Top News:
Associated Press:
Ray, D-backs spoil Cardinals' home opener with 2-hitter — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Robbie Ray worked around five walks over six innings and the bullpen closed out a two-hitter, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks spoil the St. Louis Cardinals' home opener 3-1 on Thursday night.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Larry Fleisher / UPI:
Baltimore Orioles try to make it two straight vs. New York Yankees — NEW YORK — Manny Machado stood at his locker and saw the crowd of reporters from New York awaiting him Thursday afternoon. — He knew members of the New York media were waiting to ask him about his pending free agency …
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Matt Breen / Philly.com:
The confidence that drives Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta — Jake Arrieta always had “it,” he said. It is what helped him five years ago to not walk away from baseball. Matt Klentak first saw “it” a decade ago and it is what made the Phillies general manager believe separated Arrieta from the rest.
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Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Nick Williams on Phillies, Gabe Kapler's lineups: ‘I guess the computers are making it’
Nick Williams on Phillies, Gabe Kapler's lineups: ‘I guess the computers are making it’
Discussion:
USA Today, CBSSports.com, Sporting News, New York Post, Philly.com and The Good Phight
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Inside Baseball | Kapler to face toughest critics
Inside Baseball | Kapler to face toughest critics
Discussion:
Business Insider, CBSSports.com, Phillies Nation, NBCSports.com, Deadspin, USA Today, MLB Baseball News …, The Good Phight and CBS Philly
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers beginning to trust pitcher Joe Jimenez in big situation — CHICAGO — Joe Jimenez has earned some trust. — And that trust was never more evident early this season than on Thursday afternoon, in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire called …
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers again show fight in late innings, get win vs. White Sox
Detroit Tigers again show fight in late innings, get win vs. White Sox
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and South Side Sox
Scott Gleeson / Courier-Journal:
Mariners' James Paxton unfazed by eagle encounter, but other players were terrified — Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher James Paxton and opposing Twins players had different instincts when a bald eagle landed on Paxton on Thursday in Minneapolis, instead of soaring to the mound to reach its handlers.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, MLB Baseball News … and The Comeback
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Dealing with raised expectations also part of White Sox learning process — Chicago Tribune — Hours before the bullpen implosion on Snow Day at White Sox Park, general manager Rick Hahn was discussing the need to balance the long-term goal of developing prospects with the daily goal of winning ballgames.
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David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Matt Davidson's knack for long ball qualifies him as keeper for White Sox
Column: Matt Davidson's knack for long ball qualifies him as keeper for White Sox
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and South Side Sox
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Next Slide — A second consecutive ugly-across-the-board loss was the least of the Milwaukee Brewers' concerns late Thursday night. — When your bullpen closer, one of the best in the business, collapses on the mound and has to be helped off the field, you've got far bigger problems than consecutive shutout defeats.
Discussion:
Sporting News and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
History! Iowa Cubs among first minor league teams to experience new extra innings rule — Iowa Cubs first baseman Efren Navarro didn't know what was happening when he saw Oklahoma City Dodgers relief pitcher Edward Paredes jogging out to second base to start the first extra inning of the season between the two teams.
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Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Let's play two! The story behind the unique Opening Day of the Iowa Cubs
Let's play two! The story behind the unique Opening Day of the Iowa Cubs
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Knizner, Adolis Garcia and Schrock all sock homers as Cardinals' farm teams open — Max Schrock had two days. — Both took the swings they flashed during spring training into their openers Thursday as Cardinals' affiliates and minor-league baseball began their seasons around the country.
ESPN:
How should fantasy managers replace Corey Knebel? — Sign up for free fantasy baseball … Tristan H. Cockcroft: Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader seems like the guy to get if you had Knebel rostered, but I'd be just as apt to take a chance on Nate Jones of the Chicago White Sox …
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Corey Knebel Suffers Hamstring Injury, Will Be Placed On DL
Corey Knebel Suffers Hamstring Injury, Will Be Placed On DL
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Brew Crew Ball and MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Polanco's two-run homer lifts Pirates over Reds, 5-2 — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gregory Polanco hit a two-run home run during a four-run fifth inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Thursday night. — Polanco broke a 1-1 tie when he drove a ball into the shrubbery in center field off Homer Bailey (0-2).
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and MLB Baseball News …
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Adam Baum / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds offense stalls in loss to Pittsburgh Pirates
Cincinnati Reds offense stalls in loss to Pittsburgh Pirates
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Brett Bodner / New York Daily News:
SEE IT: Denver Post publishes guide to Rockies' Coors Field using photo of Phillies' Citizens Bank Park — The Denver Post has been charged with an error. — The Colorado newspaper is apologizing after it published a guide to the Rockies' Coors Field on Friday that featured a cover photo …
Discussion:
CBS Philly, Arizona Sports and CBS Denver
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Time for Rays to change their pitching plan — BOSTON — Rays manager Kevin Cash is already so weary of explaining the Rays' — pick your adjective, within the bookends of idiotic and innovative — pitching plan of three starters and five multi-inning relievers that he joked Wednesday they were going to change the terminology.
Stephen Ruiz / Orlando Sentinel:
Fire Frogs coach Mike Maroth embraces lessons from long-lost season with Detroit Tigers — As Mike Maroth approached baseball infamy, Detroit Tigers manager Alan Trammell called the pitcher into the office. — It was time to talk. — It was mid-August in 2003, and Maroth was not far removed …
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Rockies top Padres, take 3 of 4 in opening series … San Diego Padres shortstop Freddy Galvis tags out Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon on an attempted steal on the pitcher during the first inning of a baseball game in San Diego, Thursday, April 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo) — ALEX GALLARDO
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, Lone Star Ball, Talking Chop and Beyond the Box Score
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notes: Yairo Munoz steps in at third base — For Yairo Munoz, a rookie making his first major-league start amidst the pageantry of the Cardinals' home opener, Jose Martinez kept his suggestions to a minimum. — “Don't close your eyes,” Martinez recalled saying. “I don't want to tell him anything else.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Dan Caesar / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Media Views: Two Cardinals games will be only on Facebook, not on TV — The countdown to “telegate” for some Cardinals fans is five days, and Round 2 now has been added. — The recent news that a Cards game next week won't be shown on conventional television, instead streamed only on Facebook …