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Notebook: Yankees respectful of defending champs
There is no word if George Steinbrenner was responsible for the wording, but the Yankees certainly noticed.
Anaheim eliminated the Yankees in the division series last year on its way to winning the World Series.
"I saw it, and it looked funny to me," shortstop Derek Jeter said. "I can't say I liked the way it looked."
"I took note of that," manager Joe Torre said. "It's just a tip of the cap to them. They are the champions. They ran over us last year."
The Angels scored 31 runs in beating the Yankees in four games in last season's ALDS, and apparently, they still aren't afraid of the Yankee mystique. The Yankees were on the verge of being swept by the Angels before beating them, 10-4, on Thursday.
"They're a young team, and their not afraid of anybody," Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams said. "They're not easily intimidated."
EAST
Boston's Pedro Martinez, despite battling a slight groin pull, pitched six shutout innings, striking out eight, in a win over Texas on Thursday. ... Tampa Bay has the first pick in June's draft. The Devils Rays have narrowed that pick to three -- infielder Rickie Weeks of Southern University; California high schooler Delmon Young, brother of Detroit's Dimitri Young; and outfielder Ryan Harvey of Dunedin High, a St. Petersburg, Fla., suburb.
CENTRAL
Chicago manager Jerry Manuel took a shot at White Sox fans following the team's 2-4 road trip to Oakland and Seattle. Questioned last Sunday about the reception the White Sox would receive at home, Manuel asked, "Have we ever had a good welcoming?" and said he expected "55,000" fans at U.S. Cellular Field, which holds 47,098. ... Cleveland rookie second baseman Brandon Phillips, after hitting just .231 through April, batted .476 (10 for 21) during a recent six-game hitting streak that ended Thursday against Seattle. ... Royals closer Mike MacDougal blew his third save opportunity in four tries Tuesday at Minnesota, but manager Tony Pena's confidence hasn't been shaken. "He's my closer you know, it's not like I'm going to give up on my closer, I still believe in him," he said. ... Gold glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz made his first career appearance in the outfield Tuesday, playing right field late in Minnesota's win over Kansas City. ... Detroit's Steve Avery pitched to just one batter Wednesday night, but picked up the win in the Tigers' 2-1 victory over Oakland. The win was Avery's first since July 9, 1999, when he was pitching for Cincinnati.
WEST
Oakland's first interleague game is June 3 at Florida, and to get his pitchers ready to play in National League parks, A's manager Ken Macha has begun letting them hit off a tee. "I'm going to go out on a limb here," A's pitcher Tim Hudson said. "(Barry) Zito will never get a hit." Zito is 0 for 9 in his career. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that center fielder Darin Erstad, out since April 19 because of tendonitis in his right hamstring, will require a minor-league rehabilitation assignment. ... President Bush called Texas first baseman Rafael Palmeiro on Monday to congratulate him on his 500th career home run. "He just said he was very proud of me for my accomplishments," Palmeiro said. "He said I belonged with the greatest players in the history of the game. Naturally, I disagreed with him, but he said my name goes up there." Bush led a group of investors who bought the Rangers in 1989 and was their managing general partner. ... Through Friday, Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is hitting .418 (23 for 55) in May.
