MLB

JACKSON FAN OF NAMESAKE

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Reggie Jackson saw Austin Jackson make a running, shoestring catch and promptly put the 21-year-old outfielder among some of the best leather wearers in baseball and possibly the premier running back in the NFL.

“He moves like La Dainian Tomlinson, he glides, he moves like Devon White and Gary Pettis,” the Hall of Famer said yesterday. “He is the best athlete in the organization. I saw a lot of great outfielders, I needed one on my right.”

Jackson predicted Austin Jackson would be in the big leagues in 2010. He is slated to open at Double-A Trenton or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year after batting .345 in 67 games last year at Trenton.

“It feels good coming from one of the best players in baseball,” Austin Jackson said of Mr. October’s praise. “It shows the hard work is paying off.”

Austin Jackson, who had an offer to play point guard at Georgia Tech but signed with the Yankees for $800,000 in the eighth round of the 2005 draft, said he was vaguely aware of White but hadn’t heard of Pettis.

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Alex Rodriguez, Jesus Montero and Wilson Betemit homered for the Yankees, who collected 14 hits in a 9-3 win.

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Joe Girardi hasn’t announced that first base is Jason Giambi’s to lose but it would make it a lot easier on the manager if Giambi was there, allowing Hideki Matsui work as the designated hitter.

Yesterday morning, Girardi talked about how impressed he has been with Giambi’s body and how it has responded to the conditioning program. Then about three-and-a-half hours later Shelley Duncan reminded everybody that there is indeed a competition at first base when he slugged a three-run homer in third. Two innings later he doubled two runs with a double off the wall.

“I have been impressed with his work here,” Girardi said. “He went first to home [Friday]. Watching him run he is moving a lot better.”

Of course, the biggest issue with Giambi is his health. The 37-year-old missed nine weeks with a tendon problem on the bottom of the left foot and, according to Girardi, wasn’t the same when he came back.

“I have a lot of confidence that he can do the job, I expect him to play every day,” Girardi said.

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Hank Steinbrenner was done talking about the wonderful pitching performance turned in by Generation Trey against the University of South Florida Friday at Legends Field when he was asked about Kei Igawa’s miserable outing against the Big East school.

“Let’s not bring that up,” Steinbrenner said. “Hopefully we can straighten him out.”

While Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes dominated, Igawa’s initial spring appearance outing was a disaster. In one inning he allowed four runs, one hit, two walks and hit a batter. The hit was a grand slam by Eric Bauman, who hadn’t played collegiate baseball since 2005 because of transferring and injury.

Barring a slew of injuries or a desperate team acquiring him, Igawa will start the season at Triple-A.

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Andy Pettitte makes his spring debut today against the Phillies at Legends Field.