Major League Baseball announced. MLB says it notified Ramirez of “an issue” under its drug program and that the longtime slugger decided to retire instead of continuing with the process. — Ramirez would have faced a 100-game suspension …
Discussion:
Diamond Hoggers
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Manny retires due to “issue” with drug test — Rays DH Manny Ramirez has retired after “an issue” with an MLB drug test. — Bill Shaikan of the Los Angeles Times posted on Twitter from a source that “Manny tested positive for banned substance, would have been facing 100-game suspension had he not retired (or succeeded in appeal).”
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Shocker: Manny Ramirez retires following a second positive drug test
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
Matt Pepin / Boston Globe:
Felix Doubront activated for game — Lefthanded pitcher Felix Doubront has been activated from the disabled list for today's game, the Globe's Peter Abraham reports from Fenway Park. — Lefthanded reliever Dennys Reyes was designated for assignment.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and SOX & Dawgs
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Crawford slides up to leadoff spot vs. Yankees — BOSTON — Carl Crawford has sure made his way around the batting order during his first week with the Red Sox. The left fielder moved up to the leadoff spot for Friday's home opener against the Yankees. — Jacoby Ellsbury …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
One low point after another
Discussion:
boston.stats.com, The Knobler Blog, Dan Shaughnessy Watch and Associated Press
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Boston Red Sox add Felix Doubront, Alfredo Aceves in 'pen shuffle
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog and Boston Globe
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Is It Time to Panic in Boston?
Discussion:
Boston Globe, NESN.com, Replacement Level …, Over the Monster, Pinstripe Alley, joy of sox, River Avenue Blues, The Big Lead, Full Count and YFSF
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Storen getting job done with heat — Potential closer using fastball to great effect for Nationals — NEW YORK — Of the four Nationals relievers who pitched in Thursday's 5-3 victory over the Marlins, right-hander Drew Storen was arguably the most dominating. He pitched two shutout innings and struck out three batters.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ramos to become primary Nationals catcher — Hot-hitting youngster to see more time; Pudge to backup role — NEW YORK — Before his team started a three-game series against the Mets, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman indicated that catcher Wilson Ramos will get most of the playing time …
UC Berkeley NewsCenter:
Baseball program will continue at UC Berkeley — BERKELEY — The University of California, Berkeley, baseball program will continue to represent the campus as an Intercollegiate Athletics sport, now and into the future, as the result of a successful and ongoing fundraising effort on the part of alumni …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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Associated Press:
Tigers Beat Royals 5-2 in Home Opener — DETROIT (AP) — Victor Martinez hit a three-run double in his first home at-bat for the Detroit Tigers, helping his new team to a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday. — Martinez, who signed with Detroit in November …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Royals Review and Associated Press
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Adam J. Morris / Lone Star Ball:
Jim Palmer — The Most Overrated Pitcher of All Time? — Everyone here knows who Jim Palmer is. One of the all-time greats, a legend. — Palmer spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles, where he won the Cy Young Award three times, finished second twice, third once, and fifth two more times.
Philly.com:
Phillies Notes: Phillies' Halladay will settle for a grounder over a strikeout — The situation called for a strikeout, but Roy Halladay said he doesn't think that way. Bases loaded, one out, David Wright at the plate in a third inning that was on the verge of turning ugly.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Nishioka breaks leg on Swisher's hard slide — Twins second baseman, Yanks outfielder exhibit professionalism — NEW YORK — The differences between the big league baseball played in this country and the professional ball in Japan are not always subtle. Some are merely pleasant nuances …
Discussion:
Toeing the RubberToeing …
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