YANKEE NOTES

Jason Giambi exiting for Tony Clark isn’t out of character – Joe Torre does it often for defense. But Clark replacing Giambi in the top of the seventh yesterday, with the Yankees in front by two runs and Giambi’s spot in the order five stops away, was odd.

“The day game after a night game, I knew he wasn’t going to go nine. His [left] knee got a little tired,” Torre said.

Giambi downplayed it but admitted he has to watch the surgically repaired joint.

“It was tired after the long game [Tuesday night] and the day/night thing,” said Giambi, who went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs in the 7-4 win over the Angels. “I wanted to make sure about it. It will be a battle all year until I can get it right. I have to take care of myself.”

* Yesterday’s win was Joe Torre‘s 1,700th. He is the 13th manager in major-league history to reach that milestone . . . The Yankees have talked to pitcher Jimmy Haynes‘ representatives about the right-hander signing with Columbus (Triple-A). Haynes, a pitcher the Yankees liked when with Oakland, was released by the Reds recently and cleared waivers. Haynes was a 15-game winner for the Reds in 2002 and a 12-game loser last year.

* While the Yankees have a crying need for somebody other than Donovan Osborne to be their fifth starter, Osborne’s performance tomorrow against the Mariners won’t determine Jose Contreras‘ timetable as far as returning from the minor leagues.

“We will bring him back when he is ready,” GM Brian Cashman said of Contreras, who starts Sunday for Columbus (Triple-A). “Hopefully, we will make the right decision.”

Contreras pitched 62/3 innings Tuesday for the Clippers and suffered through a stretch when he wasn’t as aggressive as the Yankees would like, according to Torre.

“We will wait and see. He was mixed the last time, he had lapses in the middle innings where he wasn’t as good,” Torre said. “I don’t want to say he needs two or three more or the next one is enough.

“We will wait and see how he progresses. Let’s see what happens Sunday.”

* With Jorge Posada out but not headed to the DL, the Yankees recalled David Parrish from Columbus (Triple-A). To make room for Parrish on the 25-man roster, the Yankees sent right-handed reliever Scott Proctor to Columbus.

Parrish, a No. 1 pick in 2000, was dropped off the 40-man roster after a very disappointing 2003 season. To make room for Parrish on the 40-man roster, the Yankees shifted 1B Travis Lee to the 60-day DL.

Parrish, who was hitting .233 for Columbus, was promoted over Sal Fasano because the Yankees believe Posada won’t be out long. If they elevated Fasano, he would have been subject to waivers when sent back.

In five minor-league seasons, Parrish was hitting .238. He is the son of former big-league catcher Lance Parrish.

“He probably hasn’t come as quickly as anticipated but it’s not from a lack of work,” Torre said.