Top News:
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Cool, calm Lowe tosses gem in debut — Righty throws eight scoreless innings, gets early support — PHILADELPHIA — With a frenzied crowd prepared to bring the defending World Series champion Phillies into the 2009 season, Derek Lowe wasn't provided the best setting to make a good first impression …
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Archie Bunker's Army, Ken Davidoff's baseball … and Sons of Steve Garvey
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Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Lowe's performance leads Braves over Phillies 4-1 — Buzz up! — PHILADELPHIA (AP)—If Derek Lowe had been this dominant last October, the Philadelphia Phillies might not be World Series champions. — Lowe pitched eight superb innings, three Braves homered off Brett Myers …
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Schafer homers in first career at-bat — Center fielder: ‘I felt like I was floating. It was awesome’ — PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Schafer spent the past seven weeks attempting to prove that he was ready for the Majors. It took him just one at-bat to indicate that the Braves were wise to provide him this opportunity.
Associated Press:
Lowe, Braves dominate Phillies, win MLB season-opener — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Once the Philadelphia Phillies finished celebrating their World Series title, the Atlanta Braves spoiled the rest of the opening-night party. — Derek Lowe pitched eight superb innings, three Braves homered off Brett Myers …
Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
Astros eager to open at home, face Cubs' Zambrano — Club thinks this time it will be fair fight with Cubs' Zambrano — As Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano visits Minute Maid Park to start the 2009 season, it's impossible to forget he was part of the Astros' lowest point last year.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Incredible shrinking payroll: 14 MLB teams cut back — Fourteen of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball will have a lower opening-day payroll than a year ago, according to USA TODAY's annual salary survey. — Ten of the 14 teams are cutting their 25-man-roster budget by at least $10 million.
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Mets' bitter past brings sweet motivation to 2009 opener … Jerry Manuel doesn't support the notion that the heartache endured over the last few seasons no longer matters for the Mets. — Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS; two straight September collapses thereafter; a disaster of a bullpen …
Kurt Streeter / Los Angeles Times:
Jose Canseco continues to take shots — Revelations about baseball's steroid era have given credibility to the former slugger's claims . . . and he has suspicions about Manny Ramirez. Still, few are there to listen during a talk at USC. — Here sits the great baseball sage Jose Canseco …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Clement ends comeback bid with Jays — Righty plans to retire after nine seasons in the Majors — TORONTO — Matt Clement's comeback has come to a close. The veteran pitcher informed the Blue Jays on Sunday that he plans to retire from baseball after spending the past three years attempting …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Melvin tweaks opening lineup — D-backs manager to sit Upton, Reynolds in matchup move — PHOENIX — In case anyone doubted just how serious Bob Melvin was about putting his best nine players on the field each game, the D-backs manager announced on Sunday that his Opening Day lineup …
Richard / SportsJustice:
It's Opening Day, and isn't that the best news you've heard in awhile? — It's the little things. It's Lance Berkman walking into the clubhouse in jeans and boots each and everyday, with a smile on his face and a friendly word for everyone. It's Hunter Pence's endless energy, relentless work ethic and desire to be great.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
This year, there's no doubting the Rays — BOSTON — The Tampa Bay Rays played their first 10 openers with low expectations, and for good reason: They lost early and often in their first decade in the majors, never finishing better than next-to-last or even approaching a winning record.
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