Times staff, wires
Monday, May 16, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — The way Yankees captain Derek Jeter stood up for teammate Jorge Posada apparently didn't sit well with managing partner Hal Steinbrenner.
After ESPN.com reported that Yankees management was angry with Jeter, a team spokesman said a conference call was arranged Monday between Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman and the shortstop.
But Jeter called it a "non-issue," and the club described it as a "good conversation" while declining further comment.
"It was good. It's nothing," Jeter said before Monday's game against the Rays. "Everybody is on the same page."
Jeter's stance that Posada didn't need to apologize for asking out of the lineup one hour before Saturday's game against the Red Sox became an issue with the Yankees brass. Jeter also made it clear his loyalty was with Posada, his teammate since 1996.
"He's a brother; we've been together a long time," Jeter said Sunday. "If I thought he did something wrong, I'd be the first one to tell him."
Manager Joe Girardi said he was glad Jeter and the team are "on the same page," a phrase used often by all parties involved.
"I'm happy the way this got handled," Girardi said. "We stuck together as an organization, and we're here for each other."
Rays manager Joe Maddon said he found the whole situation amusing.
"This is one brief moment, and this guy has been a pretty good player for many years," Maddon said. "I do find it a little bit humorous because I don't think it's that big of a deal."
ASTROS SALE: Astros owner Drayton McLane said he has agreed to sell the team to a group led by local businessman Jim Crane for $680 million, the second-highest price in major-league history if it is approved.
LA RUSSA RETURNS: Manager Tony La Russa is back with the Cardinals after missing a six-game road trip to be treated for shingles.
EX-PITCHER AILING: The family of Paul Splittorff, the winningest pitcher in Royals history and a popular television announcer for the team, said he has entered an area hospital for treatment of oral cancer and melanoma.
DODGERS: Former Reds chief operating officer John Allen will assist Tom Schieffer in monitoring the team for Major League Baseball.
INDIANS: CF Grady Sizemore went on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised right knee, an injury he sustained on a hard slide into second last week.
MARINERS: Milton Bradley was released, ending the outfielder's brief and tumultuous tenure with the team.
MARLINS: Manager Edwin Rodriguez, trying to shake Hanley Ramirez out of his prolonged slump, batted the shortstop second for the first time since his rookie season of 2006.
METS: 3B David Wright has a stress fracture in his lower back and is expected to sit out for about 10 days.
PHILLIES: RHP Roy Oswalt, on the 15-day disabled list with lower back inflammation, was activated and is scheduled to start tonight.
RED SOX: RHP John Lackey went on the disabled list with a strained right elbow. RH reliever Scott Atchison was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket.
REDS: LH reliever Aroldis Chapman, who in his past four appearances has walked 12 batters and retired only four, went on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed pitching shoulder.
Information from Times wires was used in this report.