MLB Franchise Notes: Where Has Hank Steinbrenner Gone?

On Long Island, Jim Baumbach cites sources as saying that Yankees co-Chair & General Partner Hank Steinbrenner was "truly relevant to Yankees fans for only a very short time, and he has been irrelevant for well more than a year now." Steinbrenner "still reports to work" at the team's facilities in Tampa, and Yankees President Randy Levine and GM Brian Cashman both said that he was an "active voice behind closed doors around the trade deadline." But the team's BOD appointed his brother, Hal, as Managing General Partner, and Hank is "no longer playing the act of George Junior" (NEWSDAY, 9/9).

MOOR IS LESS: Former Padres Majority Owner John Moores said that he has "stepped away from the day-to-day operations of the club and some of his commitments" to MLB. Moores is in the process of selling 90% of his share in the Padres over a five-year period to a group led by Vice Chair & CEO Jeff Moorad, and Moores "structured the deal so he could remain the club's control person at owners' meetings until the new group purchased a majority share." But Moores said that he is "also going to pass that baton to Moorad." Moores: "I don't want to overstay my welcome. Right now I'm going to keep as low visibility in baseball as I can" (MLB.com, 9/5).

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE: Pirates President Frank Coonelly said that the team, set to record an MLB-record 17th straight losing season, will "keep season-ticket prices the same for 2010, marking an eighth consecutive year without an increase." Coonelly: "We understand that the economy remains tough, and we want to make sure we remain extremely affordable for families. We thought it was the right thing to do." Coonelly indicated the team might be "considering increases in other areas," however. Coonelly: "We are looking at other types of pricing. I'm not a fan of the premium-game concept, but we continue to look at it" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/5).