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 …

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.

Red Sox-Rays scouting report  —  AT TROPICANA FIELD  —  TONIGHT - RHP Josh Beckett [stats] (2-1, 6.00 ERA) vs. RHP Matt Garza (1-2, 4.97).  TV - NESN, MLB Network.  Radio - WRKO-AM (860).  7:08 p.m.  —  TOMORROW - RHP Justin Masterson (2-0, 2.70) vs. RHP Andy Sonnanstine (0-3, 7.78).

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Vazquez victimized by big inning in loss  —  Braves starter roughed up in fifth as series slips away  —  ATLANTA — While Javier Vazquez couldn't explain how he garnered such results with a rather impressive performance, the Braves were left to wonder how they managed to lose a series during …

Ellis, Garciaparra placed on DL  —  Infielders among four A's injured in Tuesday's game  —  ARLINGTON — Having tied the club record by using the disabled list 22 times in 2007, the A's eclipsed that dubious mark by three a year ago.  —  Now they're on a pace that could set the record again.

Yankees' Patrons in Not-So-Cheap Seats Also Deserve a Break  —  Why not cut more ticket prices at Yankee Stadium, not just the really expensive ones?  —  The Yankees' move on Tuesday to slash the price of slower-selling premium seats, including the $2,500 perches, and give away others affects a few hundred seats.

Nationals finally get some relief  —  The amount of tinkering the Washington Nationals have had to do to get to this point - to earn a road victory that required nothing more than a simple, clean effort - is almost unfathomable.  —  Their go-ahead RBI came from an outfielder who played himself …

Does Grady benefit from “The Bernie Factor?”  —  I make no attempt to hide my hatred of the Boston Red Sox.  I probably despise them more than any other sports franchise.  —  For this reason, it brings me great joy when the Tribe beats that miserable, high-priced team and disappoints their obnoxious …

Hope for Lidge, Hamels  —  The Phillies have endured injuries to both their ace and their closer this week, but they remain hopeful that both issues will be resolved by the weekend.  —  Cole Hamels, who suffered a mild sprain of his left ankle Tuesday, is set to throw a bullpen session tomorrow …