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Baseball

Wells may face discipline

TAMPA -- Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he will have some light reading today when he gets a copy of David Wells' new book, Perfect I'm Not! Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball.

Wells met with Cashman on Saturday to apologize for the flap surrounding the book. According to advance excerpts, Wells said he was half-drunk when he pitched a perfect game in 1998. He also claims that 40 percent of players use steroids or amphetamines and says some derogatory things about teammates Mike Mussina and Roger Clemens.

Cashman said he would consider disciplining Wells if the information turned out to be accurate and caused embarrassment to the Yankees organization.

"We don't want to send the wrong message," Cashman said. "These players are role models, and a lot of youth look up to them. If any of this stuff is accurate, we'll exercise whatever rights we have.

"But first I have to read the book."

Wells held a team meeting with players and coaches before Sunday's game to try to smooth things over. None of the players would talk about what was said.

"I just wanted to get it out in the open, so we can move on," Wells said. "This was never intended to be a distraction."

Manager Joe Torre said he probably will not read the book any time soon. "I have about three books ahead of that one," he said.

WEIGHING IN: Dodgers infielder Ron Coomer believes his former teammate did baseball and the Yankees a disservice with some of the comments.

"He's a guy that likes attention and needs attention," Coomer said of Wells. "To say some of the stuff he said, I don't think that's appropriate. But that's Boomer.

"Boomer's okay. He's got a good heart. I think everybody knows what he's like. But is that stuff part of winning baseball? Is that going to help you win the World Series? It's quotable. But I don't think the controversy helps."

TRIO RETURNS: Derek Jeter said he felt fine in his first action since missing two games with a bruised left shin. He was 1-for-3.

Alfonso Soriano also said he felt good after missing four games with a sore right shoulder. "I feel okay. After I get loosened up with a few throws, I don't feel anything," he said.

Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth and picked up the win in his spring debut, a 5-4 win over the Devil Rays. Rivera's shoulder problems sent him to the DL twice last season.

NICK TO SWING: First baseman/DH Nick Johnson, who has been slowed by a sore left wrist, could resume taking batting practice today.

Johnson hit off a tee and took part in a soft toss session for the second straight day.

"Feels pretty good," he said. "Very, very little pain. Nowhere near the other side of things. I'm happy."

TODAY: The Yankees host Toronto at 1:15 at Legends Field. Left-hander Andy Pettitte faces Jays left-hander Mark Hendrickson.

-- JEREMY RASMUSSEN, TIMES WIRES

Jays letting Phelps heal

DUNEDIN -- Josh Phelps, the man expected to fill the DH role for the Blue Jays this season, has been noticeable by his absence the first two games this spring.

Manager Carlos Tosca explained that absence when he revealed Phelps is being bothered by a knee problem.

"He's got a little something going on in his knee and we're trying to find the right program to get him on so he's able to go and get himself ready for the 31st (opening day)," Tosca said. "It's nothing serious, but we are just playing around with what is going to be best for him."

Tosca said the injury "came as the result of the surgery (Phelps) had."

Phelps actually had two knee surgeries two winters ago. Surgeons missed a tear the first time and had to go back in. That resulted in Phelps playing only sparingly (29 at-bats) last spring.

He began the year at Triple-A Syracuse but joined the major-league team for good in July, where he hit .309 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs in 74 games.

Phelps was scheduled to see a doctor Sunday.

"It's nothing serious enough that it will cause further damage," Tosca said.

MORE INJURY UPDATES: Shortstop Chris Woodward, a late scratch from Saturday's game with tightness in his hamstring, remained tender in that area and sat out another game. He's listed as day to day.

Mike Moriarty, the nonroster infielder who was struck on the left side of his face with a 95-mph fastball Saturday, is scheduled to be re-examined Friday. A CT scan on Moriarty on Saturday revealed a broken cheek bone and orbital bone.

"His injuries were not as serious as we anticipated," Tosca said. "He's got a couple of broken bones but they are not displaced fractures. I talked to him (Saturday night). He sounded fine."

-- MIKE GANTER

Wolf struggles in debut

DUNEDIN -- The Blue Jays roughed up a wild Randy Wolf in an 8-6 victory over the Phillies.

Toronto scored five off Wolf, who allowed four hits and walked three in 22/3 innings. He threw 28 of 54 pitches for strikes.

"I was missing over the plate too much, my location was inconsistent," Wolf said. "I'm not one to panic right now, but I am going to be a tiny bit more forgiving to myself."

MYERS SIGNS: Right-hander Brett Myers agreed to a one-year contract that will pay him $300,000 if he makes the major-league club and $70,000 if he is sent to the minors.

-- ASSOCIATED PRESS

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