Times wires
Monday, February 21, 2011
TAMPA — Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner thinks his team's celebration of its 2009 World Series championship might have lasted too long.
"I think, maybe, they celebrated too much last year," Steinbrenner said Monday. "Some of the players, too busy building mansions and doing other things and not concentrating on winning. I have no problem saying that."
When it was pointed out that Yankees captain Derek Jeter was building a large multimillion-dollar home in Tampa last year, Steinbrenner said he wasn't singling out any individual.
"I was just saying, maybe they were riding the wave of '09 a little too much, and it happens sometimes," Steinbrenner said.
New York finished second in the AL East to the Rays last season, then lost in the ALCS to the Rangers.
Steinbrenner also said the revenue sharing and luxury tax programs need changes and that commissioner Bud Selig is open to the idea.
"At some point, if you don't want to worry about teams in minor markets, don't put teams in minor markets, or don't leave teams in minor markets if they're truly minor," Steinbrenner said. "Socialism, communism, whatever you want to call it, is never the answer."
Phils: Lee '100 percent'
CLEARWATER — Phillies LHP Cliff Lee, whose first bullpen session lasted just eight pitches a week ago because of a muscle strain in his side, said Monday that he's "perfectly fine" and the strain under his left armpit is "not really a major issue."
Lee completed his next two pitching sessions last week and took part in fielding practice during the first week of spring training.
Lee, 32, said he felt discomfort while playing catch last month in Arkansas.
"I had a little minor … something going on in my armpit," Lee said. "I called the trainers, went to Philadelphia, and they diagnosed it. I didn't throw for a few days, built back up and here I am. I'm perfectly fine and right with everyone else. It's not really a major issue."
"He's 100 percent," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
Jays: Podsednik hobbled
DUNEDIN — Blue Jays OF Scott Podsednik is wearing a walking boot because of plantar fasciitis and is day to day.
Podsednik, 34, who signed a minor-league contract with Toronto last week, is due to be examined by team doctors today, the National Post of Canada reported. Manager John Farrell told the newspaper that the team didn't know about the injury when it signed him.
Podsednik is expected to compete for a bench spot with the Blue Jays.