Top News:
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 …
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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, USA Today and Bleacher Report
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
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Ortiz on Manny: 'It's sad, man' — Not just any baseball news would trump the Red Sox' 9-6 victory over the Yankees in their home opener after six straight road losses to open the season. — But Manny Ramirez's sudden retirement — after the MLB announced he was facing a second suspension …
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Manny retires due to “issue” with drug test
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Shocker: Manny Ramirez retires following a second positive drug test
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
Associated Press:
Pedroia lifts Red Sox to 1st win, 9-6 over Yanks — The Red Sox [team stats] ended their worst losing streak to start a season since World War II as Dustin Pedroia [stats] homered and drove in three runs to lift Boston to a 9-6 win over the New York Yankees in the 100th home opener at Fenway Park [map] today.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Boston Globe and Boston Herald
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Crawford slides up to leadoff spot vs. Yankees
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Matt Pepin / Boston Globe:
Felix Doubront activated for game
Discussion:
Over the Monster and SOX & Dawgs
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
One low point after another
Discussion:
boston.stats.com, The Knobler Blog, Associated Press and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Boston Red Sox add Felix Doubront, Alfredo Aceves in 'pen shuffle
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog and Boston Globe
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:
Giants hold on in 12 innings to beat Cardinals in home opener — SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants raised the flag and the Cardinals dropped the ball. — Aaron Rowand hit a game-winning single off the left-field wall with the bases loaded in the 12th inning and the Giants celebrated raising …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, McCovey Chronicles and Associated Press
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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Jon Krawczynski / Associated Press:
Mauer, Span rally Twins to win over A's — MINNEAPOLIS—Joe Mauer and Denard Span delivered RBI singles in the eighth inning against the superb Brett Anderson to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 2-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics in their home opener on Friday.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
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.
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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