Joe DiMaggio. Mickey Mantle. Bernie Williams.

Brett Gardner?

Sounds a lot better than hearing Melky Cabrera's name in the starting lineup come Opening Day.

Yankee manager Joe Girardi confirmed the fact that Brett Gardner has one the position battle for the prestigious spot in the Yankee outfield.

Gardner hit .385 (20-for-52) with three home runs, six RBIs and five stolen bases in 22 spring games for the Yankees.

Being the face of the new look Yankee rotation has some perks.

Just ask newly anointed "Dual Opening Day Starter" CC Sabathia.

Sabathia got the nod from skipper Joe Girardi who (in an interview with MLB.com) said "It was pretty low-key, his response, I don't necessarily think he felt that way inside, but I caught him in the gym and he was working out, and he was kind of breathing hard. He seemed excited."

According to the Associated Press:

Mariano Rivera struck out two during a perfect fifth inning in his first game since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and the New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 on Tuesday night.

"I feel real good," Rivera said. "I don't want to say I was expecting this, but I was happy with the results. It went well. Location. Pitches. I think everything will be fine."

Rivera had the AC joint in his right shoulder repaired on Oct. 7. The Yankees closer threw eight of 11 pitches for strikes.

"Mo looked like he has been pitching for a couple of weeks," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It was incredible. It was more than I expected."

According to multiple news sources, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi discussed with spring training reporters his plans build his lineup around Alex Rodriguez:

"I went back and forth a little bit," Girardi said. "I just know from catching and managing, you hate teams that do that left-right to you. It's hard to bring in situational lefties. Obviously, [Teixeira] is a plus, because he's a switch-hitter.

"If you want to bring in a righty to face Derek Jeter, you've got to decide what you want to do against Tex. It just makes it harder to navigate through our lineup and set up an opposing team's bullpen."

Girardi'ism; stemming from the Yogism family, Girardi'isms are fun, quirky quotes from the Yankees manager, Joe Girardi.

This Girardi'ism comes after the Yankee Skipper was questioned about the severity of the torn foot ligament suffered by Yankee reliever, Brian Bruney;

" The doctor recommended surgery....From what I understand, if somebody in 1793 had it, they amputated."