Contrast Hank’s antics reported by Heyman and Hal’s words reported by Kat O’Brien. Hank needs to go home and run the horse ranches and restaurants:

In a phone interview that took place shortly after the Yankees-Rays game began yesterday afternoon – a game that the Yankees would lose to fall into last place at 20-22 – Steinbrenner said of his team: “I’ve been discouraged at times. We knew with the young pitching that we might go through some growing pains. We knew we would have to be patient there. What’s more disappointing to me is the hitting. The hitting and the injuries, which are nobody’s fault. You can’t win many games if you only score one or two runs.”

Hank Steinbrenner, Hal’s older brother and fellow team co-chairman, singled out some players he was unhappy with the other day, but Hal Steinbrenner did not name names. He said anyone perusing the statistics can figure out who has underperformed.

Steinbrenner said he is looking forward to Alex Rodriguez’s return to action within the next week and Jorge Posada’s return, likely next month. When they get back in the lineup, he believes the Yankees still will be in position to make a run.

“It’s certainly discouraging at times,” Steinbrenner said, “but we’ve got a great team and I believe we’ll be fine. We just need to get a little lucky with the injuries and start hitting again.”

With Rodriguez and Posada still out, Steinbrenner said: “The other guys need to step up.”

It wasn’t quite the harsh calling out that Hank Steinbrenner had issued when he said the Yankees must improve their energy and effort level and begin earning their pay. Hal Steinbrenner instead talked about the season being a “marathon” and the need to be patient over 162 games.

“We need to just stay in the hunt,” he said of surviving the injury bug. ” ... I absolutely feel we have a great team. I believe we have as good a chance as anybody this year.”