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.

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.

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.

Blue Jays move Jose Bautista to 3B  —  The Toronto Blue Jays are moving star slugger Jose Bautista from right field to third base to give them more production from the hot corner.  —  Bautista led the majors with 54 home runs last season, and is currently batting .325 with 22 home runs.

At 87, Red Schoendienst stays put  —  Phillies broadcaster Gary Matthews tries to do one thing the same every time he comes to St. Louis.  —  “I talk to Red Schoendienst,” Matthews said.  —  Matthews interviewed Schoendienst on Thursday for the Phillies' pregame radio show.

Oswalt likely to miss next start with tight back  —  Consistent issues plaguing Phils starter, who awaits Monday MRI  —  ST. LOUIS — Phillies starter Roy Oswalt left Thursday's 12-2 victory over the Cardinals after the second inning with lower back tightness.

Why's pitching so good?  Look at a 2010 rule change  —  Aren't we talking about 2010 and 2011 being Years of Pitchers?  I find this interesting for many reasons.  —  {exp:list_maker}It would seem perfectly reasonable to argue that the effects of PEDs and greenies being out the game is hurting the batter.

Gonzalez out to help Sox on trip  —  It has been six years since he last patrolled the outfield of a major league ballpark, so it's not an entirely foreign concept to Adrian Gonzalez.  —  It was just one game, with the Texas Rangers on Sept. 30, 2005, against the Angels.

Virginia Eliminates California  —  OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Virginia's Tyler Wilson didn't have any problem with the pressure of pitching in a big game.  —  The unbeaten senior allowed five hits and carried a shutout into the eighth inning in the No. 1-seeded Cavaliers' 8-1 victory over California …

Backstop to the future?  Not so fast  —  Yankee Stadium out of reach until Jesus Montero learns to focus on the here and now  —  MOOSIC, Pa. — The future of the New York Yankees received a two-game timeout earlier this month because the organization felt his play lacked “energy,” according to one club official.