Yankees Fire Strength Coach  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - A day after the Yankees' baffling run of hamstring injuries claimed another victim in Phil Hughes, the team fired its new strength coach.  —  Marty Miller, who was hired last winter to the newly created position of director of performance enhancement …

National crisis: Capital franchise in turmoil  —  It was more than a minor news item.  —  A little-known farm director and three low-level front-office employees left the Washington Nationals in mid-February.  Four-fifths of the team's player-development department, gone.

Cabrera-Minaya chat raises eyebrows  —  · Marlins President David Samson and General Manager Larry Beinfest could not have been pleased at what they observed from the Shea Stadium visitors' dugout Tuesday.  —  While the Mets were taking batting practice and the Marlins were stretching …

Angels Quietly Show How To Build a Club  —  What does a team have to do to get some respect?  The Angels haven't had a lightning-rod bestseller like Michael Lewis's "Moneyball" written about them.  That's understandable — a lot of what general manager Bill Stoneman and manager Mike Scioscia do is just great talent management.

Halladay, Maine honored as April's Pitchers of the Month  —  Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay has been named American League Pitcher of the Month and New York Mets right-hander John Maine has earned National League Pitcher of the Month honors for April, it was announced today.

5/1/07 vs. Oakland  —  Win some lose some.  Tough loss and a rare one in the way we lost it.  As much as you'd like to think that because things are lined up how you want them to be, it should all work out, sometimes it doesn't.  —  Our bullpen was the key reason we ended April …

Heilman aims to move past struggles  —  Mets' primary setup man hopes to overcome tough stretch  —  NEW YORK — The mind of Aaron Heilman is a finely-tuned, well-equipped, strong and quite functional entity of which Notre Dame can be proud.  It holds a lot.  And sometimes, a lot is too much.

Study of N.B.A. Sees Racial Bias in Calling Fouls  —  An academic study of the National Basketball Association, whose playoffs continue tonight, suggests that a racial bias found in other parts of American society has existed on the basketball court as well.

Saenz's single is sign of victory  —  Olmedo Saenz comes off the bench to drive in winning run with a single in the bottom of the ninth inning.  —  These Dodgers don't hit home runs.  They don't deliver with the bases loaded.  —  But they kill earthworms with the best of them.

Rangers have to go the distance with McCarthy  —  Brandon McCarthy will pitch Friday.  Might very well get bombed.  Again.  —  And if he does, here's what the Rangers should do about it: Repeat the process all over again.  —  Let's be straight on this, McCarthy has been awful in his last three starts.

Pirates Notebook: Season-ticket sales dropped 20 percent  —  Shortstop Jack Wilson flips ball to Freddy Sanchez at second for the force out in the seventh inning.  —  Wondering why the Pirates' attendance has fallen off?  —  Look no further than the foundation of the business.

Walt Jocketty speaks out on Hancock  —  Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said Tuesday the club had little knowledge about pitcher Josh Hancock's off-field activities and that the responsibility for policing players' activities lies with the players.  —  Answering questions …

Notes: Alou ready to shoulder load  —  Outfielder shakes off injury to start for Mets on Tuesday  —  NEW YORK — It's going to take more than a couple of stitches to keep Moises Alou off the field.  —  A day after slamming into the left-field wall, cutting his chin and aggravating …

Beckett takes aim at perfect 6-0 start  —  Oakland (13-13) at Boston (16-9), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Nearly five weeks into the season, April is in the books, and Josh Beckett has carved out a little patch of history to call his own.  —  He won't mind sharing it, though — of all the Red Sox …

Hurler may need elbow operation  —  Pitcher Cesar Carrillo, drafted 18th overall by the Padres in 2005, departed Monday's game with Triple-A Portland because of an elbow injury, and the Padres are concerned that the 23-year-old might need season-ending reconstructive surgery.