TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Hank Steinbrenner sounded optimistic on Friday, one day after his struggling New York Yankees fell into last place in the American League East.
All it took was one look at last year’s standings.
“Well, we’re not as far back as we were last year at this time,” the Yankees’ co-chairman said in Tampa, Fla. “So the place you’re in doesn’t necessarily matter.”
The Yankees are 20-22 this season, and started Friday 4 1/2 games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Last season, New York was 19-23 after 42 games, but where 10 1/2 games out of first. The Yankees rebounded to capture the AL wild card with a 94-68 record, and wound up two games back of the AL East champion Boston Red Sox.
“There’s still time,” Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees’ first interleague game of the season Friday night against the crosstown Mets was postponed by rain.
“I like interleague play,” Steinbrenner said. “There’s certain rivalries that they try and force. I’m not telling you anything new. For us and the Mets, Dodgers, Angels, and the Cubs and the White Sox, it’s interesting.”
The Yankees and Mets play each other six times this year.
“The only problem with it is, it may be unfair to certain teams,” Steinbrenner said. “The Mets are a good organization, and we’re a good organization. Is it fair we’re beating up on each other? You’ve got to deal with it anyway the whole season in the American League East.”
Steinbrenner plans to watch Saturday’s game, when the Mets start Johan Santana, on TV in Florida. He may travel to New York later during the current homestand.
Steinbrenner coveted Santana, but pulled out of trade talks with Minnesota in the off season because Yankees general manager Brian Cashman wanted to keep several young players rather than offer them to the Twins.
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who could rejoin the team Tuesday after being sidelined since April 28 by a strained right quadriceps, was one of several major league players asked to tape messages for when Boston’s Manny Ramirez joins the 500-home run club.
Some fans have spoken out against it because it involves the rival Red Sox.
“I can understand the fans’ reaction, and I hope our fans don’t lose that edge, especially against the Red Sox,” Steinbrenner said. “Alex wants to beat the Red Sox more than anybody, and I know that for a fact. On the other hand, it’s classy thing for A-Rod to do. I like Manny, I really do. He’s a machine. He’s a dangerous hitter. You’ve got to respect him.”
Rodriguez hit his 500th homer last season.
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