(
)
TAMPA — Andy Pettitte was seated in the players’ lounge yesterday morning when Kevin Youkilis joined him and tossed a copy of Friday’s Post on the table.
As Youkilis looked at a picture of himself and a headline that said the new Yankees third baseman’s heart remained in Boston, Pettitte chuckled.
“He threw the paper on the table and I said, ‘Welcome to New York,’ ” Pettitte said.
Youkilis stopped in the George M. Steinbrenner clubhouse to pick up protective cups on the way to a workout at the nearby minor league facility.
And with The Post spread throughout the big league clubhouse, Youkilis’ new teammates were very aware of his comments.
“The back page was right there and I was getting ragged on pretty good,’’ said Youkilis, who was spared by the young players in the room but buried by the veterans’ good-natured abuse.
Asked who got on him, Youkilis replied, “Who didn’t?’’
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
Youkilis decided he needed to talk for a second straight day to clarify that his heart belongs to the Yankees.
“The whole meaning about what I was trying to say was that when you play in Boston the back of your baseball card, that’s how it is. After this year I will be a Yankee for life,’’ Youkilis said. “Trust me, there was no way that was meant to say my heart is in Boston or anything like that. My heart is here with the Yankees.’’
Having played in Boston, Youkilis understands the media scrutiny and admitted that saying, “I will always be a Red Sock’’ wasn’t good.
“The one comment was bad, let’s be honest. By itself it was terrible,’’ Youkilis said. “That wasn’t what it was meant to be. It wasn’t meant to be my heart is in Boston. My heart is in New York and I am excited to be living in the city. I have moved on and I am excited to play against [Boston] on Opening Day. Trust me, if you know my personality, I want to beat everyone. I want to beat the Red Sox and start off with a win at Yankee Stadium.’’
Youkilis’ first taste — in pinstripes — of baseball’s most bitter rivalry is April 1 at Yankee Stadium and he won’t turn into a church mouse.
“I will be yelling at Dustin Pedroia across the way. He will be at second and I will be screaming at him,’’ Youkilis said.
In another development involving Youkilis, he met and talked with Joba Chamberlain yesterday.
“I said hi to Joba, we shook hands, he is growing the mustache, it’s all good,’’ Youkilis said. “Tomorrow we will hug.’’
Chamberlain has knocked Youkilis down several times with high and tight pitches and when Youkilis signed in December, Chamberlain left him a voice mail that wasn’t immediately returned. That story grew long legs.
Asked if it was awkward shaking Chamberlain’s hand, Youkilis said, “No. We are all teammates here.’’
Chamberlain said had he been wearing a shirt, they could have gotten the hug out of the way.
“I was changing and thought that wasn’t the best time for a man hug,’’ Chamberlain said.
As for meeting Youkilis, Chamberlain said there was no drama.
“It was fine. It’s done and over with,’’ said Chamberlain, who was surprised Youkilis was smaller than the 6-foot-1 he is listed as. “We don’t live in the past. We live in the present.’’
Pettitte and CC Sabathia weren’t annoyed by Youkilis’ comment.
“He doesn’t have to convince me that he wants to play here. I know what his mentality is,’’ Pettitte said. “I was reaching out, trying to get him to come here.’’
Sabathia understood Youkilis’ feelings.
“If you asked me in 2009, I would have said I still feel part of Cleveland,’’ Sabathia said. “It was the first organization of my career, they drafted me and I grew up there. Five [seasons] later I feel part of this family.’’
Manager Joe Girardi talked to Youkilis and agreed a player can’t delete feelings for other places.
“He has friends there and I didn’t have a problem with what he said,’’ Girardi said. “We talked about you have to be careful with your words. I don’t expect him to erase eight years of his life.’’
george.king@nypost.com