Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / BostonGlobe.com:
Are the Red Sox contenders or pretenders? — The Red Sox lost to the Orioles, 9-7, in an action-packed 105th Fenway Park Opening Day Monday afternoon. The winning runs were scored when Orioles softball-league slugger Chris Davis mashed a 433-foot, three-run homer off new Sox closer Craig Kimbrel …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Surviving Grady and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
RELATED:
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles understand but dislike the tobacco ban they're about to face — Browse pictures of the Orioles in April 2016. … When the Orioles travel to Boston for the Red Sox' home opener Monday, they'll be the first visiting team subject to that city's new law banning smokeless tobacco from baseball stadiums.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Camden Chat
Stephen King / BostonGlobe.com:
Protective netting at Fenway? Thanks, but no thanks — IT WAS A NOTIFICATION I'd been expecting, although I thought it would come by mail. Instead — perhaps because I've been a Red Sox season ticket holder since the days when Wade Boggs was playing third base — I got a personal call from a Sox executive named Sean Walsh.
Discussion:
Sportsnet.ca and Associated Press
Seth Berkman / New York Times:
Marlins Channel Bonds, a Rookie Coach, in Bashing the Mets — Giancarlo Stanton had just belted a second-inning home run deep over the left field wall at Citi Field — chasing the Mets' Steven Matz from his first start of the season — when a familiar foe cheered from inside the Miami Marlins' dugout.
Discussion:
New York Daily News, Newsday, New York Post, Amazin' Avenue and Yahoo Sports
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Stanton, Marlins tag Matz in 10-3 win over scuffling Mets
Discussion:
ESPN, ESPN and Faith and Fear in Flushing
Associated Press:
Velasquez beats Mets 1-0 in debut, giving Phillies 1st win
Discussion:
ESPN, Phillies Nation and Faith and Fear in Flushing
Seth Berkman / New York Times:
Bartolo Colon Adds to Highlight Reel, but Hitters Offer Little to Celebrate
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Newsday, New York Post, New Jersey Online, Amazin' Avenue and Phillies Nation
Robert Allen / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers fan catches 5 fouls, 1 practice ball at today's game — People on Twitter are calling Detroit Tigers fan Bill Dugan “a wizard,” “sticky fingers” and “lucky guy.” — People on Twitter are calling a fan at today's Detroit Tigers game “a wizard,” “sticky fingers” and “lucky guy.”
Discussion:
ESPN, USA Today and Yahoo Sports
Nick Groke / Denver Post:
COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB — ROCKIES' TONY WOLTERS SUCCESSFUL IN MAJOR-LEAGUE DEBUT — Jorge De La Rosa still struggling — The Denver Post — Tony Wolters attended Big League U for six days, taking a crash course on the major leagues. The Rockies rookie catcher sat in the dugout …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Felix Doubront To Undergo Tommy John Surgery — Athletics left-hander Felix Doubront will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow and will miss the 2016 season, the club announced (h/t: MLB.com's Jane Lee, on Twitter). The 28-year-old Doubront was recently reported to have been diagnosed with …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Yahoo Sports
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs Acquire LHP Giovanni Soto From Indians — The Cubs announced today that they have acquired left-handed reliever Giovanni Soto from the Indians in exchange for cash considerations. Cleveland had designated the 24-year-old southpaw for assignment last week.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jarrett Bell / USA Today:
Sean Payton rails against guns after Will Smith's death — Listen to Sean Payton. Carefully. He's mad. Sad. Frustrated. Passionate. — “If this opinion in Louisiana is super unpopular,” Payton told USA TODAY Sports in a 33-minute phone conversation on Monday, his first interview since Will Smith's death, “so be it.”
Discussion:
NOLA River, NESN.com, ProFootballTalk and CBS New York
Fox Sports:
Bring the heat: Major League Baseball off to chilly start — CHICAGO (AP) Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona was making a cup of tea in the clubhouse this weekend when he spilled hot water on his hand. — Painful, but at least he was finally warm. — “I'm on blood thinners to boot …
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Yahoo Sports
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Role reversal: Have the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers swapped identities? … The pair of blockbuster deals pulled off by the Diamondbacks in a span of just 24 hours in December caught every corner of Major League Baseball by surprise, especially in Los Angeles …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, True Blue LA and MLB Trade Rumors
Josh Norris / Baseball America:
Land For Potential New GreenJackets Stadium Purchased — Greenstone Properties closed on Monday on a purchase of nearly 30 acres of land in North Augusta, S.C., for the eventual use in a project that would bring the Augusta GreenJackets, the Giants' low Class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League, to the Palmetto State.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Injuries to Chirinos, Choo overshadow Rangers' victory — Broken right forearm to sideline top catcher Right fielder could land on DL with calf strain Hamels, Beltre deliver in second straight win — ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Plenty of good happened Saturday at Angel Stadium for the Texas Rangers.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Lookout Landing, MLB Trade Rumors, Lone Star Ball, WFAA-TV and Minor League Ball
RELATED:
Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Robinson Chirinos' Fractured Forearm Could Lead Rangers To Trade Market
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News, Brew Crew Ball, Baseball Prospectus and Baseball Essential
