Top News:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Sources: MLB eyeing end to annual rival series — HOUSTON — Major League Baseball is working on a scheduling reconfiguration for the 2013 season and beyond that likely will eliminate the Mets and Yankees as well as other “natural rivals” playing home-and-home, six-game series annually, baseball sources told ESPNNewYork.com.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, baseballmusings.com and Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Associated Press:
David Ortiz continues to sizzle; Red Sox beat A's 11-6 — BOSTON - David Ortiz [stats] finished the best April of his career with a pair of solo homers, Mike Aviles hit a three-run shot and the Boston Red Sox [team stats] beat the Oakland Athletics 11-6 on Monday night.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Athletics Nation and Associated Press
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
APPRECIATING THE UNIQUENESS OF DAVID ORTIZ — CHICAGO — It was going to be fascinating. The Red Sox decision-makers admitted it. The agents for David Ortiz did the same. — The arbitration hearing for the Red Sox' designated hitter, scheduled to take place in February on the bottom floor …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster and HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Volstad Bounces Back After Rough 1st, Cubs Lose — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — If Chris Volstad could erase the first inning, his winless streak would be over. — Placido Polanco hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Associated Press
RELATED:
Zach Berman / Philly.com:
Juan Pierre: The new face of the Phillies?
Juan Pierre: The new face of the Phillies?
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Fred Goodall / Associated Press:
Johnson has RBI single in 12th, gives Ray win — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Elliot Johnson hit an RBI single with one out in the 12th inning, giving the Tampa Bay Rays a 3-2, comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night. — Playing before a crowd of just 9,458 …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, DRaysBay, Associated Press and ESPN
Andy Soltis / New York Post:
MLB to suspend Tigers' Young for anti-Semitic incident — Delmon Young during a court appearance on Friday night. — Yer out! — Major League Baseball has decided to suspend Detroit Tigers slugger Delmon Young because of his drunken anti-Semitic rant and arrest, two sources have told The Post.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, Getting Blanked, Bless You Boys and Baseball Nation
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rays Sign Hideki Matsui — The Rays announced that they signed Hideki Matsui to a minor league contract. Matsui, who turns 38 in June, will report to extended Spring Training on Wednesday. — “Over the past two decades, Hideki has been one of the most consistently productive hitters in the world …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Rangers handle Jays as Darvish dazzles again … TORONTO — Yu Darvish won his third straight start, Mitch Moreland and Craig Gentry homered and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 Monday night. — Darvish (4-0) allowed his first home run but remained unbeaten in five major league starts.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Bluebird Banter and ESPN
Associated Press:
Kuroda and the Yankees Block Off the Orioles — NEW YORK (AP) — Hiroki Kuroda pitched seven neat innings and teamed with catcher Russell Martin to nab Nick Markakis at the plate in the key play of the game, lifting the New York Yankees over the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 Monday night.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Pinstripe Alley and Boston Herald
Sam Miller / Baseball Prospectus:
Billy Hamilton is Very Fast — Since I watched Peter Bourjos hit a triple about a year ago, watching extremely fast baseball players run extremely fast has been my favorite part of baseball. Then this morning I read Kevin Goldstein's Ten Pack, which included this about Billy Hamilton:
Discussion:
HardballTalk and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Marlins grounds crew tries to revive fading turf in new ballpark … MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins hit the road for the next nine games, which will give their grounds crew some time to revive the fading turf at the team's new ballpark. — The grass has been turning brown because the retractable roof …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Dom Amore / Hartford Courant:
Manager On Matt Barnes: “He'll Be At Fenway In A Year Or Two” — UConn Product Impresses At Class A Greenville — Kyrell Hudson swung wildly and missed a shoulder-high fastball, and as he walked back to the dugout he kept staring back at Matt Barnes. — Not much to say. There was no trickery involved.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Associated Press:
Davis' RBI single gets Mets past Rockies 6-5 in 11 — DENVER—Ike Davis singled in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning and the New York Mets overcame two tying homers allowed by their bullpen to beat the Colorado Rockies 6-5 Sunday. — David Wright started the 11th with a single off Matt Belisle …
Discussion:
True Blue LA, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Andrew Keh / New York Times:
Mets 6, Rockies 5 (11 Innings): Mets Overcome Rockies in 11 Innings
Mets 6, Rockies 5 (11 Innings): Mets Overcome Rockies in 11 Innings
Discussion:
Purple Row
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Catcher Sanchez getting practice at first base — SAN FRANCISCO — Catcher Hector Sanchez has begun taking ground balls and throws at first base as part of manager Bruce Bochy's continuing effort to add roster flexibility. — A permanent position change is not imminent for Sanchez.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
RELATED: