MLB

SHAKING ON IT

MIAMI – It was not exactly George Steinbrenner, ego tucked away, coming to make peace with Yogi Berra at the Hall of Fame catcher’s New Jersey museum.

This was less staged, quicker, unlikely to carry any long-term true relationship. But while the Yankees took batting practice late yesterday afternoon, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria went behind the cage to exchange a handshake and a pleasant minute with Joe Girardi.

It was the first time the two had spoken since Loria fired Girardi following the 2006 season, Girardi’s only year as manager of the Marlins. That dismissal ended what had become a stormy season together. Loria had broken up the team shortly after hiring Girardi after telling the new manager that such a deconstruction would not occur. The animosity surfaced publicly when Loria was screaming at an umpire from behind the Florida dugout and Girardi told his owner to shut up.

Loria wanted to fire him there. He ended up getting talked out of it, but Girardi’s fate was sealed even in a season in which he won the NL Manager of the Year.

Loria yesterday said he just wanted “to welcome [Girardi] back . . . and wish him good luck.”

Girardi said: “It was great. It was nice. We wished each other good luck. He said, ‘We move on.’ ”

Girardi moves on now with a contender, the Marlins not so much. They have the majors’ lowest payroll and among the smallest expectations. Two years ago, under Girardi, they probably felt they were building toward something. They felt at least as good about their young rotation – maybe better – than the Yankees do today. But after that season, none of the youngsters have been the same, as they have coped with injury or a serious plummet in their effectiveness.

In many ways, this is the only serious matter that remains between Loria and Girardi. At times, Loria has sniped that Girardi was most responsible for the ramifications for Florida’s pitchers. Girardi has never publicly rebutted any direct salvo hurled from the Marlins front office, but he has defended his handling of that young staff, saying he took great care not to abuse the neophyte arms.

Loria yesterday dismissed speculation of more antipathy between the two.

“I am not going to talk about that,” he said.

But it is a subject that has not died easily. Matt Treanor, Marlins current backup catcher for Girardi and now, said, “You know I am going to get into trouble even talking about this stuff.” The implication was the front office would not like it.

However, Treanor, first baseman Mike Jacobs and second baseman Dan Uggla all praised Girardi’s season managing the Marlins, describing him as passionate for the game, caring for the players and – yes – protective of the young pitchers.

“I don’t think it was cause and effect,” Treanor said. “I never saw anything that anyone was abused on the mound. Joe is not that type of guy.”

Dontrelle Willis, Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen, Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez were all 24 or younger, all pitched at least 114 innings and all won at least 10 games. Johnson was particularly impressive and Sanchez pitched a no-hitter. But this season begins with Willis in Detroit, and Johnson (Tommy John surgery) and Sanchez (shoulder surgery) on the disabled list. Olsen, who has battled shoulder tendinitis, is the fourth starter. Nolasco, who has endured elbow issues, is the fifth starter.

It certainly is not difficult to defend Girardi. Sanchez had injury concerns before he was obtained by Florida, and scouts will say he had the cleanest delivery of the five. The history of young Marlins starters – think Carl Pavano, A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett – has not been pretty, and that pre-dates Girardi.

But there is no question that Girardi’s greatest mandate with the Yankees is shepherding his top young arms – Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain significantly – from inexperience to success while avoiding devastating injuries. That is why there still are Joba Rules, and restrictions for all.

The Yankees’ future rests with the results of that trek, and so probably does the future of Girardi. For if the Yankees’ young arms – the ones they refused to sacrifice for Johan Santana and others – break down, you can expect the relationship between Girardi and Hank Steinbrenner will make Girardi-Loria look like the greatest love story ever told.

joel.sherman@nypost.com