American League News

“He had great stuff but his command wasn't there. But he kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win.”

New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio once said that players never tire of opening day. via The Oregonian

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“He's got something going on with his hamstring. I took a look at him when he came off the field, then I had to get on with the game. We're hoping for the best.”

Indians All-Star catcher Victor Martinez was taken for an MRI on his injured left hamstring, which he hurt while running the bases in the second inning of Cleveland's season-opening 10-8 win Monday over the Chicago White Sox.

Martinez, who was also injured in the Indians' home opener last season, singled to open a seven-run inning off Chicago starter Mark Buehrle. Later in the outburst, he drove home Travis Hafner with a two-out base hit. When reliever Nick Masset's pitch got away from catcher A.J. Pierzynski, the slow-footed Martinez attempted to take second. Read more

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“We're going to win and lose as a team.”

Their ballpark may have a new name. Little else changed about the Cleveland Indians. The defending AL Central champions won in familiar fashion at Progressive Field _ home to so much late-inning drama when it was called Jacobs Field for the past 14 years. Casey Blake hit a three-run double in the eighth inning Monday to give the Indians a 10-8 season-opening win over the Chicago White Sox.

It may not be known as the Jake anymore, but everything else seemed in place for the Indians, who won 23 times in their final at-bat last season. Read more

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A whirlwind offseason of change carried over into opening day for Tampa Bay, when the Rays reversed an annoying trend at the expense of the Baltimore Orioles.

James Shields pitched seven innings of five-hit ball, Eric Hinske homered and the Rays coasted to a 6-2 victory Monday.

Since its inception in 1998, Tampa Bay was 1-9 in road openers, including a seven-game skid that was the longest active run in the big leagues. But things are different this year, beginning with the team's nickname _ no longer are they the Devil Rays. Read more

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Brad Penny threw 6 2/3 shutout innings in his first career Opening Day start, as Los Angeles blanked San Francisco, 5-0, in Joe Torre's debut as manager of the Dodgers. via WHER-FM Hattiesburg

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Tony Pena's RBI single in the 11th inning pushed Kansas City over Detroit, 5-4, in the season-opener for both teams at Comerica Park. via Channel3000.com

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The Seattle Mariners open their season this afternoon at Safeco Field. Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus throws out the first pitch. via The Columbian

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“It just seems that when you play the teams you feel like you should beat, those are the series where there's no energy and things kind of get away from you”

Toronto ace Roy Halladay wants the Blue Jays to stop seeing themselves as third-class citizens in the AL East Division this season. via National Post

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“I don't talk about the other teams except to say we have so much respect for the other (four) teams. That's where we put all our focus, the division.”

C.C. Sabathia is as excited to pitch on opening day as he was last October, when he had a chance to send the Cleveland Indians into the World Series by beating the Boston Red Sox.

When the 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner takes the mound against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, he hopes he'll be able to harness his competitive nature a little better.

'The excitement level of opening at home is through the roof,' Sabathia said Sunday before a brief, brisk workout at Progressive Field. 'It means a lot to me to take the ball on opening day. It's always special. The big thing will be to keep my emotions down.' Read more

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“We absolutely needed a change, but I'm not going to say it was based on those two young men (Young, Dukes)”

Heightened expectations don't scare the Tampa Bay Rays.

They welcome them after losing more than 90 games each of the past 10 seasons and enter Monday's opener in Baltimore oozing confidence after the most successful spring training in club history.

Going a franchise-best 18-8-2 during a month of exhibition games doesn't guarantee success in the regular season, but the Rays are hoping it sets the tone to escape the cellar in the AL East.

'There's definitely a change in the attitude,' All-Star left fielder Carl Crawford said. 'We tried to be positive at the beginning in the past, but things happen. Now it feels like this might actually run through the season.' Read more

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