Different Joe at helm

NEW YORK – Downstairs, Joe Girardi has taken over the Legends Field manager’s office from Joe Torre. Upstairs on the fourth floor, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner have filled the decision-making role made famous by their tempestuous father.

The New York Yankees, baseball’s most traditional team, have a new look as they start spring training, at least on the management side. They haven’t won the World Series since 2000 and head into their last season at Yankee Stadium obsessed with overtaking the champion Boston Red Sox.

“The Yankees aren’t about losing,” Hank Steinbrenner said. “I don’t like losing, and the fans don’t like losing. So we’ll see what happens. I think by playoff time, if we get there, we could be pretty tough, if those young pitchers come along right at the right time.”

In his role as senior vice president, Hank Steinbrenner has become overseer of baseball operations, his 77-year-old father receding to a consigliere role as his health declines. Hank Steinbrenner ratified general manager Brian Cashman’s selection of Girardi over Don Mattingly to replace Torre, then decided to re-sign Alex Rodriguez even after Rodriguez opted out of his contract. He followed Cashman’s recommendation and resisted trading top young talent for Johan Santana, who wound up with the New York Mets.

Yankees fans will pay close attention to whether Hank Steinbrenner stays in the executive suite in a silent role during spring training or becomes a daily presence in the papers, as his father did.

The fans will focus on whether Girardi sets a markedly different course than Torre, a father figure to many of his players who steadied the team through nearly constant turmoil for much of his 12 seasons.

“I can’t predict what it’s going to be like with Joe Girardi vs. Joe Torre because we’ve never gone through that before,” Cashman said. “I can’t predict, obviously, a spring training with Hank or Hal as opposed to the last few years because I haven’t gone through it before.”

Girardi makes his opening address to the media today, pitchers and catchers report Thursday and workouts begin Friday, with position players joining next week. It will be pretty much the same crew that flopped against Cleveland in the first round of last year’s playoffs, a four-game loss that led to Torre’s departure.

Catcher Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera re-signed, and Andy Pettitte decided not to retire. There’s still a logjam at first base and in the outfield, and questions remain about the depth and quality of the starting rotation. The middle relievers still appear to be suspect.

Derek Jeter was looking forward to playing for Girardi, his former teammate.

“I think he’s the perfect guy for it. He’s played here. He’s played under Mr. T. He’ll probably have his own style,” Jeter said. “You’re going to miss Mr. T. He did some great things here, but you have to move on.”

Jeter will be less formal with Girardi.

“One, I’ll call him Joe,” the captain said with a smile. “They’re different personalities. It’s going to be a different feel.”

Only Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Pettitte are guaranteed spots in the starting rotation. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy – two of the Yankees’ prized young prospects – are top candidates for the other two.

Also competing are Kei Igawa Jeff Karstens, Chase Wright, Steven White, Jeffrey Marquez, Alan Horne and Darrell Rasner. Even much maligned Carl Pavano will be on hand, working on his rehab from elbow surgery.

Joba Chamberlain, spectacular as Mariano Rivera’s setup man during the final two months of the season, will begin spring training as a starter but could wind up staying in the bullpen. He’s just 22, and the Yankees have told Girardi they will limit his use once again.

“Somebody of Chamberlain’s talent, he’s got to either be a starter or a closer, and we already have a closer,” Hank Steinbrenner said. “He wants to be a starter in the long run, and we all want him to be a starter in the long run, so that’s what we’re going to do. He can start him out as the setup guy. It certainly isn’t going to hurt us. It will help out in the bullpen big time in April, in May, and whenever, and it’s up to them how to shift him over.”

Cashman won’t reveal where Chamberlain will wind up.

As for the rest of the bullpen, LaTroy Hawkins has replaced Luis Vizcaino, and Ross Ohlendorf could merit a long look after working on a splitter during the Arizona Fall League.

Then there are the injury concerns. Left fielder Hideki Matsui is coming off knee surgery. Johnny Damon had leg injuries last year and lost the center field job to Melky Cabrera. Jason Giambi was limited by a foot injury to just 18 games at first base.

Cashman said all start spring training healthy.

“Right now, no issues,” he said. Then he paused and added: “We haven’t done anything yet.”