NEW YORK - Joe Torre insisted Thursday he was not trying to get himself fired as Yankees manager when he criticized his boss in a television interview Wednesday.
Apparently, he has nothing to worry about. Principal owner George Steinbrenner did not fire back at Torre on Thursday, offering encouragement instead.
"I've tried to be a good owner and I consider Joe Torre to be a good friend," Steinbrenner said in a statement. "I support him totally and will not be critical of Joe in any way."
In an interview with Fox News Channel, Torre said Steinbrenner should trust him more and suggested his job status had become a distraction in the clubhouse.
"I don't regret saying what I said, only because I didn't think I said anything I hadn't said before," Torre said Thursday. "But if I knew it was going to cause this much attention, I probably would have said "no comment' somewhere along the line."
In other Yankees news, centerfielder Bernie Williams might start hitting off a tee today as he continues his rehabilitation from surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
The Yankees also expect right-hander Jon Lieber to throw batting practice within the next two weeks as he continues his comeback from ligament replacement surgery.
Cubs deal for Rockies' Hernandez
DENVER - The Rockies traded All-Star shortstop Jose Hernandez to the Cubs for infielder Mark Bellhorn and minor-league right-hander Travis Anderson.
Hernandez was an All-Star with the Brewers last season, when he had 24 homers and 78 RBIs. He was a Cub from 1994-99.
Bellhorn hit 27 homers in 2002, a Cubs record for a switch-hitter. He is batting .209 with two homers and 22 RBIs this season.
In other Cubs news, Sammy Sosa's contract had a clause that allowed the team to withhold his salary while he was on suspension for using a corked bat. That was overriden by the latest Basic Agreement, meaning Sosa made about $500,000 for not playing.
ALL-STAR GAME: Dusty Baker, who will manage the NL team, named Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon to his coaching staff.
MARLINS: Top prospect Miguel Cabrera was called up from Double-A Carolina to be Florida's leftfielder. Cabrera, 20, was batting .365 with 10 homers and 59 RBIs in 68 games for the Mudcats, mostly as a third baseman.
RANGERS: Shortstop Alex Rodriguez left in the seventh with a bloody nose after being hit by a throw but is expected to play today.
