Top News:
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Josh Hamilton rips four 2-run HRs — BALTIMORE — Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton's torrid 2012 season now includes his first career four-home-run game, all of them two-run shots. — Hamilton, who turns 31 later in May, hit three two-run homers through his first four at-bats during Tuesday's …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Camden Chat
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Hamilton Hits 4 HRs as Rangers Beat Orioles 10-3 — BALTIMORE (AP) — Josh Hamilton became the 16th player to hit four home runs in a game, launching a quartet of two-run drives against three different pitchers in a history-making performance that carried the Texas Rangers to a 10-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday
Discussion:
Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Will Middlebrooks no overnight sensation — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Upon being drafted by the Red Sox [team stats] in the fifth round in 2008, Will Middlebrooks was a tall, fresh-faced Texan straight out of central casting for “Friday Night Lights.” He even played quarterback at Liberty-Eylau High …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Royal treatment — Middlebrooks, Sox crown hapless KC
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Des Moines Register:
Casey Blake tells the Register that he's retiring — Conversation with Casey Blake - Part 1 Conversation with Casey Blake - Part 2 Conversation with Casey Blake - Part 3 Casey Blake in haunted house — Major League Baseball veteran Casey Blake said today that he officially has decided to retire …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, MLB Rumors and Dodger Thoughts
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Extend Melvin, Roenicke — The Brewers announced that they have extended the contracts of their general manager and field manager. Doug Melvin, the club's GM since 2002, receives a promotion to president of baseball operations under his new contract, which runs through 2015.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
RELATED:
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Teams Dig For Ways Around New International Rules — Whenever Major League Baseball changes the rules, people throughout the industry learn how to adjust. — As soon as MLB announced the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in November that will limit each team to a $2.9 million international bonus pool …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, FanGraphs Baseball and Drunk Jays Fans
Associated Press:
Robertson Earns First Save as Yankees Top Rays 5-3 — NEW YORK (AP) — David Robertson struck out Carlos Pena with the bases loaded to end a rocky ninth inning in his first save chance since Mariano Rivera's season-ending knee injury, helping the New York Yankees end a seven-game skid …
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
On Pedroia, Gonzalez and perceptions — KANSAS CITY — Here's a little lunch time quiz for you. — Red Sox Player A: Is 13 of 33 (.394) with runners in scoring position this season with a .425 in-base percentage and .606 slugging percentage. He has 15 RBIs this season.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Andy Pettitte will make first start for Yankees Sunday against Seattle Mariners, Brian Cashman says — Lefty made three minor league starts in comeback bid — In four minor league appearances, Andy Pettitte pitches to a 3.71 ERA. — The waiting is over. Andy Pettitte is on his way back to the Bronx.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Mike Klis / On the Rox:
Evil Empire? Rockies' Jerry McMorris first called out the Yankees in 2002 — Jerry McMorris, then owner of the Colorado Rockies and seen at left, at Coors Field in 2001 when then-president George W. Bush watched a game in Denver. — Contrary to long-held belief, it was not former Boston …
Discussion:
Purple Row
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees closer Rivera can't set date for surgery — Mariano Rivera's visit with surgeons yesterday was expected to result in a date for surgery to repair a torn right ACL. — However, things didn't go as smoothly as expected for the Yankees closer. — “We ran into complications,” agent Fernando Cuza told The Post.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com, River Avenue Blues, Baseball Nation and Sliding Into Home
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Leyland thinks Hamels' suspension is light — SEATTLE — Tigers manager Jim Leyland is considered an old-school manager by many, but he considers Cole Hamels' move to hit Bryce Harper with a pitch anything but that. Leyland told Tigers play-by-play broadcaster Dan Dickerson …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Mariners Rally for 3 Runs in 9th to Top Tigers 3-2 — SEATTLE (AP) — John Jaso's sacrifice fly capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Seattle Mariners a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. — Octavio Dotel came on in the ninth for Detroit …
Discussion:
TigerBlog and Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Josh Liebeskind / MLB.com:
Wedge is patient as young club improves
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, baseballmusings.com, Lookout Landing and U.S.S. Mariner
Glenn Sattell / MLB.com:
Perez stresses bringing game plan to Hanley — HOUSTON — Marlins third baseman Hanley Ramirez entered Monday's opener of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park in Houston with the highest career batting average (.391) of any active player against the Astros.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
RELATED:
