Selig Line Trips Steinbrenner

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — George Steinbrenner has made it quite clear the World Baseball Classic wasn’t his idea, and WBC organizers generally have taken a breath and allowed Steinbrenner his grousing.

The sign posted at Legends Field in Tampa, Fla., though, was more than Commissioner Bud Selig could take.

At their spring ballpark, the Yankees publicly apologized for the absence of some of their star players, reminded fans Steinbrenner did not support the tournament, and advised them to telephone the commissioner or the players’ union to voice their concerns.

Selig implied Sunday he ordered that the sign be taken down.

“Well,” Selig said, “it didn’t disappear by itself.”

There also could be further discussions with Steinbrenner and the Yankees, who lost Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Al Leiter to the U.S. roster alone.

Speaking broadly, Selig said, “At some point in your life, you’ve got to rise above your own selfish interests.”

Yankee players were unaware of the sign erected on their behalf most of a continent away, and reacted with sheepish grins.

“Oh [boy],” Rodriguez said. “They put the [phone] numbers in there too?”

Told they hadn’t, he said, “[The vote] was 29-1, so we know how the Boss feels about it.”

Said Jeter: “He has his own feelings. You have to understand his feelings. He’s entitled to his opinion. He’s the Boss. He’s entitled to his opinion and he always will be entitled to his opinion.”

And though Steinbrenner would argue that there is no greater priority than the pinstripes, Team USA Manager Buck Martinez said all they were asking for was a few players for three weeks.

“I’m sure there are some disappointed people,” he said. “At the same time, this might be a little bit of a higher calling every four years to come represent your country.”

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Selig addressed the 30 Team USA players before Sunday’s exhibition against the San Francisco Giants. He said he expressed his gratitude for their commitment to the tournament.

Roger Clemens said it was especially meaningful to him.

“He gave me the Commissioner’s Award a few years back,” he said, “so he must have thought I was done too.”

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In its only exhibition, Team USA defeated the Giants, 12-7. Clemens started and threw two scoreless innings; Chase Utley was five for five, including a home run; and Chipper Jones also homered.

Leiter, added to the roster when C.C. Sabathia and Billy Wagner withdrew last week, gave up five hits and four runs in one inning. Martinez said Leiter will still follow Dontrelle Willis on Wednesday against Canada.

Clemens topped out at 91 mph with his fastball but stuck mainly with sliders and a few splitters.

“He’s going to be pitching until he’s 50,” Derrek Lee said. “It’s amazing.”

Asked if he might nudge Clemens to consider the Cubs, Lee laughed and said, “Oh, we’ll take him. In a heartbeat.”

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The WBC has sold about 100,000 tickets for six games in Anaheim, according to an Angel official.... WBC organizers promised fans they would see something unique and, sure enough, Steve Finley lined a double off Clemens in the first inning.... Ken Griffey Jr. is wearing No. 3, in honor of his three children.... Willie Mays met with several of the Team USA players before the game. He said he would have played in such an event, and offered this roster for starters: Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Willie McCovey, Bill Mazeroski, Maury Wills, Eddie Mathews, Mickey Mantle, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Whitey Ford. “I would have had to lead off,” he said. “With Aaron, Robinson and me, somebody’d have to hit down the line a little bit.”