Yankees' Steinbrenner issues letter to fans

Amid an listless end to their 2012 season, New York Yankees managing general partner Hank Steinbrenner issued a statement to fans.

The Yankees, who won 95 games during the regular season, but were swept by the 88-win Detroit Tigers, prompting an offseason filled with questions.

"I want to thank our passionate fans for their support this season," Steinbrenner wrote. "We fell short of our singular and constant goal, which is a World Series Championship. However, I am proud of the accomplishments of this year's team. We earned the best record in the American League and were one of the four teams to advance to the League Championship Series, despite having to overcome and fight through a series of long-term injuries to a number of our key players.

"Make no mistake, this was a bitter end to our year, and we fully intend to examine our season in its totality, assess all of our strengths and weaknesses and take the necessary steps needed to maintain our sole focus of winning the World Series in 2013. Great teams-and organizations-use disappointment as a motivation for future improvements and success. In the days, weeks and months ahead, we plan to do what's necessary to return this franchise to the World Series.

"Nothing has changed. Nothing will change. My family-and our organization-has a long-standing commitment to provide all of our fans a championship-caliber team year after year.

"We may have fallen short yesterday but we never feel sorry for ourselves and never make excuses. We already are beginning the process to find a way to win our 28th World Championship.

"I want to congratulate Mike Ilitch, Dave Dombrowski, Jim Leyland, and the Detroit Tigers. They certainly proved worthy of representing the American League in the World Series, and are well deserving of this honor."