Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Tape of Sheppard to introduce Jeter — Legendary ‘Voice of Yankee Stadium’ will announce captain — NEW YORK — Bob Sheppard's voice will be at Yankee Stadium after all for Monday's season opener, the final Opening Day in the ballpark's history — although he will be heard for just one batter.
Discussion:
The Bronx Stop
RELATED:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
For Yanks and Fans, One More Day to Wait — Yankee Stadium has never played host to a regular-season baseball game in March, and now it never will. Judging by the raw and soggy conditions in the Bronx on Monday, it may be just as well. — The final opening day at Yankee Stadium was rained …
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Final opener at Yankee Stadium postponed — NEW YORK (AP)—The beginning of the end will have to wait. — The final opening day at Yankee Stadium was postponed because of rain Monday, pushing back New York's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. — The game was rescheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday …
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:ONCE MORE ... WITH FEELING — EMOTIONS HIGH FOR FINAL OPENERIN RUTH'S HOUSE
Discussion:
My Pinstripes
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Roberts provides spark at top of lineup — O's leadoff hitter reaches gets on four times and steals a base — Brian Roberts lost his best friend on the team when the Orioles released Jay Gibbons over the weekend. He's been subjected to constant speculation about his future …
Discussion:
The Transaction Guy
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Childs Walker / Baltimore Sun:
Pessimistic fans show up for opener — O's faithful skeptical about team's prospects in ‘08 but still in love with baseball — Some came because they believe Andy MacPhail is a man with a plan. Some came hoping to see Adam Jones’ first step to greatness. Some came because they love baseball and Opening Day is just a habit.
Discussion:
Associated Press
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Back from D.C. ... is it opening day? — Now that the Braves have done a whirlwind trip to D.C., helped open a new park and provided almost no offensive support for Tim Hudson (sound familiar?), time to open the season for real tonight against the Pirates at Turner Field. — What's that?
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Opening Third Day is Here — Our long winter wait has finally come to an end. After a couple of “for real” games in Japan as well as the stateside opening night unveiling Washington's new ballpark yesterday, we get treated to a full slate of games for the first time in six months.
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
RELATED:
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:Games of the Day — The third and real opening day takes place today …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Saga of No. 21 begins with respect — Ensberg defers to O'Neill; Hawkins wears number for Clemente — NEW YORK — Twenty-one is one of those numbers that carries a little extra meaning in the eye of the beholder. It can be blackjack, it's the legal age to buy a beer at Yankee Stadium, and — for many fans — it's Paul O'Neill.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
Paul Newberry / Associated Press:
Spiezio, cut after offseason troubles, signs minor league deal with Braves — ATLANTA (AP)—Scott Spiezio will try to return to the majors with a team that rarely takes a chance on troubled players. — Spiezio agreed Monday to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves …
Associated Press:
Cubs' Zambrano leaves with forearm cramp — CHICAGO (AP)—Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano left Monday's opener against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning with a cramp in his right forearm, right after making a pickoff throw to second base. — Milwaukee's Bill Hall hit a one-out double …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Kielty mulling trip to Minors — Outfielder might jump at big league job if one is available — LOS ANGELES — When the Red Sox depart for Oakland following Sunday's game with the Dodgers, right fielder Bobby Kielty will relocate to his Southern California home for the next couple of days …
RELATED:
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
Professor Puts a Face on the Performance of Baseball Managers — The baseball season began in earnest this week, with 750 major league players and 2,430 games ready to collide and create countless millions of data — which the game's devotees (who have included Nobel laureates) …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Dave Hyde / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' $21 million payroll is insulting — Ah, Opening Day. The crack of the bat. The smack of the glove. The Marlins fan looking over the new roster and asking, full of optimism, “Will any team be more profitable?” — Because let's not lie. Let's not ignore the 800-pound gorilla …
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Samara Pearlstein / Roar of the Tigers:
Happy New Year! (ignore the outcome, concentrate on the fact that there's baseball) — Is this the tradition now? The Tigers enjoy the concept of Opening Day so much that they can't stand the thought of only having 9 innings of it? Remember last year, which went, what, 10 innings? before Fernando Rodney blew it.
Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Nats score 5 in 9th, beat Phillies 11-6 — PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The Washington Nationals took their late-inning act on the road. — Nick Johnson's tiebreaking RBI double off Tom Gordon highlighted a five-run ninth inning and the Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-6 Monday.
Awful Announcing:
FUK U DOME! Clap Clap ClapClapClap!!! — So how about this for an American debut. 3-3, Double, BB, 3 RBIs oh and this.... “A star is born in the teeth of the Lake Michigan wind.” - Brent Musburger — Kerry Wood had tried to blow the game for the Cubs followed in turn by Eric Gagne doing the same for the Brewers.
