Luis Castillo was the Mets' best option at second base  —  The decision to release Luis Castillo on Friday was the most difficult one of Sandy Alderson's budding regime - where sabermetrics proved to be no match for the army of haters who demanded Castillo's demise.

My Mother's Basement  —  “It won't be long before we get the first wave of nonsense from stat-crazed dunces claiming there's nothing to be learned from a batting average, won-loss record or RBI total.  Listen, just go back to bed, OK?  Strip down to those fourth-day undies, head downstairs …

Bonds Goes on Trial Monday for 2003 Testimony  —  When Barry Bonds walked into the federal courthouse in San Francisco on Dec. 4, 2003, his career total stood at 658 home runs, baseball had yet to institute drug testing with penalties and the Giants were nearly a half-century removed from their last World Series title.

Anthopoulos handshake may have sunk Jays' waiver claim  —  Apparently John Farrell's contract as manager of the Jays came complete with a “non-compete” handshake agreement with Boston's general manager Theo Epstein regarding not touching Sox players in the annual Rule 5 draft.

Ankiel frontrunner for Nats' center-field job  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals announced recently that center field is up for grabs.  But if the season were to start Friday, Rick Ankiel would be the Opening Day center fielder.  —  The competition in center field is between Ankiel, Roger Bernadina and Nyjer Morgan.

Five minor league players suspended  —  The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that five Minor League players have received 50-game suspensions after each tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program:

Rebuilding Ryan  —  A year after the Red Sox top prospect found himself suddenly unable to see and confined to a wheelchair, he has survived dangerous brain surgery, undergone extensive rehabilitation, and returned to the minor leagues to try to relearn everything.

Giants can't hold this phenom back  —  SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.  —  There was a time, not long ago, when Giants manager Bruce Bochy would turn in his chair in his Scottsdale Stadium office and look at the wall behind him.  And look.  And look.  —  On the wall is a list of prospective Giants for the coming season.

New York Mets' Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon, Saul Katz facing $1 billion lawsuit from Irving Picard, trustee for Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme  —  The trustee looking to recover funds from victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme officially wants more than $1 billion from New York Mets owners.

Los Angeles Angels reliever Scot Shields announces retirement  —  One of baseball's best middle relievers of the last decade announced his retirement Friday.  —  Scot Shields, who pitched all 10 of his major league seasons for the Los Angeles Angels, was pitching on an aching left knee …