YANKEE NOTES
TAMPA – Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, in the area for the Final Four, stopped by Legends Field yesterday and watched part of the Yankees’ 8-5 loss to the lowly Devil Rays from George Steinbrenner’s luxury box.
Jackson and The Boss have been trying to find time to meet in order to discuss a possible position for Jackson, who served as a special adviser until the middle of last year, when the relationship was severed.
Recently, Jackson told The Post he would be willing to return to the Yankees, but the job had to have a definite description as well as substance.
According to a team source, Jackson and Steinbrenner are getting close to hammering something out.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all,” the source said.
Jackson was also on hand Saturday in Clearwater, where the Yankees played the Phillies, and sat with GM Brian Cashman.
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David Cone wasn’t concerned about a rough five innings yesterday when the Devil Rays spanked him for five runs and 10 hits.
“That was the best I felt all spring,” Cone said of the 104-pitch effort. “Sometimes you feel too good and try to do too much. I would have liked to be sharper. I need to control it a little more, let it come to me instead of forcing it.”
Cone hasn’t been told he will pitch the home opener on April 9, but that’s the way pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre will go.
“Regardless of what happened today, I feel good and I am ready to go,” said Cone, who will pitch against the Dodgers Saturday in LA.
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Orlando Hernandez also wasn’t sharp, giving up three runs and four hits in four innings of relief.
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One day after Cashman ordered Hideki Irabu to “kick it in the [butt] and show some more effort,” Irabu refused to get into a war of words with the front office.
“I don’t like to respond that way,” Irabu said yesterday. “That’s not the way I like to do things. That’s one of the things I dislike the most, getting in situations like that.”
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Scott Brosius was in the starting lineup yesterday but was scratched when he called in complaining of flu-like symptoms that included dizziness.
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Yankees re-assigned stud shortstop prospect Alfonso Soriano to the minor league camp and released Jerome Walton.
