Top News:
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Benches clear twice in Red Sox-Yankees; 3 players, 1 coach ejected — BOSTON — The bad blood is back in baseball's most intense rivalry. — The benches cleared twice in Wednesday night's game at Fenway Park between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and Yankees designated hitter Tyler Austin was in the middle of everything.
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David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Real or Not? Bad blood brewing after Wednesday's bevy of brawls — I blame the cold weather. — And testosterone. — And the time-honored baseball tradition that goes back to the days of Old Hoss Radbourn and King Kelly: an eye for an eye, blood will have blood.
Discussion:
New York Daily News and Let's Go Tribe
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Alex Cora's ‘bush-league’ gesture toward Yankees third base coach may have stung more than Joe Kelly's fastball
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News …, CBS Boston and Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Yankees, Red Sox fight at Fenway after New York player hit
Discussion:
CTVNews and MLB Baseball News …
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
MLB batters getting hit by pitches at a historic rate - and tensions are high
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Red Sox pitcher on plunking: 'It's one of those that got away'
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Daniel Norris is confident velocity will increase — CLEVELAND — Left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris acknowledged his velocity is down, but said he feels fine. — “We're working on ways to get it back,” Norris said on Thursday afternoon, after giving up four runs on seven hits …
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George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Chris Bosio will be away for few weeks (health issue) — CLEVELAND — Detroit Tigers pitching coach Chris Bosio will be away from the team for a couple weeks because of an unspecified health issue. — On Thursday afternoon, Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire would not provide any specifics about what is ailing Bosio.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Jordan Zimmermann plans on making next start after being hit on jaw — CLEVELAND — Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is expected to make his next start after being hit on the jaw by a line drive against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night. — Zimmermann said Thursday …
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' send Mikie Mahtook to Triple-A Toledo for bullpen help
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Stephen Hawkins / Toronto Sun:
Ohtani RBI and pickoff in Angels' 7-2 win for sweep at Texas — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Shohei Ohtani never saw such a quick pickoff move by Chris Martin when they were teammates in Japan. — Ohtani had an RBI single in the second inning that put the Los Angeles Angels ahead to stay …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
ESPN:
Dual threat Shohei Ohtani ‘would like to play more’ for Angels — As if Shohei Ohtani hasn't made a big-enough impact early in his major league career, he wants to do more. — The dual-purpose phenom has started seven of the Angels' first 13 games — twice as a pitcher and five times as designated hitter.
Discussion:
Deadspin and Associated Press
Alan Eskew / UPI:
Angels' Ohtani takes his show to Kansas City — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City fans will get a chance in the next four games to witness what all the international baseball buzz is about when the Royals host the Los Angeles Angels. — The buzz is not about Angels outfielder Mike Trout …
Discussion:
Royals Review, Minor League Ball and Halos Heaven
Scott Gleeson / USA Today:
Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani pushes for more playing time — Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani, who has taken the baseball world by storm as a dual-threat pitcher and designated hitter, told reporters Wednesday he would “like to play more” as the season progresses.
Darren RovellESPN Senior / ESPN:
Empty Jeet seats: Marlins outdrawn by Double-A affiliate — The Miami Marlins, who lost 4-1 to the New York Mets on Wednesday night, were outdrawn that day by their Double-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. — The Marlins drew 6,150 fans. The Jacksonville team brought in 6,960 for its home opener Wednesday night.
Discussion:
The Comeback and USA Today
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Brett Bodner / New York Daily News:
Marlins had fewer people in attendance than Double-A affiliate Wednesday — Jeets isn't putting fans in the seats. — The Marlins' Double-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Jumbo, had more fans in attendance than yesterday's major-league game at Marlins Park.
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets finally use ‘Five Aces’ rotation, sweep Marlins after breaking up no-hitter
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Rockies hit road to face Nationals — WASHINGTON — After fighting their way out of Coors Field on Wednesday, the Colorado Rockies head east to open a four-game series Thursday night against the Washington Nationals. — The Rockies (6-7) snapped a three-game streak and averted a sweep …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Alex Butler / UPI:
Rockies, Padres deliver first bench-clearing fight of 2018 season
Discussion:
New York Post, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and NESN.com
Associated Press:
Rockies, Padres brawl, 5 ejected as Colorado wins 6-4
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Charlotte Carroll / Sports Illustrated:
Watch: Rockies, Padres Get Into Benches-Clearing Scuffle After Nolan Arenado Charges Mound
Discussion:
Washington Post, McCovey Chronicles and USA Today
Tom Schad / USA Today:
Fourth-grader skips school for Cubs game — and runs into his principal — An Illinois fourth-grade student skipped school earlier this week to attend the Chicago Cubs' home opener, arriving at Wrigley Field with a sign that read: “Skipping school... Shh! Don't tell Principal Versluis.”
Discussion:
New York Post
RELATED:
Jim Owczarski / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds notes: Joey Votto gets first off day since 2016 — Reds manager Bryan Price discusses his third baseman Eugenio Suarez and his broken right thumb suffered in Sunday's 5-0 loss at Pittsburgh The Enquirer/Adam Baum — Joey Votto gets his first day off since 2016 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Adam Baum / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds swept by Philadelphia Phillies in walk-off
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Phillies Nation
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
While the rest of MLB goes young, the Giants are doubling down on players in their 30s — Editor's note: This story originally ran on Feb. 23, 2018. — The San Francisco Giants sold out 530 straight games before their streak ended in July, and they feel obliged to put a competitive product …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball and Associated Press
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees activate outfielder Aaron Hicks from disabled list — BOSTON — Aaron Hicks is back. — The Yankees activated Hicks from the disabled list for Thursday's game against the Red Sox. Hicks is hitting sixth and serving as the DH. — Hicks had been on the DL due to a Grade I strain of his intercostal muscle.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Don't mess with Blue Jays ‘cold-blooded assassin’ Roberto Osuna — BALTIMORE — There are times when his lethal bullpen ace is in full assassin mode that Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker forgets how young Roberto Osuna really is. — On an ascent to becoming one of the most feared closers in the game …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Inside the game: Why the Phillies are seeing so many pitches — Gabe Kapler marveled for two seasons as Johnny Damon, then the Red Sox's bearded leadoff hitter, ground out long at-bats by fouling off pitch after pitch. No one saw more pitches on the 2004 Red Sox — the team …
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Tracking the so-called greatest free-agent class ever — The so-called greatest free-agent class ever took a hit when Charlie Blackmon signed a long-term deal to remain with the Colorado Rockies rather than hit free agency after this season, but it's still a deep class with lots of volume — if now slightly less star power.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
