The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Don Zimmer lashed out at New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for saying it was up to Joe Torre to fix the struggling team.

"I got fed up reading all the things about our manager who has won four World Series in seven years," Zimmer said Wednesday. "That's a joke. Then again, he's the Boss."

Steinbrenner told newspapers earlier this week that he had given Torre everything he had asked for, so it was the manager's responsibility to make sure the team started playing better.

"For seven years here it was Tampa's team. That's all we heard. 'We'll pick the team, we'll pick the team,' " Zimmer said. "All of a sudden we're losing, and it's suddenly Joe's team? That's very unfair. I respect him. He's still the Boss. But that doesn't mean I can't say something."

While general manager Brian Cashman is based in New York, much of the Yankees' management team is located in Tampa, Fla., where the team trains each spring.

Steinbrenner didn't comment as he arrived at Yankee Stadium just before Wednesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox.

ASTROS: Right-hander Brian Moehler, on the disabled list since April 17, will undergo reconstructive elbow surgery today and miss the rest of the season.

The surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Moehler met with Andrews on Wednesday to get a second opinion on his injury, diagnosed last week as a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament.

BLUE JAYS: Right-hander Justin Miller will undergo surgery on his right shoulder today.

Miller hasn't played for the Blue Jays this season because of shoulder soreness. He went 9-5 with a 5.54 ERA in 25 games, including 18 starts for Toronto last season.

The Blue Jays won't know how long will be sidelined for until after the surgery.

GIANTS: The Giants activated outfielder Marvin Benard from the 15-day disabled list before Wednesday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Benard had minor surgery on his right knee earlier this month. He's appeared in 19 games with the Giants this season, batting .080 with one RBI.

To make room for Benard, right-hander Manny Aybar was designated for assignment. Aybar appeared in three games this year.

TWINS: Minnesota optioned first baseman Todd Sears to Triple-A Rochester of the International League on Wednesday and recalled outfielder Lew Ford.

Sears had hit safely in 12 of his 17 games with the Twins this year.