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
Peter Barzilai / USA Today:
Manny Ramirez retires after MLB notifies him of drug-policy issue — Manny Ramirez has announced his retirement after being notified by Major League Baseball of an issue relating to the sport's drug policy. — Ramirez, who was in his first season with the Tampa Bay Rays …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Bleacher Report, Projo Sox Blog, YFSF, River Avenue Blues and Around the Majors
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 …
Andrew Seligman / Associated Press:
Manny retires, Rays rally past White Sox 9-7 — CHICAGO—Dan Johnson hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run ninth, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for their first win of the season hours after Manny Ramirez retired, beating the Chicago White Sox 9-7 Friday night.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, DRaysBay and Associated Press
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Soriano reflects on history with Manny — MILWAUKEE — Alfonso Soriano said he was one of many who used to respect Manny Ramirez because of the type of hitter he was and was saddened by the news that the outfielder reportedly tested positive for drug use. Ramirez announced his retirement Friday.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Manny Ramirez Retires
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Manny retires after notification of drug issue
Manny retires after notification of drug issue
Discussion:
ESPN, Babes Love Baseball and joy of sox
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Shocker: Manny Ramirez retires following a second positive drug test
Shocker: Manny Ramirez retires following a second positive drug test
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Manny retires due to “issue” with drug test
Manny retires due to “issue” with drug test
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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:
Boston Herald, Yahoo! Sports and Boston Globe
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Twins Prevail Over Athletics; Nishioka Avoids Surgery — BOSTON — The Yankees were not worried about Boston's slow start, and with good reason. They have their own problems. Primarily, their No. 3 starter, Phil Hughes, who struggled through another miserable outing Friday afternoon at Fenway Park.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Crawford slides up to leadoff spot vs. Yankees
Crawford slides up to leadoff spot vs. Yankees
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
One low point after another
One low point after another
Discussion:
boston.stats.com, The Knobler Blog, Associated Press and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Circumstance says stomp out pomp
Circumstance says stomp out pomp
Discussion:
Sox #1 Fan dot com and HardballTalk
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Wells, in new cleats, ready to get going — ANAHEIM — Vernon Wells finally was all dressed up and ready for the big dance. — “I've got my shoes,” the Angels' new left fielder said on Friday afternoon as a clubhouse attendant handed him a brand new pair of personalized baseball cleats complete with his own logo.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
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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
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:
Viva El Birdos, McCovey Chronicles, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
Charles Odum / Associated Press:
Jones, Braves beat Lee, Phillies, 6-3 — ATLANTA—Chipper Jones hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the fourth inning off Cliff Lee and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Friday night in their home opener. — Jones had two hits, giving him 2,500 for his career.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Talking Chop
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Musial has been battling Alzheimer's, reports say — Stan Musial, the 90-year-old Cardinals icon, has been fighting a battle that few knew about for the last several years — Alzheimer's disease, two published reports said. — Musial has had to endure the effects of Alzheimer's disease since he was in his …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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:
baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Pirates Outlast Rockies 4-3 in 14 — PITTSBURGH (AP) — By the time Jose Tabata delivered his game-winning double, Friday turned to Saturday, Todd Helton went from being out of the lineup with a stiff back to in it as a pinch-hitter, and a crowd of 29,000 was reduced to a few die-hards.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
R.A. cracks nail, is hammered by Nats — Knuckleballer lasts five innings after rousing pregame applause at Mets' home opener — NEW YORK — R.A. Dickey successfully pitches without the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Yet a cracked fingernail undermined his outing Friday …
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mets knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey prepares emotionally to start 2011 home opener at Citi Field
Mets knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey prepares emotionally to start 2011 home opener at Citi Field
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, ESPN, Amazin' Avenue, MetsBlog.com and Bats
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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Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Boston Red Sox add Felix Doubront, Alfredo Aceves in 'pen shuffle
Boston Red Sox add Felix Doubront, Alfredo Aceves in 'pen shuffle
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog and Boston Globe
Associated Press:
Indians Ruin Mariners' Home Opener With 12-3 Rout — SEATTLE (AP) — Travis Hafner had an RBI single and hit a three-run homer that nearly reached the third-deck of seats as part of Cleveland's 10-run fourth inning, and the Indians won their fifth straight with a 12-3 rout of the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports