Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
On Day 1, a 2011 echo — Sox rally in opener, then fall to Tigers in 9th — Alfredo Aceves walked off after surrendering the winning hit as the Tigers celebrated behind him. Coverage, C1. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) — Jonathan Papelbon was in Pittsburgh, setting down the Pirates 1-2-3 …
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
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Associated Press:
Tigers Overcome Valverde Slip, Beat Red Sox 3-2 — DETROIT (AP) — Jose Valverde figured this day was coming. At some point, the jovial closer was finally going to blow a save and end a streak that dated to 2010. — When he gave up a ninth-inning lead Thursday in Detroit's season opener against Boston …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Notes: Bard, Lester, Padilla
Red Sox Notes: Bard, Lester, Padilla
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Detroit Free Press, Over the Monster, Boston Globe and baseballmusings.com
Clark Spencer / MiamiHerald.com:
Lance Berkman: Marlins Park too spacious for homers — CINCINNATI — Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman predicted to reporters Wednesday that hitting a home run at Marlins Park is so difficult that one day soon they will have to shorten the distance to the fences.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Joe Kay / Associated Press:
Cueto leads Reds over Marlins 4-0 — CINCINNATI—Jay Bruce homered and drove in a pair of runs, and Johnny Cueto dominated in his first opening-day start, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday before one of their biggest crowds.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and Yahoo! Sports
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Flu knocks Kershaw out of Dodgers' opener — SAN DIEGO — Dodgers Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw was removed from his Opening Day start in the fourth inning on Thursday against the Padres with the stomach flu. — Kershaw, appearing stiff and struggling to reach 90 mph with his fastball …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
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Associated Press:
Volquez Walks in 2 Runs, Loses Padres Debut — SAN DIEGO (AP) — It wasn't a great day for starting pitchers at Petco Park, especially for San Diego's Edinson Volquez. — Volquez walked in the Los Angeles Dodgers' first two runs and the Padres went on to a 5-3 loss on Thursday.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Kirk Nieuwenhuis expected to join Mets — Kirk Nieuwenhuis is expected to join the Mets when Andres Torres is placed on the disabled list on Saturday, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. — Torres strained his calf muscle chasing a ball in the right-centerfield gap during today's game, forcing him to exit early.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Discussion:
NY Daily News, Amazin' Avenue, MetsBlog.com, New Jersey Online, HardballTalk and New York Times
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs interested in Nationals lefty John Lannan — Geovany Soto congratulates Ian Stewart (left), who scored the Cubs' lone run on Marlon Byrd's single in the fourth inning. John J. Kim~Sun-Times — The Cubs aren't done putting together their early-season roster.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Baseball Nation and HardballTalk
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
White Sox To Sign Kip Wells — We'll keep track of the day's minor moves right here... - The White Sox agreed to sign right-hander Kip Wells to a minor league deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. Wells, 34, last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2009.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
Will Graves / Associated Press:
Halladay cruises, Phillies beat Pirates 1-0 — PITTSBURGH—If only Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies had gotten this 1-0 win last October. — Halladay was nearly flawless for eight innings Thursday and the Phillies showed off their pitching from the start, opening a new season by edging the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
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Globe and Mail:
Blue Jays triumph in longest opening day game in baseball history — J.P. Arencibia's three-run homer in the 16th inning sent the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday in the longest opening-day game in major league history. — Arencibia was for 6 …
Discussion:
Plain Dealer, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Larry Granillo / Baseball Prospectus:
It's Groundhog Day, Bob. Who're You Gonna Call? — Look for an “Opening Day(s)” Tater Trot Tracker post this weekend. Before I get a chance at that, though, I couldn't pass up the brilliance that occurred this afternoon at Wrigley Field. — As is fairly typical for the first game of the season …