Big-league thieves? Far from it.

Police in La Mesa, Calif., had no problem apprehending four people — a man, two women and a teenage girl — suspected of ransacking a Little League concession stand, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

All they had to do was follow the trail of cookie and candy wrappers from the shack to the overly hungry suspects' location.

Streaking again

"The New York Mets have now gone two games without a no-hitter," reported Budd Bailey in Monday's Buffalo (N.Y.) News. "It's the second-longest such streak in team history."

Will bat for food

St. Louis is the country's No. 1 city for cheapskates, in the estimation of Kiplinger magazine.

"No kidding," said one Albert Pujols apologist. "Can you believe they only offered him $23 million a year to play there?"

Sponsored by Denny's

Here's one LPGA prospect with grand slam written all over her: Alabama star Brooke Pancake.

Upon further review

With negotiations going nowhere, the NFL has locked out its game officials.

So which is now the most fearsome sight in football: a 4-3 defense with Ray Lewis in the middle, or a picket line headed up by Ed Hochuli?

That's asking a lot

"Do you know how tough the Belmont is?" asked syndicated columnist Norman Chad. "To go a mile-and-a-half when you've never done it before? That's like asking me to go a year-and-a-half into a marriage."

Withdrawal pains

Running back Herschel Sims has been kicked off the Oklahoma State football team for allegedly taking $700 from a teammate's bank account.

Probably not what his coaches had in mind when they described him as a money player.

Talking the talk

• Janice Hough of LeftCoastSportsBabe.com, after the Giants went 6-1 despite scoring just 19 runs: "They may not win the World Series, but the Giants stand a good chance of being named the official baseball team of Major League Soccer."

• Comedy writer Alan Ray, on the Dodgers' sudden rash of injuries: "They haven't been this beat up since they ventured out into the Dodger Stadium parking lot."

• Blogger Chad Picasner, after the Padres wore camouflage uniforms in a recent game: "With an 18-37 record, this seemed appropriate."

• Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald, on this year's NBA lottery: "As usual, Kim Kardashian got first pick."

Glazed over

Last Friday, in case you missed it, was National Doughnut Day.

St. Louis Cardinals hitters, a little too caught up in the moment, celebrated by going 0 for 27.

Dwight Perry: 206-464-8250 or dperry@seattletimes.com