Franchise Notes

Swindal’s Name Removed From Yankees Web Site

On Long Island, Kat O’Brien reports Yankees Managing General Partner Steve Swindal, who had been designated as Owner George Steinbrenner’s successor prior to his pending divorce from Steinbrenner's daughter, Jennifer, “no longer is listed as one of the Yankees’ executives and officers on the team’s Web site.” Sources said that Swindal’s office hours at the team’s Tampa HQs “have decreased and that team president Randy Levine and COO Lonn Trost are no longer speaking regularly with him.” However, sources contradicted a report that Hal Steinbrenner, Steinbrenner’s son, has been picked to succeed his father. One source said that the story “read like ‘a comic book’” (NEWSDAY, 6/5).

TWINS: In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan wrote under the header “Pohlad Should Give As Well As He Receives.” Souhan writes it is time for Twins Owner Carl Pohlad “to invest in the investment that has paid so many dividends. ... You’re 91. It’s time to live a little. It’s time to try to win another World Series” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/3).

MONARCHS: In Sacramento, Melody Gutierrez reported the WNBA Monarchs' home opener against the Sparks on Saturday was sold out and the 17,317 capacity was the “largest WNBA crowd so far this season.” It also marked the sixth consecutive home-opening sellout for the team, the “longest streak in league history.” The Monarchs were one of six teams to see an increase in home attendance last season, although overall league attendance dropped 10% from ’05 (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/2).