The Associated Press

SEATTLE - Cal Ripken Jr. called the steroid controversy "a black cloud over baseball" but also considers it an opportunity for parents and youth coaches to talk to children about the dangers of drug use.

"Give them an education on what's right and what's wrong," Ripken said Sunday during Seattle's game against Texas. "You hope kids aren't getting the wrong message. There's a right way and a wrong way to go about doing things."

Ripken, who retired from the Orioles in 2001, is on a 10-city tour to promote an instructional book co-written with his brother, Billy. Ripken holds youth clinics on his visits, and the steroid issue isn't always a popular topic for adults.

"It comes up periodically," he said. "It's one of those things that you don't want to bring up all the time. When it does surface around the ballpark, I think you want to address it and interpret it for them."

WALKER FINDS BODY: Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker discovered the body of an unidentified man Sunday on his property near Evergreen, Colo.

Walker called the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office after spotting the body while he was riding an all-terrain vehicle in the mountain community west of Denver, said spokeswoman Jacki Tallman.

The body was in a wooded area near a trail on his property and not near Walker's home.

Walker is on the disabled list.

INDIANS: Jason Stanford has a strained left forearm and said Sunday he will miss his next start.

The rookie left-hander will be replaced by right-hander Chad Durbin when the Indians open a three-game series at Jacobs Field against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday.

YANKEES: Outfielder Kenny Lofton was placed on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right quadriceps, and was joined by right-handed reliever Jorge DePaula. Righty Scott Proctor and lefty Alex Graman were recalled from Triple-A Columbus.

SHORT HOPS: Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver became the 394th pitcher Barry Bonds has homered off in his career.

• The Mariners have hit seven homers this year, fewest in the AL.

• Philadelphia's Jim Thome hit career homer No. 383 Sunday, moving past Jim Rice and Frank Howard and into 45th place on the career list.

• Frank Thomas walked in the first inning Sunday, becoming the 23rd player in major league history to walk 1,400 times.

• Orioles catcher Javy Lopez hit an RBI single in the ninth inning Sunday to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games.