Alex Rodriguez walked to the plate, and a dozen fans behind the screen swung into action. Holding up giant foam syringes, they started with the taunts. Rodriguez answered them, all right. Back in the big leagues, the Yankees star launched the first pitch he saw deep into the left-field seats for a three-run homer last night. That might have hushed his tormentors—for a moment. But baseball figures to face a much tougher time silencing the boos, jeers and doubts stirred up by Manny Ramirez and sport’s latest scandal from the Steroids Era.

Lou Saban, who coached O.J. Simpson in the NFL and ran the New York Yankees for George Steinbrenner during a well-traveled career that spanned five decades, died Sunday. He was 87. Mr. Saban died around 4 a.m. at his home in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., his wife, Joyce, said. He had heart problems for years and recently suffered a fall that required hospitalization, she said.

TAMPA, Fla.—Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, and his projected timetable for recovery remained six to nine weeks. Dr. Marc Philippon performed the 1-hour, 20-minute procedure at Vail Valley Surgery Center in Colorado. “The surgery went exactly as we planned,“ Philippon said during a conference call. “No surprises.“

BRISTOL, Conn.—The brother of Alex Rodriguez says the New York Yankees star needs hip surgery and will be out of action until mid-May. Rodriguez was examined by a hip specialist Tuesday in Colorado and will have surgery to remove a cyst—that’s what Joe Dunand told ESPNdeportes.com. A-Rod’s agent, Scott Boras, and the Yankees provided little information on the condition.

TAMPA, Fla.—New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez appeared at a news conference today at the Yankees’ Spring Training facility. Here is the text of the statement he made at the start of his news conference, as transcribed by The Associated Press: “First, bear with me. I’m a little nervous, or a lot nervous, so bear with me a little bit.

NEW YORK—Former Yankees and current Dodgers manager Joe Torre is scheduled to appear on “Larry King Live” on Friday to promote his new book, “The Yankee Years.“ Torre is scheduled to appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” Wednesday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Bill Werber, who was the oldest living ex-major leaguer and a teammate of Babe Ruth, died today. He was 100. Mr. Werber, a career .271 hitter who led the American League in stolen bases three times, played with Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove in stints with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. He hit .370 during the 1940 World Series as the third baseman for the winning Cincinnati Reds.

NEW YORK—The New York Yankees reeled in another prime free agent, reaching a preliminary agreement today with first baseman Mark Teixeira for $180 million over eight years. A person familiar with the negotiations disclosed the agreement, which is subject to a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet final.