Top News:
Associated Press:
The Latest: Orioles' Gentry robs homer from Twins' Rosario — Kansas City Royals Alex Gordon runs sprints on during a baseball workout, Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals open the baseball season on Thursday afternoon when they host the Chicago White Sox.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
RELATED:
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Marlins, Cubs wear ‘MSD’ patches, to visit with victims' families, survivors — The Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins are honoring the victims of last month's mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with a number of tributes during their season-opening four-game series.
Discussion:
HotNewHipHop.com
Sam McDowell / Kansas City Star:
Kyle Zimmer had such promise. But the Royals' patience has run out — The intrigue derived from the velocity, at least initially, but as Royals scouts further studied Kyle Zimmer in 2012, they were awed by the full repertoire. Ahead of the June draft that year, Baseball America graded Zimmer's fastball …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Anthony Rizzo urges stricter gun laws and defends ‘bullied’ Stoneman Douglas students
Anthony Rizzo urges stricter gun laws and defends ‘bullied’ Stoneman Douglas students
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Sun-Sentinel
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' bats steal show in 9-4 win over Cardinals in opener — NEW YORK — With pitchers dominating the conversation surrounding the Mets, the hitters tend to take a backseat. The lineup has a handful of former All-Stars, but they are just mortals compared to the pitchers bestowed with superhero nicknames.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Series preview: Cardinals at New York Mets — • Two of the hardest throwers in the majors will face off in Thursday's series opener when New York's Noah Syndergaard, who touches 100 mph twice as often as any other pitcher, will oppose the Cardinals' Carlos Martinez, who occasionally hits that level.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Viva El Birdos
Kirstie Chiappelli / Sporting News:
Yoenis Cespedes: 2018 Mets are ‘best team that I have been around’
Yoenis Cespedes: 2018 Mets are ‘best team that I have been around’
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Jerry Beach / UPI:
Syndergaard leads Mets into opener vs. Cardinals
Syndergaard leads Mets into opener vs. Cardinals
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Viva El Birdos
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Masahiro Tanaka looking forward to season debut despite getting passed over for Yankees' Opening Day start — TORONTO — Masahiro Tanaka said it wasn't a strange feeling that he wasn't starting on Opening Day. But given that he had started the previous three season-openers for the Yankees, it must've been at least a little weird.
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Brian Cashman still has full confidence in Aaron Boone as new Yankees manager — TORONTO — Heading into a season of great expectations, Brian Cashman feels that he's hired the right manager. — “I have no second-guessing or concerns,” Cashman replied Thursday when asked …
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Rusty Staub, beloved Mets icon, dead at 73 — In every way, Rusty Staub, the beloved Mets' hitting icon, who passed away early Thursday morning at age 73, was bigger than life — a bigger-than-life baseball personality, humanitarian, gourmet chef, wine connoisseur, friend-to-all and …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, MLB Baseball News …, Faith and Fear in Flushing, globalnews.ca and MLB Trade Rumors
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Marlowe Alter / Detroit Free Press:
Former Detroit Tigers All-Star Rusty Staub dies at 73
Former Detroit Tigers All-Star Rusty Staub dies at 73
Discussion:
USA Today, Detroit News and New York Times
Joe Belock / New York Daily News:
10 greatest Rusty Staub moments as a Met
10 greatest Rusty Staub moments as a Met
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox GM Rick Hahn brings realistic optimism to opening day — Chicago Tribune — White Sox general manager Rick Hahn brought a realistic optimism into opening day on Thursday. — He likes the potential he sees from many of the young players who will be counted on to help turn …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Japanese baseball stars returning home from MLB to extend careers … Daisuke Matsuzaka says he still has something to prove. — Koji Uehara wants to help his former team regain its past glory. — The two former U.S. major leaguers are among several Japanese stars that will be looking …
RELATED:
ESPN:
Giants place closer Mark Melancon on 10-day DL with elbow injury — The San Francisco Giants placed closer Mark Melancon on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a right elbow flexor strain. — The move was made retroactive to March 26. Right-hander Reyes Moronta was recalled from Triple-A to fill his roster spot.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and McCovey Chronicles
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Associated Press:
Grease fire causes smoke inside Tropicana Field before Rays opener — A small grease fire in the upper deck of Tropicana Field on Thursday caused a smoky haze to fall over the playing field five hours before the first pitch of the regular-season opener between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and ESPN
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Sources: Cardinals working to close a deal with Greg Holland — NEW YORK • A few days after suggesting they were ready to go into the regular season without a closer and throw a variety of pitchers at the ninth inning, including rookie Jordan Hicks, the Cardinals have made a move to answer their biggest question.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ryan Court ‘very impressive’ to Joe Maddon despite not being named to Cubs' 25-man roster — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs' opening day roster didn't include infielder Ryan Court, but the versatile Dundee-Crown High School alum made a favorable impression on manager Joe Maddon.
RELATED:
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago sportswriter vowed to jump in Lake Michigan if Ian Happ led off with homer, and well ... Chicago Tribune — Apparently, anybody who doubts Ian Happ's power can just go jump in the lake. — Just before the Cubs' opener at Miami on Thursday, Bleacher Nation reporter Michael Cerami promised …
Discussion:
USA Today, Bleacher Nation and Chicago Sun-Times
Mark Gonzales / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ian Happ hits home run on 1st pitch of season as Cubs beat Marlins, 8-4 — MIAMI — Ian Happ made a statement about his leadoff credentials on the first pitch of the 2018 season. — Happ, making his first Opening Day start, smacked a home run off Jose Urena over the right-field fence …
Joe Lucia / The Comeback:
Giancarlo Stanton homered in his first at bat as a Yankee, and John Sterling's call left a lot to be desired — The wait for Giancarlo Stanton's first home run as a Yankee lasted...oh, two batters. — In his first at bat as a Yankee in the first inning on Monday, Stanton hit a two-run homer off of Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Lenny Megliola / MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA:
After brutal month, Sox season springs up — No doubt for many Metrowest residents that March, in just a matter of a devilish few weeks, became the least favorite month on the calendar. March mauled us. It knocked our brains out, not to mention our electricity. It snowed and snowed, it howled and howled.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, DRaysBay and Over the Monster