YANKEE NOTES

Necessity makes for strange bedfellows.

With the Red Sox holding a lead over the Yankees in the AL East and hosting the Mets at Fenway Park, the Yankees had a rooting interest for a team George Steinbrenner loathes almost as much as the Red Sox.

“We are all Met fans right now,” Joe Torre admitted before dropping 3½ games back of the Red Sox, who won as the Yankees were beaten, 5-2, by the Braves.

The Yankees pulling for the Mets will last until late Thursday night, when the Mets, runaway leaders in the NL East, finish in Fenway and open a three-game Subway Series at the Stadium.

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Speaking of the Mets, Derek Jeter likes what he has seen from blistering shortstop Jose Reyes. “He is fun to watch,” Jeter said of his Mets counterpart. “I enjoy watching him on the highlights. Speed never goes into a slump. When you are fast you have a chance to impact the game. He gets on base and is a pest like Ichiro [Suzuki].” . . . Contrary to some talk yesterday that the Dodgers acquired catcher Toby Hall from the Devil Rays to move him to the Yankees, two team officials said there was no interest on their part to get the catcher.

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Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of Carl Pavano‘s last big league game. Sidelined after surgery to remove a bone chip in the right elbow, the Yankees don’t know when their $40 million investment will be able to work a big league game . . . Melky Cabrera had three of the Yankees’ nine hits, including a solo homer in the ninth.

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In the final balloting update before the All Star teams are announced Sunday, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano continued to lead AL vote-getters at shortstop, third base and second, respectively. Jason Giambi was second to David Ortiz at first and Johnny Damon was fourth among outfielders.

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Damon is playing without the padding that protected the chipped bone in his right foot.

“It has gotten to the point where the bruising around the bone has subsided,” Damon said. “The days off have helped and maybe I am just used to it.” Torre said Damon’s foot “is a non-issue.”

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Octavio Dotel threw 35 pitches from 60 feet yesterday for the second straight day and reported no problem with his surgically repaired right elbow that received a cortisone shot last Thursday to relieve tendinitis.

The plan calls for Dotel to report to Columbus (Triple-A) or Trenton (Double-A) next week. He is slated to throw a bullpen session Saturday at the Stadium. The Yankees expected the reliever back in late June. Now it could be later next month.

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The Yankees are going to start Mike Mussina Friday night and Randy Johnson Saturday against the Mets. Sunday it likely will be Jaret Wright.

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Alex Rodriguez‘ 12 errors match last year’s total and Torre believes there may be a reason: the pressure A-Rod is under at the plate where he is in a 1-for-14 slide.

“He carries a heavy load at both places,” Torre said. “He is impatient with himself. I am sure it’s on his mind.”