''Consider the source, that's number one. [Jose Canseco] wouldn't have been able to hit the ball out of the infield without steroids.... There are certain naturals. There are guys who can just do it, and Alex [Rodriguez] is one of those guys.''

Yankees senior vp Hank Steinbrenner, defending A-Rod to The Record of Bergen County, N.J., against charges made in Canseco's new book.