Hank's sound and fury, signifying nothing

TAMPA, Fla.

Oh! Now I get it!

Hank Steinbrenner's line about "Some of the players too busy building mansions"? That didn't represent a personal attack on Derek Jeter, he explained yesterday. It was just "a euphemism."

A euphemism for what, I have no idea.

Yes, it felt like old times here at George M. Steinbrenner Field, as the club dealt with the aftermath of some bizarre, inflammatory comments by the team owner. Confusion, laughter and spin-doctoring ruled the day.

Hank's words don't carry the gravitas that his late father's once did, yet if they keep coming, they could produce the same destructive qualities. Which is why it would behoove the rest of the Yankees' royal family to convince Hank to zip the lip.

"The owners can say whatever they want to say," Jeter said, in response to Steinbrenner's headline-grabbing remarks on Monday. "They're the owners. They're entitled to their opinion. You don't have to necessarily agree with their opinions."

Jeter chuckled as he tried to comprehend Hank Steinbrenner's line about the mansions, which tied back into the co-chairperson's assertions that last year's Yankees "celebrated too much" from the 2009 World Series title. Hank also offered the oversimplified criticism of Major League Baseball's revenue-sharing program, which prompted phone calls from Bud Selig to Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine.

We pressed Hank, in his second straight day of media availability, to explain himself. To clarify how a team that won 95 games and fell two victories short of the World Series, as did the 2010 Yankees, could lack "hunger." To elaborate on how a mention of "building mansions" was not a dig at Jeter. He didn't come close to answering the questions, instead taking us on detours through the tough American League East and offering more gibberish about a "renewed spirit" on the Yankees this year.

Joe Girardi, meanwhile, nearly spun himself into the ground as he tried to balance not offending his boss and not alienating his players.

"Our guys are working hard," the Yankees manager said. "I'm proud of the way our guys are working right now. When Mr. Steinbrenner passed away, we knew that the expectations weren't going to change. They were going to remain the same here in New York. The Steinbrenner family has given us everything we need to win."

The Boss could cause quite a ruckus, and there were years - 1987, 1988, 2003 and 2005 come to mind - when you could make a strong argument that his words and actions derailed the club from its ultimate goal.

But if George Steinbrenner wanted to play it that way, well, he had earned the right to do so.

Hank Steinbrenner? He's minimally involved in the day-to-day operations of the team. He shows up at work when he feels like it. When he stirs up this sort of trouble, he creates more work for other people than he actually does himself.

Now, before the Grapefruit League has even commenced, Hank accomplishes no great harm. Yet what if Girardi and Jeter find themselves responding to similar comments while the team is at Fenway Park in August? It'll require energy and brain space they'd best expend in other places.

Steinbrenner seems to revel in generating such headlines, if only occasionally, and he sticks out with such conduct. Steinbrenner's brother Hal and sister Jennifer both have handled their responsibilities with great dignity. It's time for Hank to stay quiet. No euphemism required.