Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Impressions of the Opener — Here is what I really liked: — • The Yankees had the retired numbers painted on a wall in left field and the list of 26 championships painted on a wall in right field. The retired numbers are too small. But it's a start.
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Ian O'Connor / NorthJersey.com:
Boss enjoys Yanks' new digs — NEW YORK — George Steinbrenner was getting a ride in an oversized golf cart on his way out of Yankee Stadium when asked for his first impressions of his new $1.5 billion home. — “It's beautiful,” the owner said. — He was wearing a jacket and tie, and the usual dark shades over his eyes.
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Cubs' Milton Bradley faces suspension — Supposed contact with umpire could cause problem — Milton Bradley argues with home plate umpire Larry Vanover. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast / April 16, 2009) — Milton Bradley's Wrigley Field debut Thursday could result in his first suspension wearing a Cubs uniform.
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
After winning big game, St. Louis Cardinals' P.J. Walters on hot seat — He makes debut Friday against Chicago Cubs and Carlos Zambrano — It isn't quite like the “old” days when Matt Morris and Dusty Baker had a way of stirring things up, and it isn't like the middle of the summer when fans …
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Behind the rise of Emilio Bonifacio — Emilio Bonifacio was in Class A and 21 years old, playing for the Lancaster Jethawks, and he earnestly asked his manager a question. “Skip, did you ever play in the big leagues?” Bonifacio inquired. — “Yeah, a little bit,” said Brett Butler …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 11: Indians at Yankees — YANKEES (5-5) — Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 1.50). — INDIANS (3-7) — Sizemore CF — DeRosa 3B — Martinez C — Hafner DH — Garko 1B — Choo RF — Francisco LF — Graffanino 2B — Cabrera SS — Pitching: RHP Anthony Reyes (1-0, 6.00)
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Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
New York Yankees call up Juan Miranda; Hideki Matsui out of lineup … NEW YORK — Quick notes. Details to come. — Mark Teixeira fells “ten times better” after his cortisone shot on Thursday. Hideki Matsui does not. He's out of the lineup with fluid on his left knee.
MLB:
Ailing Hideki Matsui unable to play field for New York Yankees — NEW YORK — Hideki Matsui's surgically repaired left knee has filled with fluid, causing the banged-up New York Yankees to recall first baseman Juan Miranda from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. — Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Friday …
Amy K. Nelson / MLB:
The events leading up to Nick Adenhart's death — A memorial was set up at the Fullerton intersection for those who were in the car with Nick Adenhart. — Editor's Note: The times listed below are exact in some cases and approximate in others, based on the recollections of those interviewed for this story.
Joe Posnanski:
The Curious Case of Mike Jacobs — I have no idea what direction this post is going to go because, frankly, I'm not entirely certain what I'm feeling. I think there's a point in here somewhere. I can't promise that I'll find that point. — Begin with this: I think everyone here knows how I feel about Mike Jacobs.
Discussion:
Florida Marlins
Kary Booher / Baseball America:
Friday Dish: Rogers Is Back — Had a tourist passing through northeastern Florida on Thursday veered off to the city of Viera just to say they wanted to catch the high Brevard County Manatees (Brewers) against the Tampa Yankees, they may have assumed the Manatees' starting pitcher had really ticked off the bench.
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
The Bonifacio Trade, Revisited, Pt. I — Josh Willingham's home run last night — a solo shot in the seventh — was just one of four during the game, no more important than the others. Except for this: It enlarged the Nats lead (from 3-2 to 4-2) just enough to allow for a half-exhale.
Discussion:
ESPN
Zach Berman / Washington Post:
For Nats, It's the Power Of One — Team Hits 4 HRs For First Victory: Nationals 8, Phillies 2 — The news scrolled across the marquee of a baseball highlights show playing in the Washington Nationals' clubhouse after last night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
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Dave Allen / Baseball Analysts:
What Did We Know This Time Last Year? — This early in the season the leader and laggard boards often have some interesting names, and it is fun to theorize which of these are legatimate breakouts (or breakdowns) and which are small sample size flukes. The pitchf/x data adds a powerful tool in helping use with this classification.
The Big Lead:
Q&A with Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch — After two months of weekly interviews, we took a brief respite during the NCAA tournament. And now, we're back. Today: longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz took some time this week to answer a few of our questions.