Sternberg Speaks

"On the whole, the wins and losses have been unacceptable," said Sternberg, who used the final word more than once during the course of an interview.

"We all have fallen short," he said. "I know everybody's working hard. ... But we've got to make sure that we're doing that little extra every day. If people can look in the mirror and say, 'I'm doing that extra every day, everything that's asked of me and then some,' then that's fine. I just don't feel like we're getting that output, because if we were we'd be doing better."

The manager traditionally is among the first to take the fall when similar sentiments are expressed, and the Rays have less than a month remaining to decide whether to pick up Joe Maddon's options for 2008 and 2009. Sternberg didn't have much to say on that topic Friday.

"There's nothing that's imperative or needs to be done right now, so when it has to be done it'll be done," said Sternberg. "Joe is our manager and I don't make any decisions before I have to."

"I know we're going to be spending more money this year," he said. "I expect to be active again and we have some pieces to add and we will, as Andrew [Friedman] says, be opportunistic wherever we can."