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Tino Martinez just wants to hit

By MARK DIDTLER, PAUL HAGEN and TONY MARASCHIELLO

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 24, 2001

TAMPA -- Tino Martinez is not worried about the possibility people might associate a strong season with the fact the first baseman is in the final year of his contract.

"I don't think about it," Martinez said. "Last year I had a horrible year. I want to have a great year, every year. It wasn't a whole lot of fun to have a year like I had last year."

Martinez worked with a personal trainer in the off-season and appears poised to better last season's .258 average with 16 homers and 91 RBI. It was the first time Martinez had not driven in 100 runs since joining the Yankees in 1996.

"I know it's the last year of my contract, but I'm not going to approach it any different," Martinez said.

TOP NAMES THROW TODAY: The Yankees will work out at 10 this morning. It will be the final day of full-scale live pitching during batting practice. Pitchers scheduled to throw include Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Orlando Hernandez.

ETC.: Closer Mariano Rivera (food poisoning) reported no problems after a bullpen session and will throw batting practice Sunday. ... Right-hander Ramiro Mendoza (shoulder) also worked in the bullpen and should have a batting practice session early next week. -- MARK DIDTLER

Phan Fest tonight

CLEARWATER -- The club will hold its annual Phan Fest tonight at Jack Russell Stadium in conjunction with the city of Clearwater and the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce.

The event features autographs, a free hot dog and soda, fireworks, face painters, an appearance by the Phillie Phanatic, clowns, musical entertainment and a silent auction of baseball memorabilia. Admission is free. Gates open at 6.

Players scheduled to be available for autographs include Doug Glanville, Travis Lee, Bobby Abreu, Jimmy Rollins, Randy Wolf, Bruce Chen, Ricky Bottalico and Jose Mesa. Two autographs stations will be set up with a $10 charge at each station.

In addition, for $10 fans can also have their pictures taken with John Kruk, a member of the 1993 National League championship team who is a hitting coach for the Reading Phillies.

All proceeds will go to the Clearwater Parks and Recreation Department to benefit the Tee Ball programs for boys and girls 4-7.

CORMIER ON HOLD: The club still doesn't know when left-hander Rheal Cormier will throw off the mound for the first time this spring, but manager Larry Bowa said he will be concerned if Cormier is not there by March 5.

BURRELL APOLOGIZES: Leftfielder Pat Burrell, whose sexually explicit interview in the April issue of Penthouse has created a small furor, made a brief statement. "I just want to reiterate that it was not my intention to embarrass anybody, not players, staff or the organization," he said. "I'd like to put this in the past." Said Larry Bowa: "He's a young (24) kid and he said he made a mistake." -- PAUL HAGEN

Ash ignoring Wells

DUNEDIN -- General manager Gord Ash shrugged off comments made by former Jays pitcher David Wells that Toronto had tried to "stick it" to him by trading him to the White Sox.

Wells told reporters at the White Sox spring training facility in Tucson, Ariz., that he felt the Jays were trying to punish him for disparaging comments he made in a New York newspaper last month about the Toronto organization and its fans. Wells also said in the article that he wanted to be traded to the Mets.

"I think (the Jays) knew I wanted to go there, so they said, "You know what? You did that (interview) and we're going to stick it to you. And we're going to trade you to Chicago,' " Wells said.

Ash, who made the trade Jan. 14, wasn't impressed:

"He can believe what he wants to believe. I recall he has said things in the past and that days and weeks later he has changed his mind on." -- TONY MARASCHIELLO

Today's workouts

BLUE JAYS: 9 a.m. at Englebert Complex, 1700 Solon Ave., Dunedin.

PHILLIES: 10 a.m. at Carpenter Complex, 651 Old Coachman Road, Clearwater.

YANKEES: 10 a.m. at Legends Field complex, 1 Steinbrenner Drive, Tampa.

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