Field renamed for Steinbrenner
It was almost a perfect day for New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
Derek Jeter homered Thursday, but the Yankees lost 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.
The Yankees' spring training home, formerly Legends Field, was renamed in honor of the owner in a pregame ceremony. The Tampa City Council and the Hillsborough County Commission recently approved resolutions calling for the name change.
"Well deserved," Jeter said. "They could have named it for him when they opened the field. What he's meant, not only to the Yankees organization, but what he's done for the community of Tampa. A special day. I'm very happy for him."
Steinbrenner helped pull the cover off a new sign above the scoreboard in left field. His wife, Joan, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
"It was great," George Steinbrenner said. "It was a great ceremony."
McNamee speaks: Former New York Yankees trainer Brian McNamee resurfaced to give a brief motivational speech in to a small group of workout buffs in Everett, Mass., on Thursday but refused to comment on the steroid scandal that landed him and his famous former client in front of Congress.
In his first public comments since testifying that he injected seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone, McNamee gave about 25 high school athletes, coaches and parents a warning about mistakes that can tarnish one's reputation.
"My lifetime of actions can be defined by one singular monumental mistake," he said in a 12-minute talk at a friend's supplement store. "I believe firmly that everyone deserves a second chance. Every second chance needs a first step. Today, I'm taking that first step."
McNamee canceled sit-down interviews with a local television station and Associated Press reporter, saying, "I've got to think about my kids."
He did not elaborate, walking away and leaving through the back door as the lights were turned off.
Around the horn: Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen said his broken right middle finger could sideline him for six weeks. … Red Sox ace Josh Beckett, who missed the team's just-concluded trip to Japan because of back spasms, pitched 4 shutout innings in a minor-league game in Florida on Thursday. … Atlanta's John Smoltz threw in the bullpen for about 20 minutes and called the session his "best day" of the spring. Smoltz said he is on track to make his first regular-season start on April 6 and said he had no recurrence of the shoulder stiffness he suffered on Friday, forcing him to be held out of a scheduled start. … The suspension of Kansas City Royals catcher Miguel Olivo was reduced from five to four games. Olivo had been suspended for the start of this season because of a fight with the New York Mets during the final weekend of last season while he was with the Florida Marlins. …
Colorado right-hander Kip Wells, demoted to the bullpen last week, got a start Thursday and gave up a run and 3 hits in 3 innings of a 6-2 win over an Angels split squad. He lowered his spring ERA to 4.71. He's slated to come out of the Rockies' bullpen after going 7-17 with a 5.70 ERA in 26 starts with St. Louis in 2007. … Brandon Inge went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 14-5.