By GEORGE A. KING III

Posted: 3:26 am
August 13, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - Hank Steinbrenner talking about next year was a strong indication he privately feels like a lot of other people: This year is gone.

After explaining to the Associated Press that he wasn't giving up on this season and pointing to key injuries having played a huge part in the disappointing year, Steinbrenner made a prediction about 2009.

"It's not making excuses. It's reality. That's part of the game. That's clearly our problem," Steinbrenner said of the injuries. "We're going to win it next year. If we need to add a top veteran pitcher, we'll do that. We'll do whatever we need to do. Next year we'll be extremely dangerous."

What about the remaining part of this year? While time is running out, Steinbrenner's comments caused a few heads to shake.

Joe Girardi avoided critiquing Steinbrenner's comments but didn't discount catching the Rays or Red Sox.

"I know we have had a lot of injuries to deal with," said Girardi, who lost Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui for extended time. "But I still believe this team can win."

Steinbrenner insisted he hasn't kissed this year good-bye and said he was pleased with the effort.

"I'm not writing off this season. They're trying hard to win. There's only so much you can do. They're not supermen," Steinbrenner said. "No team I've ever seen in baseball has been decimated like this. It would kill any team.

"Imagine the Red Sox without (Josh) Beckett and (Jon) Lester. Pitching is 70 percent of the game. Wang won 19 games two straight years. Chamberlain became the most dominating pitcher in baseball. You can't lose two guys like that."

Carl "American Idle" Pavano and Phil Hughes aren't candidates to start Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Dan Giese will get the ball.

Pavano went 41/3 innings last night for Trenton (Double-A), allowing five runs and seven hits (two homers), and Hughes worked for and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) and gave up two runs and three hits in 51/3 innings. The earliest they could pitch would be Aug. 23 against the Orioles. Since Pavano's rehab assignment doesn't expire until Aug. 27 and he is coming back from Tommy John surgery, Hughes is a stronger candidate to return to the big leagues faster.

On orders of owner Mike Ilitch, the Tigers put slugger Gary Sheffield on waivers yesterday. The AL East-leading Rays may make a play for the Tampa native, who hit two homers in a loss last night.