Maybe Bonds and Canseco could tour schools?

As part of the most recent drug-testing deal negotiated between Major League Baseball and the Players Association, major-leaguers have agreed to join the league's efforts to educate youth about performance-enhancing drugs.

Haven't players done enough of that already?

They could take this guy along

Former Toronto catcher Ed Sprague, now the baseball coach at the University of the Pacific, said he started using androstenedione in the mid- to late 1990s.

His best quote to the Stockton (Calif.) Record: "It could have been '96 . . ." - the year that Sprague hit a career-high 36 home runs. "I could have taken andro then . . . and I might have. I don't remember everything I took."

What can we tell you about Nate McLouth?

All we've got on Pittsburgh's centerfielder, leading the majors in hits going into last night's games, is that he stole 180 bases in 181 attempts in high school in Whitehall, Mich. (He's 2 for 3 in this season.)

McLouth also was second in the National League in RBIs, second in doubles and fifth in batting, hitting .390.

Pirates players predicted McLouth's success in spring training.

"He's the man," shortstop Jack Wilson told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in March. "Write it down."

"He's the one who's going to make us go," pitcher Ian Snell said. "You'll see. Everyone will see."

None of the Pirates predicted exactly how far McLouth could take them, though. After three straight losses, Pittsburgh was 3-6 going into last night's game with Cincinnati.

'Fukudome Even Better on Company Softball Team'

That blog headline from Wrigleyville23.com stems from a corporate marketing announcement that included some background on new Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, saying that in addition to his Japanese professional experience, "Fukudome was an employee of Nippon Life Insurance Company in Osaka, Japan, where he played on its corporate, nonprofessional team."

Whatever works. In Chicago's first nine games, Fukudome had five multiple-hit games.

Who predicted . . .

That ex-Phillie Jon Lieber would do what he's done so far? Pitching long relief for the Cubs, Lieber went 41/3 innings Thursday, his third appearance of the season with no earned runs allowed through 91/3 innings.

A headline on yesterday's Chicago Tribune sports blog: "How long till Lieber joins the rotation?" Tribune columnist Steve Rosenbloom argues that Lieber should take the place of either Rich Hill or Ted Lilly.

Notable

With less than 24 hours remaining in an auction of the last baseball Barry Bonds hit out of a park, the highest bid stood at $259,375 as of yesterday, the Associated Press reported. So far, home-run ball No. 762 is a bargain, considering that Bonds' record-breaking No. 756 fetched $752,467. Bidding closes today at 4 p.m. . . . The Florida Marlins activated catcher Mike Rabelo from the 15-day disabled list.

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Contact staff writer Mike Jensen at 215-854-4489

or mjensen@phillynews.com.