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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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:
Boston Globe, South Side Sox, DRaysBay and Associated Press
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
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Ortiz on Manny: 'It's sad, man'
Ortiz on Manny: 'It's sad, man'
Discussion:
Sox #1 Fan dot com and Boston Herald
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Manny Ramirez retires after MLB notifies him of drug-policy ‘issue’
Manny Ramirez retires after MLB notifies him of drug-policy ‘issue’
Discussion:
Associated Press, Bleacher Report and YFSF
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Manny retires after notification of drug issue
Manny retires after notification of drug issue
Discussion:
ESPN, joy of sox and Babes Love Baseball
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Manny Ramirez Retires
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
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Angels put Scott Kazmir on DL — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels placed struggling left-hander Scott Kazmir on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his lower back following Friday's 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. — The move buys the Angels some time as they figure …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Associated Press:
Nix hits eighth inning home run as Jays edge Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. - Jayson Nix hit a tie-breaking two-out homer in the eighth inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays spoiled the Los Angeles Angels' home opener with a 3-2 victory Friday night. — Adam Lind hit a tying two-run double …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and TSN.ca
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
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 Globe, Boston Herald and Yahoo! Sports
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Twins Prevail Over Athletics; Nishioka Avoids Surgery
Twins Prevail Over Athletics; Nishioka Avoids Surgery
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
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
Matt Pepin / Boston Globe:
Felix Doubront activated for game
Felix Doubront activated for game
Discussion:
Over the Monster and SOX & Dawgs
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
One low point after another
One low point after another
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, The Knobler Blog, boston.stats.com, Associated Press, HardballTalk and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa, others get a scare in the air — SAN FRANCISCO — A private plane carrying eight team members, including manager Tony La Russa and four players, made a forced landing at Spirit of St. Louis Airport on Thursday after the plane's cabin failed to pressurize.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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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 and Yahoo! Sports
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
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:
Talking Chop and The Good Phight
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:
Let's Go Tribe, Associated Press 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
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:
Dodgers-Padres Suspended Due to Rain — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Friday night's game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres was suspended after the fourth rain delay, with the score tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth inning. — The final delay began at 1:13 a.m. on a long …
Discussion:
True Blue LA