MLB

It was a breakout game in many ways for the "core" Mets players on offense.

Behind Mike Pelfrey's strong outing of six innings, one run, six hits, and five strikeouts, were Jason Bay getting four hits and David Wright getting two RBI singles.

Phil Hughes was on the mound for the Yankees, and for the second consecutive outing he struggled.

There are only three things you have to do in baseball: catch the ball, throw the ball, and hit the ball.

Right now, the Los Angeles Angels are struggling to do any of those.

Coming into Saturday's game, the Angels have made the fourth most errors in the American League (30 in 44 games, including four at the catching position), leading to 19 unearned runs.

Which hasn't done anything to help a beleaguered pitching staff that has no problem giving up runs on its own.

Angels hurlers are riding neck-and-neck with the Boston Red Sox for the worst team ERA in the league, while L.A.'s bullpen is

It's one thing to be in a slump. It's quite another thing entirely if a player is trying to play through an injury.

Today especially, Aramis Ramirez looked to be favoring his thumb and if so, he should be on the disabled list until he is healthy enough to play.

Look, he isn't producing anyway, either in the field or at the plate. So if he is hurt, trying to play through it is the wrong thing to do.

Since the first day they arrived in town, the Washington Nationals promised that restocking the team's depleted farm system would be their top priority.

And since that first draft in 2005, the team has been stocking their farm system with talented young pitchers. Then general manager Jim Bowden said that was the way to do it. "You draft as many pitchers as you can find," Bowden said, "and then trade the excess for position players. Pitching prospects are always worth more."

The Rockies won on Saturday 3-0. While the offense scored when they needed to, the game was won on the mound.

One thing is clear. These substances, the people who use them, and the people who distribute them, are not going away.

Every conviction is only a drop in the vast ocean that the purists believe professional sports are sinking in.

Roy Oswalt has asked the Houston Astros to trade him. He is owed quite a bit of dough so he won't be easy to deal. He will get $15 million for 2010 and 2011. In 2012, there's a club option for another $16 million, or a $2 million buyout. Good luck taking that salary on. He also has had groin and back troubles. Given the salary and injuries, the Astros may not get a lot back. He is off to a good start with a 2.66 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

The word on the street says that that Oswalt wants to go to a contender. His short list includes the Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.