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.

Nationals still weighing leadoff options  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — With Rick Ankiel the frontrunner to be the Opening Day center fielder, the Nationals need to figure out who will be their leadoff hitter to start the regular season.  They could go in any number of directions.

Cardinals release two minor-league pitchers  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The St. Louis Cardinals released two righthanded pitchers from their minor-league camp this morning.  —  Houston Summers and Mark Diapoules were cut from their affiliates and are now free to sign with other teams, if pursued.

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.

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.