YANKEE NOTES

TOKYO – Lost in Hideki Matsui’s memorable night at the Tokyo Dome was Jose Contreras’ third straight strong outing.

“I feel great physically and I feel good mentally. I am ready to start the season,” Contreras said after giving up one run (unearned) and three hits in five innings against the Yomiuri Giants.

“He is getting better at maintaining his aggressiveness,” Joe Torre said of his fourth starter.

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Yankees made four errors and Torre suggested playing on the artificial turf was one reason why.

“It’s a game of indecisiveness on this stuff,” Torre said. “Hopefully, we won’t have defensive problems.”

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Bernie Williams will play the outfield in a minor league game today in Tampa. He was originally slated to do that yesterday.

“It’s a move back, I don’t think it’s a setback,” Torre said. “He is still getting his at-bats.”

Williams hasn’t played the outfield due to an appendectomy on Feb. 26. Torre said the Yankees weren’t thinking of starting the season with Williams on the DL.

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There are different balls being used in the exhibition games. Japanese pitchers are throwing the smaller Mizuno ball and the MLB hurlers are tossing the Rawlings ball, which is bigger.

“It felt a little different,” Hideki Matsui said of hitting the smaller ball. “On the home run, I felt it stayed in the air a little longer.”

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Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre handled all the pitching changes but Torre said he will handle that chore when the regular season starts.

OPENING DAY LINEUP

Derek Jeter SS

Hideki Matsui LF

Alex Rodriguez 3B

Jason Giambi 1B

Gary Sheffield RF

Jorge Posada C

Ruben Sierra DH

Enrique Wilson 2B

Kenny Lofton CF

Mike Mussina P