With the majority of teams opening their season today, expanded instant replay is used for the first time in a major league game. Manager Rich Renteria of the Cubs is the first to challenge an umpire’s decision on calling Jeff Samardzija out on a close play at first base, but the replay confirms the call. Shortly thereafter, the Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez issues the first successful challenge, as umpire Greg Gibson’s safe call at first base on Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun is overturned after a quick review. And Mike Winters is the first umpire to ask for a review himself, making sure that A’s catcher John Jaso correctly blocked the plate in tagging out the Indians’ Michael Brantley at home.

ByTom

With the majority of teams opening their season today, expanded instant replay is used for the first time in a major league game. Manager Rich Renteria of the Cubs is the first to challenge an umpire’s decision on calling Jeff Samardzija out on a close play at first base, but the replay confirms the call. Shortly thereafter, the Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez issues the first successful challenge, as umpire Greg Gibson’s safe call at first base on Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun is overturned after a quick review. And Mike Winters is the first umpire to ask for a review himself, making sure that A’s catcher John Jaso correctly blocked the plate in tagging out the Indians’ Michael Brantley at home.

Coach Don Baylor suffers a freak injury catching the ceremonial first pitch before the Angels’ opener. Vladimir Guerrero is back in Anaheim to throw the pitch after signing a one-day contract to retire as an Angel, but Baylor twists his leg catching the soft toss and suffers a broken femur. The pair are the only two players to win the MVP award in franchise history.

ByTom

Coach Don Baylor suffers a freak injury catching the ceremonial first pitch before the Angels’ opener. Vladimir Guerrero is back in Anaheim to throw the pitch after signing a one-day contract to retire as an Angel, but Baylor twists his leg catching the soft toss and suffers a broken femur. The pair are the only two players to win the MVP award in franchise history.

A new attendance record is set at Marlins Park when 37,116 show up to watch the Marlins manhandle the Rockies, 10 – 1. No doubt many of the fans are there to watch Jose Fernandez, the youngest opening day starter since Dwight Gooden started the Mets’ 1996 season. Fernandez doesn’t disappoint, striking out 9 in 6 innings to earn the win, while Casey McGehee, back in the majors after a season in Japan, drives in 4 runs with a pair of doubles and Marcell Ozuna has three hits including a homer.

ByTom

A new attendance record is set at Marlins Park when 37,116 show up to watch the Marlins manhandle the Rockies, 10 – 1. No doubt many of the fans are there to watch Jose Fernandez, the youngest opening day starter since Dwight Gooden started the Mets’ 1996 season. Fernandez doesn’t disappoint, striking out 9 in 6 innings to earn the win, while Casey McGehee, back in the majors after a season in Japan, drives in 4 runs with a pair of doubles and Marcell Ozuna has three hits including a homer.

MLB opens its season stateside

ByThis Day in Baseball

Major League Baseball opens its season stateside, one week after playing a two-game series in Sydney, Australia. The Dodgers, who won both games in Sydney, are again involved, visiting San Diego where they lose, 3 – 1, in front of the biggest crowd in Petco Park history – 45,567. Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu holds the Padres scoreless for 7 innings, but Seth Smith ties the game with a pinch homer off Brian Wilson to lead off the 8th. Yasmani Grandal scores the winning run later that inning after stealing the first base of his professional career.

Two-time defending American League MVP Miguel Cabrera signs an eight-year contract extension with the Tigers. Including the two years remaining on his present contract, the deal is worth $292 million, making it the biggest in major league history. It surpasses the ten-year extension signed by Alex Rodriguez in 2006 for $275 million. In fact Rodriguez had held the record since signing as a free agent with the Texas Rangers for $252 million in 2001. The huge deal makes the six-year contract for $144.6 million that Angels OF Mike Trout also signs today seem like an anecdote.

ByTom

Two-time defending American League MVP Miguel Cabrera signs an eight-year contract extension with the Tigers. Including the two years remaining on his present contract, the deal is worth $292 million, making it the biggest in major league history. It surpasses the ten-year extension signed by Alex Rodriguez in 2006 for $275 million. In fact Rodriguez had held the record since signing as a free agent with the Texas Rangers for $252 million in 2001. The huge deal makes the six-year contract for $144.6 million that Angels OF Mike Trout also signs today seem like an anecdote.

Major League Baseball and the Players Association agree to a number of changes that toughen the major leagues’ PED policy. The penalty for a first offense goes from 50 to 80 games, suspended players will no longer be eligible for the postseason or for full a postseason share, while the number of random tests will be significantly increased.

ByTom

Major League Baseball and the Players Association agree to a number of changes that toughen the major leagues’ PED policy. The penalty for a first offense goes from 50 to 80 games, suspended players will no longer be eligible for the postseason or for full a postseason share, while the number of random tests will be significantly increased.

Mlb is back in Montrealfor the first time since 2004 as the Blue Jays play exhibition games against the Mets

ByThis Day in Baseball

Major league baseball is back in Montreal, QC for the first time since 2004 as the Blue Jays play the first of two exhibition games against the Mets. More than 46,000 fans, most sporting the colors of the defunct Montreal Expos, pack Stade Olympique to pay tribute to Hall of Famer Gary Carter and to their beloved former team. The Jays win, 5 – 4, on minor league veteran Ricardo Nanita’s run-scoring single with two outs in the 9th. Tomorrow, over 50,000 fans will be at the game in what will become an annual tradition to close out the Jays’ schedule of pre-season exhibition games.

Mike Trout and the Angels come to terms on a $144.5 million, six-year deal

ByTom

Mike Trout and the Angels come to terms on a $144.5 million, six-year deal, keeping the 22 year-old outfielder on the team through 2020. The five-tool phenom from Millville, N.J., the American League’s MVP runner-up in his first two seasons in the majors, was the unanimous choice for the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2012.

MLB regular season begins in Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia

ByTom

Major League Baseball’s regular season begins with the first of two games played at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia. The Dodgers defeat the Diamondbacks, 3 – 1, behind a vintage performance from defending Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, and a pair of extra-base hits by OF Scott Van Slyke, including the first homer to be hit in the southern hemisphere. Ironically, Van Slyke is only in the starting line-up because OFs Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp have failed to make the trip. It is the first time a regular season game has been played in Australia.