Torre slams Yankees in upcoming book CARDINALS SOAR

Joe Torre takes some harsh swings at Alex Rodriguez, Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees in a book due out early next month, according to New York newspaper reports.

“The Yankee Years” reveals that Rodriguez was called “A-Fraud” by his teammates and the star slugger developed an obsession with shortstop Derek Jeter, the New York Post and the Daily News reported Sunday.

Torre, who managed the Yankees from 1996 to 2007 before taking over the Dodgers last season, also says he was betrayed by Cashman, New York’s longtime general manager, the Daily News reported on its website.

Torre had a hot-and-cold relationship with Yankees ownership, including George Steinbrenner, but Cashman was thought to be a consistent ally.

At the annual New York baseball writers’ dinner Sunday night, Cashman told reporters that Torre called him earlier in the day.

“I woke up today and saw the newspapers and I was surprised. My first reaction is to wait to hear or see what’s in the book,” Cashman said, adding that he was “comfortable” with his relationship with Torre. “I’m glad Joe gave me a call from Hawaii. It certainly made me feel better about what I was reading today.”

The book, co-written by Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci, is due out Feb. 3. It is not a first-person account but instead a third-person narrative by Verducci based on interviews with Yankees players and employees, ESPN.com reported, citing an unidentified source.

WINTER SPORTS

Vonn extends skiing lead

American Lindsey Vonn extended her overall World Cup lead by finishing 10th in the women’s giant slalom at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Kathrin Zettel led an Austrian sweep, winning in 2 minutes 47.10 seconds, 1.39 ahead of Michaela Kirchgasser and 1.71 ahead of Elisabeth Goergl.

Vonn leads the overall standings with 882 points, followed by Maria Riesch of Germany with 810 and Anja Paerson of Sweden with 775.

Julien Lizeroux beat out Jean-Baptiste Grange in a 1-2 French finish at a men’s World Cup slalom race at Kitzbuehel, Austria, in which American Bode Miller went out early in the first run after missing a gate.

HORSE RACING

Mare suffers ankle fractures

Spenditallbaby, a 5-year-old mare who ran in Saturday’s Sunshine Millions Distaff at Santa Anita, suffered two fractured sesamoids early in the race and will be evaluated at the barn of trainer Barry Abrams “for the next four to five days.”

Abrams is hoping the horse can be stabilized and then operated on to repair her ankles.

Also, jockey Garrett Gomez has been suspended for three days (Feb. 1, 4 and 5) for causing interference entering the clubhouse turn on Commandeered in Saturday’s 10th race.

-- Eric Sondheimer

ETC.

Browns hire a GM

George Kokinis, pro personnel director for the Baltimore Ravens, has been hired by the Cleveland Browns as general manager. . . . David Beckham scored his first goal for AC Milan in a 4-1 victory over Bologna in an Italian Serie A game. . . . An attorney for New York Knicks center Eddy Curry said Nova Henry, who was found slain along with her infant daughter in Chicago on Saturday, is Curry’s former girlfriend and the mother of his 3-year-old son, who was found unharmed at the scene. No one had been arrested as of Sunday morning. . . . David Donohue combined with former Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice, Antonio Garcia and Darren Law to win the 24-hour auto race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.