Top News:
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
First Pitch at Yankee Stadium? Yogi, of Course — If the Yankees had picked anybody else to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at their new stadium Thursday, it just wouldn't have seemed right. Yogi Berra, 83 years young, will do the honors before the Yankees host Cleveland at 1:05 p.m.
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MLB.com:
Yankee Stadium To Be Inaugurated With First-Ever Regular Season Game — Yogi Berra To Throw Out First Pitch; Kelly Clarkson To Sing National Anthem — The New York Yankees will inaugurate Yankee Stadium with its first-ever regular season game on Thursday, April 16 at 1:05 p.m. ET vs. the Cleveland Indians.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 9: Yankees at Rays (with Xavier Nady update) — YANKEES (4-4) — Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (1-0, 1.29). — RAYS (4-4) — Upton CF — Crawford LF — Burrell DH — Pena 1B — Aybar 3B — Bartlett SS — Kapler RF — Hernandez C — Iwamura 2B
Discussion:
The Voice of Yankees Universe, YanksBlog.com, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre …, Fox Sports, Baseball & The Boogie Down, River Avenue Blues, New York Yankees Fan Blog, My Pinstripes, ESPN, Pinstripes, Pa., The 'Ropolitans, The Yankee Universe, Confessions of a She-Fan, Heartland Pinstripes, Mike Silva's …, MLB Rumors, The Fowl Balls, Respect Jeter's Gangster, WasWatching.com, bronxbanterblog.com and Bottom9 Baseball
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady headed to disabled list, could be done for season — ST. PETERSBURG - Xavier Nady's time in pinstripes appears to be headed for a sudden end, as the outfielder's first full season with the Yankees is likely over. — Nady underwent an MRI Wednesday morning in Tampa …
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Matsuzaka goes to DL, Jones recalled — The Red Sox have placed Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a mild right shoulder strain and recalled lefthanded reliever Hunter Jones from Pawtucket. — The news hardly comes as a surprise after Matsuzaka's alarmingly ineffective …
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Sports Illustrated:
Rangers' Kinsler hits for cycle — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -Ian Kinsler became the fourth player in Texas Rangers history to hit for the cycle, reaching the feat with a triple in the sixth inning Wednesday night against Baltimore. — That made him 5-for-5, the five hits matching a career high.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Orioles put Mora, Simon on DL — Buzz up! — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Right-hander Alfredo Simon and third baseman Melvin Mora were put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday by the Baltimore Orioles, who anticipate being without the rookie starting pitcher for a much longer period.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Kershaw dominant with 13 strikeouts — but will Dodgers hang on? — Except for one pitch, Clayton Kershaw absolutely destroyed the Giants in his seven innings tonight. He struck out 13, becoming the youngest in Los Angeles Dodger history to reach that total.
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Watching Yankee Games Through a Net — Yankees fans will learn Thursday on YES (and nationally on the MLB Network) if they will be watching part of each game through a net. — The netting is behind the catcher, making the high home plate camera shoot the game through it.
NY Daily News:
Bondy: At new Stadium, few Creature comforts — Scratch a Bleacher Creature and you'll find an intuitive architectural critic. While the Creatures are grateful for certain well-earned courtesies extended by the Yankees, the fans didn't ask for such a flawed new mansion. — Frankly, this is far from an upgrade.
Discussion:
The Mets Police
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Kuroda unlikely to return soon — Dodgers starter still feeling discomfort in left side — LOS ANGELES — Dodgers Opening Day starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is recovering slowly from a strained left oblique muscle and is not expected to be activated when he's eligible next Wednesday.
NY Daily News:
Jeter knocks in game-winner as Yanks rally past Rays — ST. PETERSBURG, Florida - The road-weary Yankees headed to their new home on a high note. — Andy Pettitte pitched into the eighth inning, Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer and Derek Jeter singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth …
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Starting 9: Overcoming long odds — The first week of the 2009 Major League Baseball season brought unspeakable sadness. In a span of five days, Nick Adenhart, Harry Kalas and Mark Fidrych all passed, leaving legions of fans to remember and mourn. If there's a silver lining …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
After ‘long day’ Byrnes ducks out early — Slumping outfielder had walk-off hit in Tuesday's win — PHOENIX — Eric Byrnes said his quick departure from the clubhouse following Tuesday's 10-inning win had nothing to do with being unhappy with the media or D-backs fans. — “It was just a long night,” he said.
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Unfriendly confines? Milton Bradley aware of Wrigley reputation for racial taunts — Potential storm in forecast as volatile outfielder meets fans known for racist taunts, but Bradley sure he can handle bleacher creatures — Milton Bradley says he's aware of Wrigley Field's reputation …
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, wrigleyville23, Chicago Tribune, Deadspin and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Baseball America:
Scout's Diary: I'm Here To Work — For scouts, ‘can I ask you a question’ is a loaded phrase — By A pro scout — This diary is about the life of a scout, not about what that scout sees or the inner-workings of what he does. That stuff is pretty much classified, unfortunately.