Hard to defend Riggleman's choice  —  First of all, what Jim Riggleman did is indefensible.  He deserves the coast-to-coast criticism, deserves to be crushed for walking out on his team.  His resignation Thursday as Nationals manager was as me-first as it gets, an inexplicable betrayal of his red-hot club.

Phillies to get word on Oswalt after back exam  —  Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Roy Oswalt will be further examined Friday, a day after leaving a start with back trouble in the second inning.  —  Though Oswalt said after the game Thursday he wouldn't have an MRI until Monday …

Francona wrestling with a tough decision  —  PITTSBURGH — Terry Francona wants to get David Ortiz into the lineup.  But he's not quite sure he can take the risk of playing Adrian Gonzalez in right field.  —  Ortiz will start the game tonight on the bench and that will be the case tomorrow.

Mets closer K-Rod open to setting up for Mariano Rivera in Yankees bullpen if teams work out trade  —  Francisco Rodriguez is willing to pitch for the Yankees even if he's not closing games.  The Bombers need a setup man with Rafael Soriano on the DL and Joba Chamberlain out for the year.

Stark: End the Cuban embargo  —  Franchise owners have a say, but commissioner Bud Selig still stands in the way  —  Charlie Finley, a man who used to parade a mule around the outfield, once owned a baseball team.  —  Bill Veeck, the man responsible for Disco Demolition Night, once owned a baseball team.

Wright cleared for ‘baseball activity’  —  NewsCore  —  Mets shortstop Jose Reyes wished David Wright good luck before the injured third baseman headed down Friday to Port St. Lucie for rehab.  —  Of course that had as much to do with keeping him entertained as it did with Wright's rehab.

CAPTAIN'S QUEST FOR 3,000  —  Jeter, who will turn 37 on Sunday, played catch for the third straight day yesterday at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, but it's what he hasn't done that indicates he won't be back in six days.  —  He hasn't run straight ahead, never mind around the bases.

Jon Daniels looking at Yu Darvish  —  Rangers general manager Jon Daniels is in Japan looking at potential free agent pitcher Yu Darvish, who is going to be a free after this season.  He is supposedly the next big thing out of Japan and the Rangers are going to be interested.  He pitches for the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Yankees pregame: On-time return for Jeter in doubt  —  Brian Heyman here for this weekend series against the Rockies at Yankee Stadium.  Joe Girardi said during his pregame press conference that Derek Jeter isn't doing baseball activities yet in Tampa (outside of throwing) and that his calf is still sore.

Game 75: Red Sox at Pirates  —  Here are the lineups:  —  RED SOX (44-30)  —  Ellsbury CF  —  Pedroia 2B  —  Gonzalez 1B  —  Youkilis 3B  —  McDonald LF  —  Cameron RF  —  Varitek C  —  Scutaro SS  —  Lester LHP (9-3, 3.70)  —  PIrates (37-37)  —  Tabata LF  —  d'Arnaud 3B