Top News:
Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Cubs win 5-4 on opening day — and Seiya Suzuki goes 1-for-2 in his MLB debut — Chicago Cubs manager David Ross burst through the door into postgame news-conference room, prepared to drop a question before facing his own. — “Who had Nico in the first-homer pool?” a beaming Ross asked.
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Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
4 things we learned about the Chicago Cubs in their opening win, including Seiya Suzuki's plate discipline in his MLB debut — Rafael Ortega's baseball journey has endured plenty of challenges, taking him to seven major-league organizations with 11 years between his big-league debut and playing for the Chicago Cubs.
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Buck Showalter, all business, not ready to reflect on emotions of Opening Day just yet — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Buck Showalter on Thursday managed a game for the first time since Sept. 30, 2018. A lot has changed in the 1,285 days between his last time in a major-league dugout …
Discussion:
Mercury News
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Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Max Scherzer ready to go for Mets debut in ‘crazy, wild atmosphere’ against Nationals — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Max Scherzer anticipated that his hamstring tightness would take just a few days to clear up, and this is Mets fans' first lesson that they should have no reason to doubt him.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated and MLB Baseball News …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees don't agree to extension with Aaron Judge, star will play 2022 on one-year deal — Even before Gerrit Cole threw the first pitch Friday, the Yankees took a loss. Less than two hours before the start of the Bombers' 2022 season, Brian Cashman announced that the team had failed …
Discussion:
Mercury News, Sportsnet.ca and The Athletic
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Joon Lee / ESPN:
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox remain at odds over contract ahead of season opener — NEW YORK — With shortstop Xander Bogaerts set to opt out of his contract after 2022, the question of whether he will be back with the Boston Red Sox next year looms over the team's season.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Union-News, Call to the Pen, Boston.com and CBS Boston
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Final year of Yankees vs. Red Sox for Aaron Judge and Xander Bogaerts? Both stars could become free agents
Final year of Yankees vs. Red Sox for Aaron Judge and Xander Bogaerts? Both stars could become free agents
Discussion:
New York Post and MLB Trade Rumors
Andy Kostka / Baltimore Sun:
With new left field wall in place, Oriole Park at Camden Yards begins 30th anniversary season with a fresh look — There isn't an official name yet, and there might never be one. But it will be known regardless by whatever nickname catches the fancy of the fan base …
Discussion:
Orange County Register and Mercury News
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. acknowledges rift with former teammate Freddie Freeman — MLB, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers — ATLANTA — Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. acknowledged an internal rift with former teammate Freddie Freeman during an interview late Wednesday …
Discussion:
New York Post
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USA Today:
2022 MLB predictions: World Series and award picks for the baseball season
2022 MLB predictions: World Series and award picks for the baseball season
Discussion:
Associated Press and MLB Baseball News …
Jakegellerman / NBC Sports Pressbox:
PEACOCK BECOMES EXCLUSIVE HOME OF NEW SUNDAY MORNING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME PACKAGE, TO BE PRODUCED BY NBC SPORTS, BEGINNING IN MAY
PEACOCK BECOMES EXCLUSIVE HOME OF NEW SUNDAY MORNING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME PACKAGE, TO BE PRODUCED BY NBC SPORTS, BEGINNING IN MAY
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, Baseball America, Associated Press, Plain Dealer, Bleacher Nation, MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
The inside story of how Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon became ‘The Mechanic’ — MIAMI — The most remarkable part of how Dewayne Dedmon became “The Mechanic” might not be the way a social-media account created a nickname that went viral to the degree of formally being adopted by the Miami Heat.
Discussion:
Orange County Register
Howard Megdal / Sports Illustrated:
How Kelsie Whitmore Became the Face of Women's Baseball Progress — The 23-year-old signed with the Atlantic League's Staten Island FerryHawks on Thursday. She hopes she won't be the last. — View the original article to see embedded media. — The thing to understand …
Discussion:
The Athletic
Stefan Bondy / New York Daily News:
Knicks blow 21-point lead in loss; Nets still control play-in destiny — Another game against the Nets, another collapse from the Knicks at MSG. — After leading by as many as 21 in the second half, the Knicks' offense completely deteriorated down the stretch and the Nets maintained control …
Discussion:
NetsDaily
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Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Nets' resilience makes them contenders despite odds
Nets' resilience makes them contenders despite odds
Discussion:
New York Post and Newsday
ESPN:
Pittsburgh Pirates, 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes reportedly agree to eight-year, $70 million deal — The Pittsburgh Pirates are building around third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. — The Pirates and Hayes, 25, have come to terms on a new eight-year, $70 million deal pending Hayes passing a physical, according to multiple reports.
Chris Bumbaca / USA Today:
‘It just sort of whispers to you’: How MLB players feel about the PitchCom device that could end sign-stealing — Watch Video: Is MLB Opening Day still special? — WASHINGTON — For his entire career, New York Mets catcher James McCann has dropped into his squat behind home plate …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Alan Solomon / Chicago Tribune:
April 4, 1989: With bases loaded, Chicago Cubs reliever Mitch Williams strikes out the side to preserve a win — This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on April 5, 1989. — The guy giggling the most, it turns out, wasn't Mitch Williams. It wasn't Don Zimmer. — It was another pitcher, Paul Kilgus.
Discussion:
Denver Post