Yankees Managing General Partner & co-Chair Hal Steinbrenner on Friday held a "rarity" of an interview session with reporters, discussing the "various issues facing his franchise," according to Andy McCullough of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Steinbrenner said of recent reports linking 3B Alex Rodribguez to PEDs, "It’s a concern. But it’s out of our hands. We’ll cooperate with MLB anyway we can, and anyway we’re asked to." McCullough noted the Yankees previously had "declined all comment" regarding Rodriguez' alleged PED use (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/9). On Long Island, Erik Boland wrote, "By and large, from fans in particular and also many members of the media, the Yankees' winter has been more excoriated than extolled." Words "such as 'cheap' and 'cost-conscious' have liberally made the rounds." Steinbrenner: "There was nothing cheap about Kuroda's contract or Pettitte's contract. I mean, I don't know. Sometimes I have to scratch my head'' (NEWSDAY, 2/10). Steinbrenner said, "We have a similar payroll to last season. That shows we want to win. So that (criticism, about being cheap) was a little disappointing. But as far as the acquisitions themselves, whatever criticism there was doesn’t bother me because I know they were the right moves.” In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote what Steinbrenner is saying is that "if the Yankees can’t win again despite spending the kind of money they have been spending for years," then maybe all MLB teams "need to take a look at the way his money is being spent" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/10). On Long Island, David Lennon wrote there is "more available cash than ever" for MLB teams. Mets GM Sandy Alderson said, "I think the landscape is definitely changing. The question is how long these changes will afford competitive advantages to these teams ... If teams are making money, they're more likely to spend it" (NEWSDAY, 2/10).
