Source: Lower-Hudson Journal

TAMPA, Fla. - Spring training is 10 days old, and George Steinbrenner has spoken to reporters once - and that was only for a few seconds. He has not come into the clubhouse, either.

The Yankees are determined to shield their 76-year-old owner from the public and aren't above using a little subterfuge to do so.

Steinbrenner visited the employee lunchroom yesterday at 2:45 p.m. and sat down for a meal of fried catfish, potatoes, corn, chocolate cake and a cup of coffee. Dressed in a blue jacket and wearing sunglasses, he sat there for just over an hour chatting with some friends and his son Hank.

Word filtered up to the press box, and within a few minutes, nine reporters and a camera crew were waiting to ask him questions.

Two Tampa police officers and three Legends Field security guards banned reporters from entering the room. One of Steinbrenner's assistants then parked his golf cart in front of the door. The cart is his usual means of transport.

But when Steinbrenner emerged, he was escorted through a side door by foot. When reporters tried to follow, a security guard blocked the way until Steinbrenner was out of the area.

Chalk one up for the Yankees. But spring training continues through March 31, and Steinbrenner usually finds a way to be heard at some point.

Time to get serious: Now that everybody is loose, there will be live batting practice today on the main field.

Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Kei Igawa, Carl Pavano, Phil Hughes and Humberto Sanchez will face Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Alberto Gonzalez, Robinson Cano, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui and Doug Mientkiewicz.

Each pitcher will get 30-40 pitches.

"The hitters will have a wonderful time," Torre said.

Hendricks stops in: Yes, that was agent Randy Hendricks at Legends Field. No, he wasn't there to talk to the Yankees about Roger Clemens.

Hendricks told The Journal News that he was in town to see his other prominent client, left-hander Pettitte. But you can bet Clemens was mentioned at some point when Hendricks spoke with team executives.

Clemens is expected to be at Houston's camp within the next two weeks to work out with his son Koby. Hendricks said Clemens has not decided if he will pitch this season.

Sheff stews: Gary Sheffield told the New York Post that Torre "took the fire out of me."

Sheffield's complaint was that didn't start Game 3 of the division playoffs last season. He also said he needed an extra month or two to recover from wrist surgery, although at the time he said he was fine.

Like many a manager who has dealt with Sheffield, Torre really didn't know what to make of the comments.

"You'd like to believe that every player you manage would always have nice things to say about you," he said. "I don't really comment on stuff like that ... You do the best you can."

Extra bases: The Yankees have given up on seeing Bernie Williams. "It's sad but not surprising in the fact I hadn't heard from him," Torre said. ... Right-hander Steven White threw from halfway up the mound and seems recovered from his shoulder woes. ... The Yankees will have an intersquad game on Tuesday that will last 10 or 11 innings.