Manager Buck Showalter officially named Jim Johnson the Orioles' closer on Friday afternoon, news that was hardly a shock but still significant given that Showalter had declined all spring to formally appoint Johnson the ninth-inning man.

Anybody pushing 50 or having already hit the half-century mark must hold a special appreciation for what the seemingly ageless Jamie Moyer is doing this weekend.

The question for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was simple: Why do you love baseball? It was more an invitation to talk than an interview, and with minimal prompting, he answered.

Matt Kemp, who led the National League in homers, RBIs and runs, was third in batting average and second in steals in 2011, picked up where he left off with a home run and three RBIs in the Dodgers' season-opening victory over the Padres on Thursday.

Clayton Kershaw found a new way to led his team on Thursday. The Dodgers ace, literally sick to his stomach, gutted out three solid innings to ease the burden on L.A.'s bullpen while Matt Kemp led the club to an Opening Day win in San Diego.

Cory Luebke, who landed a $12 million deal this winter, will get his first chance to prove the Padres made the right decision when he faces the Dodgers on Friday at Petco Park in the second game of the season.

Bruce Bochy indicated on Thursday that Buster Posey, who has recovered from the extensive injuries to his left leg he sustained last May 25, will start each game of the season-opening series against the D-backs.

J.P. Arencibia, who has shown a flair for the dramatic in his young career, hit a three-run homer in the top of the 16th inning to give the Blue Jays a 7-4 victory over the Indians in the longest game on Opening Day in Major League history.

With the final out of the Dodgers/Padres clash on Thursday, more than half of the 30 teams have completed their first game, and there haven't been many Opening Day home run trots. In fact, only seven players notched homers in their team's opening contest.

Injured outfielders Franklin Gutierrez and Mike Carp remained behind in Arizona as the Mariners hit the road Thursday. But both players are progressing well and could be ready to return relatively soon, according to manager Eric Wedge.

It's a concept that is as much a part of baseball's fabric as colorful bunting and baseline introductions on Opening Day: Starting pitching sets the tone.

From Jose Valverde's shocking blown save to his teammates' walk-off recovery, from Johan Santana's scoreless comeback to J.P. Arencibia's decisive 16th-inning homer in the longest Opening Day game ever, fans were treated to the first slate of multiple games on Thursday and a reminder of all that once was good and that could be again.

Progressive Field hosted an Opening Day-record 43,190 fans on Thursday afternoon to watch the Indians play the Blue Jays. Everyone in attendance got to watch plenty of free baseball — and be a part of baseball history.

Although manager Ned Yost maintained throughout Spring Training that he wouldn't name a replacement for disabled closer Joakim Soria, on Thursday he did pick Jonathan Broxton for that role, at least initially.

Cincinnati will soon find out if Mat Latos was worth the hefty price they paid over the winter. Latos will make his first start of the season on Saturday against the Marlins, two days after the Reds won for the second consecutive Opening Day.

By different roads, the Astros and Rockies have undergone significant cultural shifts and will arrive at the same place on Friday: Minute Maid Park in Houston for Opening Day.

On the heels of signing Joey Votto to a mammoth contract, the Reds appear close to locking up second baseman Brandon Phillips.