Nationals Follow Through on Lead  —  Bergmann Allows One Hit in Six Innings As Washington Ends Its Six-Game Slide: Nationals 2, Braves 0  —  Let the record show that at 9:32 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, Ronnie Belliard, second baseman for the Washington Nationals, lined a single into right field.

Ringolsby: Diversity, for one, is thriving  —  On Sunday, baseball will honor the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, an event that not only marked the breaking of the color barrier in baseball but began to open doors in society in general.

Mets know they're in for lots of nervous time  —  Carlos Beltran was wearing a neophrene hood that made his face look as if it was peering out of a small ship's porthole.  Julio Franco came in from batting practice rubbing his hands together and said, "Look.  They're freezing."

Blogger Beat: Capitol Punishment  —  This season, at the beginning of each series, MetsBlog will attempt to get the perspective of the opposition and their fans.  From this, we hope to be better educated on the opposition going into a series.  It also gives us a fine opportunity to highlight some of our favorite team blogs.

No act: Reyes balanced  —  They sound like baseball oxymorons, phrases that appear contradictory but make perfect sense upon closer examination.  Be quick but don't hurry.  Be intense but not tense.  Or Willie Randolph's favorite when it comes to Jose Reyes' hitting style: Be aggressive but be patient.

Ahead of the pack  —  Angels stand out as top World Series contender  —  Also in this column:  —  Everyone in baseball is talking about the current state of parity, how there are no superpowers anymore and about how almost anyone can win any division (no, not the Nationals).

Simulating debate: Bonds and Pittsburgh  —  Entering the series this weekend between the Pirates and San Francisco Giants, Barry Bonds needs 21 home runs to break Hank Aaron's all-time record.  —  Had Bonds played his entire career with the Pirates, he would be a bit closer.

Offensive Falloff  —  Runs per game are way down this season over the previous year.  So far it's huge:  —  Offense through second Thursday of the season.  —  Category20062007  —  Games  —  137  —  132  —  Runs  —  1475  —  1080  —  R/G  —  10.8  —  8.2  —  Home Runs  —  359

Westbrook signs three-year extension  —  One down and two to go.  —  The Indians have signed right-hander Jake Westbrook to a three-year extension worth an estimated $33 million.  —  It's believed Westbrook will make $11 million a year under the extension.  He's making $6.1 million this year.

Waiver Wired: Lidge Out  —  The baseball season is about 5-6% over for most teams, yet like clockwork, fantasy owners are panicking.  My teams, packed to the brim with Mark Teahens and Kelly Johnsons, are hitting about .200.  Can't...resist...must...drop Lance Berkman for Akinori Iwamura …