MLB NOTEBOOK: WILLIS HIT WITH DUI.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Florida Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis was released from jail Friday after being charged with drunken driving when a police officer noticed him stumbling and confused outside his car in Miami Beach.

Willis told reporters gathered outside Miami-Dade County jail that he would try to set a better example for his fans: ``I'll do a better job.''

The 2003 NL Rookie of the Year was arrested about 4a.m. after an officer noticed he had double-parked his black Bentley along a South Beach street lined with nightclubs, according to a police report. The officer said he saw Willis urinate on the street, so he later approached him after responding to an emergency call.

The officer said that Willis had watery eyes, slurred speech and appeared ``confused and disoriented.''

``He couldn't keep his balance, he had a strong smell of alcohol,'' police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said.

The 24-year-old Willis was arrested and taken to a police station, where he refused a breath test, Hernandez said. He spent more than six hours in jail before being released on $1,000 bail, jail spokeswoman Chandra Gavin Dinkins said.

Another injury for Griffey: Cincinnati Reds' center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. broke his left hand in an accident at home, the latest in a series of setbacks since he joined was traded to his hometown team for the 2000 season.

Griffey will have the hand in a hard cast for three weeks, then be re- examined, the team announced. The club wasn't authorized by Griffey to give any details of how he was hurt.

General manager Wayne Krivsky wasn't sure whether Griffey will be ready for the start of spring training. The club will have a better idea when the hand is examined again in three weeks.

Tax time: The New York Yankees were slapped with a $26 million luxury tax by the commissioner's office, raising New York's total to $97.75 million over the last four years.

Boston, which missed the playoffs, was the only other team over the tax threshold and will pay $497,549.

Also: Angels outfielder Juan Rivera suffered a broken bone in his lower left leg during a winter ball game in Venezuela. ... Utility infielder Eric Bruntlett and the Houston Astros agreed to a $525,000, one-year contract, up from $365,000 last season. ... Former major league catcher Chris Hoiles was hired as manager of York's new independent minor league baseball team. ... Outfielder Todd Donovan and infielder Jared Sandberg agreed to minor-league contracts with the Texas Rangers. ... The Boston Red Sox agreed to a minor league contract with pitcher Runelvys Hernandez, who was released this month by the Kansas City Royals.