Ump calls Yanks, Sox ‘a disgrace to baseball’  —  BOSTON — Umpire Joe West blasted the Yankees and Red Sox just before Wednesday's game, accusing the two clubs of being “pathetic and embarrassing” in dragging the pace of games and refusing to work with umpires.

The Business Of Baseball  —  Edited by Kurt Badenhausen, Michael K. Ozanian and Christina Settimi, 04.07.10, 06:00 PM EDT  —  Major League teams enjoyed record profits last season despite the bad economy.  —  There really is no crying in baseball.  Not when it comes to what teams are worth and the money they earn.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia on DL; Rangers manager unhappy with catcher  —  ARLINGTON - Jarrod Saltalamacchia is going to the DL.  Manager Ron Washington isn't happy.  Not that Saltalamacchia is hurt - again - but rather in the way Saltalamacchia handled notifying the team about an injury …

Belliard's big day keys Dodgers vs. Bucs  —  Third baseman drives in four, finishes single shy of cycle  —  PITTSBURGH — If a stopper brings losing streaks to an end, Chad Billingsley was a dual qualifier Thursday.  —  Billingsley pitched the Dodgers to their first win of the year …

Marquis' debut spoiled by Phillies  —  Nats right-hander roughed up in four-plus innings  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals fell, 8-4, to the Phillies on Wednesday night, as Ryan Howard's potent bat again proved to be too much for Washington.  —  It was a game in which Nationals pitchers walked eight batters.

Robertson outduels Niese as Marlins beat Mets  —  NEW YORK — This one was far more enjoyable for Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez.  —  Nate Robertson pitched five solid innings in his first start for Florida in eight seasons, and the Marlins beat the New York Mets 3-1 on Thursday to win their season-opening series.

Lester deal looks like guide for Gallardo  —  The Brewers followed a trend when they signed 24-year-old right-hander Yovani Gallardo to a contract extension on Thursday.  Develop young pitchers, test them in the big leagues, then lock them up.  —  That was the path followed by Gallardo and the Brewers …

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Waiver Claims  —  Yesterday we lost Chad Huffman on waivers to the Yankees.  You never enjoy losing a player, as you put him on your roster at one point in order to protect him.  Nevertheless, these transactions always have multiple sides.  —  The Good

Vazquez Is Ready to Contribute in Second Turn With Yankees  —  When Mark Teixeira joined the Yankees before last season, he asked Derek Jeter what made him excited about the team.  Jeter, whose ability to simplify things is among his greatest assets, gave Teixeira a blunt and prescient reply: “We've got pitching.”

Reyes Scheduled to Play for Mets on Saturday  —  Barring unexpected complications, Jose Reyes will in the Mets' lineup Saturday for their home game against the Nationals.  The plan is for Reyes to play one more minor league game Thursday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., then travel to New York, where he will join the team Friday.

Under The Knife  —  Sneaky Recoveries  —  The Astros are on the verge of rushing Berkman back.  He has had multiple drainings of his problematic knee, both before and after his surgery.  On the last draining, the doctors also injected it with cortisone, a procedure that one orthopedist called, “a bit desperate.”

Bat still quiet, complaints loud  —  There is no better place to be a baseball hero.  And there is no worse place to be a baseball goat.  —  The highs are higher than Kilimanjaro.  And the lows?  The lows are where bottom looks like up.  —  This is why Boston is a great baseball town.

Reds beat Cards, avoid sweep on Gomes' homer  —  CINCINNATI(AP) Jonny Gomes hit a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday, sending the Cincinnati Reds to their first win of the season, 2-1 over the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Gomes connected on a 2-2 pitch from Jason Motte …