Top News:
Kate Feldman / New York Daily News:
Jason Heyward blitzed with alleged N-word taunts from Cardinals fans in return to St. Louis — Jason Heyward's return to St. Louis was marred with racial slurs. — In addition to booing, crowd mics picked up multiple Cardinals fans allegedly yelling the N-word at the new Chicago Cubs right fielder …
Discussion:
Hit & Run, Viva El Birdos, The Big Lead, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Forbes and Salon
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Mark SaxonESPN / ESPN:
Jason Heyward chose Cubs because core will be together longer — ST. LOUIS - Jason Heyward, visiting Busch Stadium for the first time since he left the St. Louis Cardinals to sign with the rival Chicago Cubs, took great pains Monday to clarify some of his December comments, which he thinks were misconstrued.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and The Big Lead
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Jason Hammel harnesses Cardinals' offense — Cubs starting pitcher Jason Hammel reacts to his hitting and pitching in the 2-1 win over the Cardinals. — Chicago Tribune — Jason Hammel thought he didn't pitch as well Tuesday night as his line indicated.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Chicago Tribune
Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune:
Jason Heyward: Cubs have some catching up to do with Cardinals
Jason Heyward: Cubs have some catching up to do with Cardinals
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Chicago Tribune, Baseball Prospectus, Yahoo Sports, Viva El Birdos, CBS Chicago and Sportsnet.ca
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
At 8-4, Royals once again doing things that are ‘not stat-able’ — OAKLAND — The “Moose” calls erupted just as the third-inning drive off Mike Moustakas' bat sailed over the right-field fence. Considering the Kansas City Royals were playing at the Oakland Coliseum, it would have been easy …
Discussion:
Royals Review and NBCSports.com
RELATED:
Blair Kerkhoff / Kansas City Star:
First two weeks of Royals' season is about baseball, not beanballs
First two weeks of Royals' season is about baseball, not beanballs
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Mark Feinsand / New York Daily News:
Didi Gregorius has rough night in Yankees' loss to Athletics — Didi Gregorius' night was filled with ups and downs Tuesday. — A pair of spectacular plays he made at shortstop behind Chasen Shreve in the seventh inning accounted for the good, but the bad may have very well cost the Yankees the game.
Discussion:
lohud.com and River Avenue Blues
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Chad Jennings / lohud.com:
Postgame notes: Tanaka's fastball jumps in season's best start
Postgame notes: Tanaka's fastball jumps in season's best start
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, Pinstripe Alley, Athletics Nation and Lookout Landing
Tegna / WFAA-TV:
Were the Astros signaling pitches on Tuesday night? Ask Derek Holland. … After the usual post-game comments, I had one more question for Derek Holland. I was curious what adjustment, if any, he had made, since the Astros were making such hard contact in the first two innings …
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rockies Acquire Cody Decker — The Rockies have acquired first baseman Cody Decker from the Royals, according to announcements from both teams. Cash considerations are going back in return. — Decker, 29, has minimal major league experience but was long a solid producer in the upper minors …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Purple Row
Jean Segura / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks rally for victory in extra innings over San Francisco Giants … SAN FRANCISCO - More than 4 1/2 hours of baseball and it was well worth it for Jake Lamb and the Arizona Diamondbacks. — Lamb hit a tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning and doubled home …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, Minor League Ball, Yahoo Sports, Associated Press and ABC News
Sam Gardner / Fox Sports:
Bryce Harper's gets 100th home run ball back thanks to former Make-a-Wish recipient — The 10-year-old was happy to return the ball to the Nationals' slugger. — Ricky Doyle / NESN.com / Yardbarker — It's not uncommon for baseball players and their teams to want to retrieve …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Washington Post, Talking Chop and baseballmusings.com
Fox Sports:
The rise and fall of Rafael Palmeiro … He's sitting with a North Carolina State hat dipped downward. He's aged well. Still handsome, the black mustache of his playing days is gone, replaced with a salt-and-pepper beard. When he stands up, his shoulders are muscular, and he looks a decade younger than 51.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Lone Star Ball and Camden Chat
Wilson Karaman / Baseball Prospectus:
Games of Monday, April 18th — Prospect of the Day: — Ian Happ, 2B, Chicago Cubs (High-A Myrtle Beach): 4-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, SB, K. — Oh nothing, Happ just added over 300 points to his OPS in one night, no big deal. The long balls were the first two of the season, and he did all of his damage hitting left-handed.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, DRaysBay, Yahoo Sports and baseballmusings.com
Michael Rothman / ABC News:
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, USA Today, NESN.com and WCTX-TV, more at WeSmirch »
Adam RubinESPN / ESPN:
Jacob deGrom's son out of hospital; pitcher throwing — PHILADELPHIA — Right-hander Jacob deGrom's week-old son was discharged from a Florida hospital on Monday, and deGrom could return to the New York Mets' rotation as soon as next weekend at Atlanta, manager Terry Collins said.
Discussion:
Associated Press and ESPN
RELATED:
Adam RubinESPN / ESPN:
Jacob deGrom throwing in Florida while son's health improves
Jacob deGrom throwing in Florida while son's health improves
Discussion:
ESPN, Associated Press and Let's Go Tribe