TAMPA – Joe Torre met briefly with Hideki “Godzilla” Matsui yesterday and told the Yankees’ marketing tool/left fielder that one rule fits all.

“I explained to him we all live by the same rules,” Torre said during a post-workout press conference at Legends Field. “The big thing I addressed with him was the batting order. I told him I experiment during spring training and that I like to change a lot so I can see how many options during the season. He is capable of hitting everywhere in the batting order except leadoff. If say, for instance, I hit him fourth one day and sixth the next it doesn’t mean I wasn’t happy with the way he hit fourth.”

Speaking like a veteran big leaguer that is careful not to toot his own horn, Matsui kept it simple.

“I am here for the team,” said Matsui. “Whatever the team needs is what I will do.”

Asked if he had been following the George Steinbrenner-Derek Jeter spat, Matsui said: “There is nothing special about the situation.”

Torre’s contact with Matsui has been limited to a press conference in New York and yesterday’s chat in Torre’s office. Still, Torre believes Matsui is going to be a big hit with Yankee fans.

“He seems like he has a lot of class,” Torre said. “The fans of New York will love him for that reason.”