Hank Steinbrenner: We fell short
Published at
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The New York Yankees entered the 2012 season with a major league-high $222 million payroll and with expectations of a 28th World Series title. That goal was not achieved after their four-game exit in the ALCS against the Tigers.
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been the whipping boy around town after he batted just .111 in the ALCS and .120 in the postseason, while striking out 12 times. But Yankees co-chairperson Hank Steinbrenner isn’t putting all the blame on Rodriguez.
‘‘He was just one of quite a few that just had a bad time at the plate,’’ Steinbrenner said Friday during a telephone interview. ‘‘So is it fair to accuse him of everything but the Kennedy assassination? No, it’s not fair, but we’ll see what happens from this point on.’’
‘‘We fell short of our singular and constant goal,’’ he said. ‘‘Make no mistake, this was a bitter end to our year, and we fully intend to examine our season in its totality, assess all of our strengths and weaknesses and take the necessary steps needed to maintain our sole focus of winning the World Series in 2013. Great teams — and organizations — use disappointment as a motivation for future improvements and success. In the days, weeks and months ahead, we plan to do what’s necessary to return this franchise to the World Series.’’
Rodriguez is signed through the 2017 season and has a full no-trade clause and he is owed $114 million over the next five seasons.
‘‘I’m not going to get into that at this point,’’ Steinbrenner said when asked if Rodriguez would be traded during the offseason.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio