YANKEE NOTES

TAMPA – Jason Giambi called Barry Bonds his buddy yesterday, but Giambi didn’t want to comment on Bonds’ wild press conference held Tuesday.

“Barry’s a friend, and that’s it,” Giambi said yesterday. “Now it’s time to turn the page.”

Giambi and Bonds handled the leaking of their grand-jury testimony completely differently. Giambi reportedly admitted to using steroids under oath, and Bonds reportedly testified his use was unknowing. In the public forum, Giambi apologized, all but admitting the truth. Bonds stayed silent until Tuesday then danced around the subject, blasting the media instead.

“I just think different situations, that’s all,” Giambi said. “But like I said, he’s a good friend and I like him, that’s it. . . . For me, especially, I just want to get out there and play baseball.”

Gary Sheffield, who also testified in the BALCO case and was a former workout partner of Bonds, said he didn’t hear about Bonds’ comments.

*

Sheffield hit against Chien-Ming Wang in live batting practice. The right fielder said he took a few controlled swings before finally letting loose on a few cuts to test his surgically repaired left shoulder. “I feel fine,” Sheffield said.

Giambi hit off Wang and reported no problems with his swing or body. Giambi worked on hitting the ball to left-center but did drive a pitch over the wall in right field.

*

Carl Pavano said he was impressed by 2,346 fans at Legends Field to watch the Yankees work out yesterday.

“If I’m not mistaken, my first BP might’ve been [the same as] the first attendance of my first home game with the Marlins. But I’m not sure, I’d have to look that up,” said Pavano, who threw 10 minutes of BP. “We actually had some good crowds, but there was a lot of people, more than I anticipated, today.”

*

George Steinbrenner made a brief appearance between the bullpen and the indoor batting cages yesterday. He talked with Dwight Gooden and later embraced Ron Guidry outside the clubhouse.

Steinbrenner, asked if he saw Randy Johnson throw 10 minutes of batting practice, said, “I haven’t seen him pitch. I have nothing to say. Stay away.”

Later, Steinbrenner was asked if he had spoken with Giambi.

“I haven’t talked to him at all,” Steinbrenner said.

*

Infielder Felix Escalona won’t be disciplined when he arrives, but the Yankees don’t know exactly when that will be.

“We don’t know when he is coming in,” Joe Torre said.

Escalona had difficulty getting his visa in Venezuela.