NEW YORK (AP) – George Steinbrenner called the voting for AL Rookie of the Year a “farce” and ripped two baseball writers for leaving his outfielder, Hideki Matsui, off their ballots.

The New York Yankees owner castigated Bill Ballou of the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette and Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, who said veterans who come from the Japanese leagues shouldn’t be eligible for the award.

Kansas City shortstop Angel Berroa won the award by a vote of 88-84 Monday, the closest rookie race in 24 years. Matsui and Berroa were both left off two ballots.

“I firmly believe that a great injustice has been done to Hideki Matsui,” Steinbrenner said in a statement Tuesday, adding that the two reporters “made up their own rules.”

The reporters defended their votes.

“When Mr. Steinbrenner spends multiple millions to lure an MVP-caliber player from a major professional league, he should be embarrassed that such a high-profile player is vying for the Rookie of the Year award, and not the American League MVP award,” Souhan said in an e-mail.

Ballou said he didn’t take Steinbrenner’s remarks as a personal attack.

“I take it as a difference of baseball opinion.”

“I don’t think his opinions are unreasonable at all. I’m comfortable with my vote and haven’t changed my mind.”

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which conducts the vote, said it abides by the eligibility rules set by the commissioner’s office.

“We have honored Japanese players with Rookie of the Year awards in the past and will probably do so in the future,” BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O’Connell said in an e-mail.