Williams Has Appendectomy

Bernie Williams had his appendix removed Thursday, and New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre said the center fielder probably would miss opening day.

“I’m very sorry for Bernie because he came in in such great shape and worked so hard,” Yankee owner George Steinbrenner said. “He’s a very integral part of this team. I know Bernie. He’ll fight through it and be back quicker than everybody thinks.”

Williams, New York’s regular center fielder since 1992, began experiencing discomfort Wednesday night, Torre said, and was sent to St. Joseph’s Hospital for tests Thursday. Doctors determined the 35-year-old Williams needed an appendectomy, which was performed by Dr. Joseph Diaco.

“It would be a long shot for him to start the season,” Torre said. “It will probably put him back three weeks. I think in three weeks he can probably get in the flow of things. It wouldn’t be fair to rush him at-bats and all that stuff.”

Williams is expected to be the Yankees’ main designated hitter this season as Kenny Lofton takes over in center field.

Travis Lee, who agreed to a contract this week, and Jason Giambi will probably split time between first base and DH until Williams returns.

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The Yankees released third baseman Aaron Boone, nearly six weeks after he hurt his knee in a pickup basketball game.

The injury, which could sideline him the entire season, set the stage for the Yankees to acquire Alex Rodriguez from Texas last week. Boone, a National League All-Star last season, becomes a free agent.

The 30-year-old third baseman already had agreed to a one-year, $5.75-million contract, but the Yankees contend Boone violated the guarantee language, which prohibited basketball.

New York says he is entitled only to 30 days of termination pay, which comes to $917,553 over the 188-day season.

The move cuts the Yankee payroll to $180.9 million.

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Eight days after Barry Bonds’ personal trainer was indicted on charges of distributing illegal steroids, Commissioner Bud Selig sent a memorandum to the 30 teams banning personal trainers, friends and agents from “all playing fields, dugouts, clubhouses and related facilities.”

The memorandum, dated Feb. 20 and issued under the names of Selig and Sandy Alderson, baseball’s executive vice president, was sent to all 30 teams and was obtained by Associated Press. Alderson said personal trainers also would be banned from ballpark weight rooms.

While it didn’t mention the steroid probe directly, the memo said “recent events have reinforced the need to consistently and uniformly enforce regulations limiting clubhouse access.”

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Lon Simmons, a broadcaster for more than four decades and one of the original voices of the San Francisco Giants, was selected to receive the Ford C. Frick Award.

Simmons called games for San Francisco and Oakland for 41 years before retiring after the 2002 season. He will be the 29th broadcaster inducted into the broadcast wing of the Hall of Fame.