KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Jason Giambi returned to the Yankees lineup Tuesday night for the first time since July 23, batting sixth against the Royals.
"I feel great," said Giambi, who went 2-for-16 with two doubles and four strikeouts in a rehabilitation stint at Triple-A Columbus that ended Monday.
Manager Joe Torre said his plan was to use Giambi strictly as a designated hitter. With the Clippers' elimination from the International League playoffs, all of New York's farm clubs have completed their seasons, so the major-league team was the only place to get Giambi game time.
Giambi was activated with an eye toward the upcoming weekend series against Boston, which began play Tuesday night trailing New York by three in the AL East.
In two games against the Royals, Giambi could get seven or eight at-bats.
"I tell you, he was excited about it," Torre said. "You're thinking about obviously playing the Red Sox this weekend and you have to find out where he is at this point.
"We think he'll need about 24 or 25 at-bats."
The 2000 AL MVP, recovering from a benign tumor, intestinal parasite, strained groin and respiratory infection, is hitless in his past 21 big-league at-bats. He felt weak all season and was hitting .221 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs.
"Certainly the curiosity about Jason and the fact that he started the year as this club's cleanup hitter, it could have a big impact," Torre said.
HOWE, METS TALK: Manager Art Howe met with owner Fred Wilpon and general manager Jim Duquette one day after saying that if the team planned to fire him, it should do it now.
"They called me in," Howe said. "We had a very good discussion, a private discussion. A lot of things were discussed.
"When something should be announced, it will be announced. Nothing is being disclosed at this time. All I can say is I'm managing tonight. I take it one day at a time. It's not over yet."
The Daily News reported Monday that Mets brass had decided at a weekend meeting to fire Howe at the end of the season. He has two years and $4.7-million left on his contract.
CAMINITI ARREST: Former NL MVP Ken Caminiti has failed four drug tests since going on probation in 2002 for cocaine possession, including one last week that landed him in jail, his probation officer said.
Caminiti remained in a Houston jail after his private meeting with probation officer Tracy Burns. She has handled his case since he was sentenced to three years' deferred adjudication probation after his 2001 arrest in a Houston motel room.
CARDINALS: Third baseman Scott Rolen missed his third straight start with a strained left calf muscle and is likely miss at least a few more games. "I'll get out there as soon as I can get out there," Rolen said. "I think the consensus is they want to be kind of cautious that I don't go out there and push it a day or two early."
DODGERS: Right-hander Brad Penny threw 55 pitches in three innings of a simulated game as he attempts to come back from arm pain that has sidelined him since Aug. 8. He's scheduled to be re-evaluated today.
EXPOS: Turns out the team made three errors, not four, in the decisive eighth inning against the Marlins on Monday. Official scorer Bob Rosenberg announced he had taken the error away from rightfielder Juan Rivera and credited Florida shortstop Alex Gonzalez with a hit. ... Right-handers Tomo Ohka and Jon Rauch were activated from the 15-day disabled list. The team had thought Ohka might miss the rest of the season with a broken pitching forearm. Rauch went on the disabled list Aug. 15 with a strained left oblique muscle.
