High school teammate, Dodger defends A-Rod  —  Buzz up!  —  LOS ANGELES - Allegations Alex Rodriguez used steroids in high school are inaccurate, according to one of Rodriguez's former teammates at Westminster Christian High in Miami.  —  “There's no way,” Dodgers utilityman Doug Mientkiewicz said.

Garza flirts with perfection in win  —  Right-hander retires first 18 batters in opener with Boston  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays were falling early in the American League East standings, had just come off a tough road trip while losing their sixth straight series and badly needed a step in the right direction.

Pitching a dramatic script in Los Angeles  —  Buzz up!  —  LOS ANGELES - A Thursday night in L.A., the Lakers between series, the Dodgers secure in first place, more than 50,000 meet at the old ballpark on the hill, a good number of them clogging the neighborhood streets an hour …

Jays call up three; rookie to start Saturday vs. Orioles  —  RHP Ray will make major league debut; ex-Oriole Burres among three sent down  —  The Blue Jays promoted left-hander Brett Cecil and right-handers Robert Ray and Brian Wolfe from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

Mets seem to lack heart  —  Three games separated the Mets from the Phillies at the end of the regular season last year.  Was there really only that much of a difference between the second-place team in the National League East and the eventual world champions?  —  The Mets thought so.

Prior reports shoulder soreness to Padres  —  Righty might have to ‘take a step back’ in comeback attempt  —  LOS ANGELES — Right-hander Mark Prior, who hasn't pitched in the Major Leagues since 2006, reported soreness in his right shoulder after a bullpen session on Tuesday at the Padres' Spring Training facility in Peoria, Ariz.

Melky, Pena produce big hits in 8th as Yanks win  —  The Brett Gardner Era may officially be over.  —  Melky Cabrera continued his quest to take back the centerfield job he lost to Gardner in spring training, lacing a tie-breaking single in the eighth inning against the Angels last night.

Poor Mets, poor fans  —  It's been a while since you last came to visit.  You weren't missed all that much.  We love to hate each other, sure, but it was kind of nice without you.  —  This is your first trip to town since last August.  Philly has been a little busy since then.

Ump Reynolds hit by warmup pitch  —  Veteran remained in Nationals-Cardinals game  —  WASHINGTON — Home-plate umpire Jim Reynolds was hit on the top of the head by a warmup pitch before the bottom of the seventh inning during Thursday's Nationals-Cardinals game.

Mets Management Trying to Create Sterile Environment  —  Kevin Kernan of the NY Post joined me on last night's edition of NYBD Radio.  The topic of fear and anxiety was a main theme when we were diagnosing what is wrong with the team to date.  The takeaway I had was that perhaps management …

Mannywood  —  OK, Dodgers, it's time to make your commitment to Ramirez a serious one  —  The Dodgers should stop waltzing around and make their marriage to Manny Ramirez a proper one.  I'm talking here about a real contract, not the truncated one they extracted during the off-season …

SCHNEIDER CATCHES BAD BREAK ON ROAD BACK FROM DL  —  PHILADELPHIA — Omir Santos and Ramon Castro are getting a reprieve this weekend when it comes to worrying about their roster spots now that regular catcher Brian Schneider has been slowed further by a sore right calf.