--RHP Joba Chamberlain apparently isn't taking anything for granted, which is a good sign for the Yankees' young star. Chamberlain got off to a shaky start this spring and admitted his strong performance on March 10 (three innings, one run, three strikeouts against the Reds) provided him "a sigh of relief." Maybe that's because Chamberlain felt the performance could help quell talk of him pitching relief again. The debate about his role as a starter vs. reliever had seemingly been squashed by general manager Brian Cashman several times, but with Chamberlain struggling in his early outings and the Yankees bullpen still open in spots -- and an early strong showing from RHP Phil Hughes as a starter -- whispers had started again about Chamberlain going to the bullpen.

--CF Brett Gardner started spring training by doing everything he could to earn the starting job and inject some sorely missing speed to the Yankees' lineup. In his first nine spring training games, Gardner batted .417 with three home runs and six runs scored. Contrasted against his competitor, Melky Cabrera's .238 average -- and Cabrera's need to overcome the man who took his job late last year -- Gardner's chances were starting to look good. Cabrera could be used as trade bait as the Yankees see if there is a third baseman to acquire to fill in for Alex Rodriguez in the short term. A trip to the minors is not a likely choice since Cabrera is out of options.

--3B Alex Rodriguez should be out approximately two months if everything goes as planned following surgery on his right hip on March 9. Rodriguez and the Yankees reversed their initial plan of having him try to play through the injury and wait for the offseason for surgery, instead opting for a lesser procedure before the season and a more extensive one after it. "There is no doubt in our minds that this was the best option for Alex and the Yankees," Dr. Marc Philippon, who performed the surgery, told reporters on a conference call. Philippon called the surgery a success and said Rodriguez could be back in the lineup within six to nine weeks.

--2B Robinson Cano and LHP Damaso Marte returned from the Dominican Republic's early exit in the World Baseball Classic tournament with injuries. Cano sat out his first game back with the Yankees because of a sore right shoulder that was diagnosed as tendinitis; he's expected to be able to play Friday. Marte had a sore left pectoral muscle and told reporters he expected to miss several days. Marte said he injured himself lifting weights.

BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Home runs speedster Brett Gardner hit in his first nine exhibition games this spring. He led the team at that point.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm not optimistic about doing anything (through a trade). ... I think our answer is here in camp." -- General manager Brian Cashman on the Yankees' short-term solution for a third baseman while Alex Rodriguez recovers from hip surgery.