Steinbrenner's successor now up in the heir

George Steinbrenner's daughter is asking a divorce court judge to separate her interests in the family's business empire from her estranged husband, who until their Valentine's Day breakup seemed on track to take charge of the New York Yankees.

Divorce papers filed by Jennifer Lynn Steinbrenner Swindal in Hillsborough County (Fla.) Circuit Court this week also caused concern about Steve Swindal's group bid to operate thoroughbred racing in New York, which relies heavily on the Yankees' championship cache.

"I'm not commenting on anything," said Steve Swindal, who was at Legends Field yesterday.

Swindal currently is a Yankees general partner and chairman of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC. Steinbrenner spokesman How-ard Rubenstein said yesterday the Yankees had no additional comment on Swindal's standing. "Don't presume anything," Ru-benstein said.

"I have no intention of retiring, and my family runs the Yankees with me," Steinbrenner said in a Wednesday statement that cast doubt on Swindal's future. In June 2005, Steinbrenner said Swindal eventually would succeed him as head of the Yankees.

In Tuesday's divorce filing, Jennifer Swindal asks to keep the couple's $2.3 million home in Tampa's upscale Davis Island neighborhood. She asked for detailed records of her husband's finances but requested her own parts of the Steinbrenner empire "be protected and set aside."

The divorce papers said the Swindal's marriage of 23 years is "irretrievably broken." The couple, who have two grown children, separated on Feb. 14.

Swindal, 52, was arrested by St. Petersburg police early on Feb. 15 and charged with driving under the influence, a misdemeanor. Police said he was weaving and driving 61 mph in a 35 mph zone when he was pulled over. Swindal pleaded not guilty, and a pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 5.

On April 10-11, Swindal's Excelsior Racing Associates and other groups will present their proposals to run New York's thoroughbred racing operations at a public hearing.

In other news, the Yankees announced that Cory Lidle's widow and son will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Monday on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. Lidle, a pitcher the Yankees acquired from the Phillies last season, was killed in a plane crash on Oct. 11. Lidle's parents, Doug and Lisa, and his twin brother, Kevin, also will attend.

* Oakland first baseman Dan Johnson will begin the season on the disabled list after being diagnosed with torn cartilage in his left hip. Johnson was injured Monday in a collision at first. He could be sidelined up to 3 months.

* Oakland first baseman Dan Johnson will begin the season on the disabled list after being diagnosed with torn cartilage in his left hip. Johnson was injured Monday in a collision at first. He could be sidelined up to 3 months.

* Detroit lefthander Kenny Rogers was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a tired arm, a move that makes Chad Durbin the fifth starter. Manager Jim Leyland said Rogers will miss only one start.

* Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell has asked to start player interviews as part of his steroids probe and expects to complete his investigation in the "coming months." On the eve of the first anniversary of his appointment, Mitchell said evidence-gathering has been slowed by legal issues.

Mitchell's staff has been at spring training camps talking with management personnel; his investigators have not interviewed active players yet.

* Los Angeles Angels setup reliever Scot Shields agreed to a $14.6 million, 3-year contract extension through 2010.

* Only 8.4 percent of major league players last season were black, the lowest level in at least 2 decades. As recently as 1995, 19 percent of big leaguers were black, according to Richard Lapchick, director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports. Lapchick gave baseball a B+ for racial diversity, the same as last year, and a C+ for gender, up from a C. Its overall grade improved from C+ to B.

* Righthander Eric Gagne will start the season on the disabled list for the Texas Rangers, a move the team is making to give the closer more time in his comeback from elbow and back operations. The Rangers said Gagne hasn't had any health setbacks.

* Cincinnati outfielder Chris Denorfia will have reconstructive elbow surgery and will be out about 6 months. Denorfia batted .283 in 49 games last season.

* Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia expects to be ready for Opening Day despite a bruised left forearm from a line drive Wednesday. *