A-Rod on 'roids for years, new book claims … Alex Rodriguez may have bulked up with steroids as early as high school - and was suspected of juicing while playing for the Yankees, a bombshell new book reports.  —  Although the slugger insists he dabbled in steroids only while with the Texas Rangers …

Marlins 4, Mets 3: Manuel ruffling feathers, but why?  —  Jerry Manuel's affable personality gives him a lot of admirers, but Wednesday's late-game managing really dumbfounded me.  —  Manuel had an explanation for why he dispatched Omir Santos to pinch-hit for Ramon Castro with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth.

WRIGHT'S STARTING TO FEEL THE HEAT  —  FOR THE longest time, Mets fans spared the rod with David Wright.  Everyone else, up and down the lineup, up and down the roster, has heard the scorn plenty.  There's been contempt for the Carloses, Beltran and Delgado.  Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes did time turning DPs in the doghouse.

Baltimore's Walker fined for comments  —  Major League Baseball has fined pitcher Jamie Walker of the Baltimore Orioles for his remarks regarding Umpire Angel Hernandez following Baltimore's game vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday night at Camden Yards.  The amount of the fine is undisclosed.

Red Sox bullpen tiptoes tightrope  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  CLEVELAND - Last night, a quartet of Red Sox [team stats] relievers kept the Red Sox alive with four innings of scoreless work in a 6-5 10-inning win.  —  None of them was perfect, but each of them did what was necessary.

Pitching remains Dodgers' downfall  —  Changes coming after Stults' early departure vs. Giants  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Despite a trip-ending defeat Wednesday night, the Dodgers are still in first place, which makes you wonder how great life would be if they had a solid starting rotation.

Hanley likely to return on Thursday  —  All-Star shortstop's injured right hand close to fully recovered  —  NEW YORK — Chances are improving that Hanley Ramirez will be back in the starting lineup soon.  It just may be another day.  —  Ramirez's sore right hand kept him out of the series finale …

A-Rod: 1 for 6 with a homer  —  This just in from Tampa:  —  Alex Rodriguez was 1 for 6 with a homer and two walks in the extended spring intrasquad game in Tampa.  He faced right-handers Matt Richardson and Jose Ramirez in the intrasquad, extended Spring Training game held at the Yankees' Minor League complex.

Kensing dealt to Nats for Gunderson  —  Out of options, reliever traded for righty relief prospect  —  NEW YORK — The Marlins on Wednesday dealt a reliever without options for a relief prospect.  —  Logan Kensing, who was designated for assignment on Saturday, was sent to the Nationals for right-hander Kyle Gunderson.

Joel Zumaya: 'I can't stand the Yankees'  —  Detroit — With two scoreless innings of relief in the Tigers' 8-6 loss Wednesday night, Joel Zumaya was back at his best against the team he likes the least.  —  The Yankees.  —  When it comes to his opinion of them, there's just no holding back.

Sore shoulder sends Pronk to DL  —  Tribe DH to visit doctor for offseason surgery follow-up  —  CLEVELAND — The troublesome right shoulder that cost Travis Hafner half of the 2008 season is not entirely a thing of the past.  —  Just 3 1/2 weeks into his regular-season return …

About those empty seats ...  Attendance this April is no worse than attendance last April  —  Believe it or not, the Yankees are averaging 44,502 fans — most in the majors.  —  Empty seats.  The defining image of April was those empty seats in a ballpark near you.  —  Or was it?

Josh Hamilton hopes to avoid DL as sore rib cage heals  —  ARLINGTON — Josh Hamilton said the medicine for his ailing left rib cage has made him feel better and he hopes to avoid a trip to the disabled list.  —  “I'm hoping so,” said Hamilton, who benefited from a free day off Wednesday because of the rainout.

So far, Jim Hendry's off-season moves look bad  —  Chicago Cubs miss Mark DeRosa  —  Mike Norton, a Tribune subscriber living in California, makes good points.  He also has a nice sense of history.  —  Our kind of guy.  —  “Having followed the Cubs pretty closely since 1954 …

McCann takes tunnel vision approach in rehabilitation  —  MYRTLE BEACH — Rarely does comfort trump production, but for Atlanta Braves all-star catcher Brian McCann eyesight is nothing to mess with.  —  McCann ripped a pair of doubles and recorded a walk in his first three plate appearances …