Alex Rodriguez homers in spring debut for New York Yankees … DUNEDIN, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez was booed, then homered in his first game since admitting he used a banned substance.  —  The New York Yankees slugger started the spring training season with a two-run home run and two walks Wednesday at the Toronto Blue Jays' ballpark.

Washington Nationals fire special assistant Jose Rijo in wake of prospect age scandal  —  The Washington Nationals have decided to fire special assistant Jose Rijo and will shut down the team's academy in the Dominican Republic as part of a restructuring of the team's operations in Latin American …

Heckled A-Rod homers in opener  —  Alex Rodriguez hits a two-run home run in the fourth inning Wednesday ...  DUNEDIN, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez's first road game wasn't quite the rip-fest some had predicted, but the controversial third baseman heard his share of jeers at Dunedin Park.

Pedro brings heat in simulated game  —  Free-agent starter preparing to pitch for Dominican team  —  Free-agent pitcher Pedro Martinez is staying busy.  —  The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw a simulated game on Tuesday in the Dominican Republic and is on track to start …

Opener odds and ends  —  FORT LAUDERDALE — Some tidbits after Luis Castillo and Ryan Church combined for four hits and seven RBIs in the Mets' 9-3 win here over the Orioles in the Grapefruit League opener for both teams.  —  * Jerry Manuel's introduction of an intense …

Nats strongly considering change  —  The Nationals, according to multiple industry sources, are strongly considering firing general manager Jim Bowden and replacing him with Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava.  —  Bowden has been implicated in a bonus skimming scandal in the Dominican Republic …

One down . . .  FT. MYERS, Fla. — The seriousness of the game was decided when Ino Guerrero — a 48-year-old batting practice pitcher — pinch hit during the latter innings.  But that's beside the point: the Red Sox are now playing baseball games again.  —  The Sox beat Boston College …

Green to be OK after leaving game  —  Mets righty suffers torn fingernail in Grapefruit opener  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Sean Green, the Mets' first casualty of the exhibition-game season, expects to miss no time because of a torn fingernail he suffered on Wednesday while pitching …

Dodgers make two-year offer to Manny Ramirez  —  The deal calls for $25 million this season and $20 million for the next — providing the slugger chooses to exercise the second-year option.  —  Reporting from Mesa, Ariz. — The Dodgers have made another offer to Manny Ramirez …

MLB scraps printed versions of team media guides  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has eliminated an annual tradition: printed copies of the green and red books.  —  The guides to the National and American leagues started publication in the 1930s and have been an invaluable research tool for media.

Will Joba Start the Home Opener?  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. - If the ballpark has banners for Lloyd Moseby, Tom Henke and Aaron Hill (yes, Aaron Hill), we must be at the spring home of the Toronto Blue Jays.  It's opening day of the exhibition schedule, but the matchup is not Roy Halladay and C.C. Sabathia.

Poll Finds Limited Support for Rodriguez  —  Sixty percent of baseball fans are bothered by players' steroid use, and 44 percent say Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez should not be allowed in the Hall of Fame, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll.  —  “I have nothing personally …

Economy won't deter Angels' efforts, Arte Moreno says  —  The reigning American League West champions hope to keep filling the seats despite the economic downturn.  Putting a competitive team on the field and catering to longtime fans are among the keys.  —  Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. …

Yankee Stadium bleacher fans will see less, pay less  —  Yankees COO Lonn Trost just said on WFAN that the 600 obstructed view seats in the bleachers of the new Yankee Stadium will be sold for $5 apiece, not $12!  —  Hmm.  This is new, no?  Monday Trost said they cost $12 apiece …