Jeter: How fast must we play to not be pathetic?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Derek Jeter asked a question only Joe West can answer.

The umpire created a stir Wednesday when he referred to the pace of Yankees-Red Sox games as being "pathetic," "embarrassing" and a "disgrace."

"I don't see what's pathetic or embarrassing about it," Jeter said. "As opposed to what, if it was 20 minutes shorter, it's not pathetic or embarrassing? At what point is it not embarrassing? I think that's the question you probably have to ask him. I can't answer it. What, if you go over 3:12, it's embarrassing? I don't know."

Joe Girardi said neither team would, or should, change its approach. "You have two organizations that have really focused on hitters that work the count," said Girardi, adding that he didn't take West's words personally. "We're not going to ask our hitters to change their approach to speed the game up. We're not going to do it . . . We're trying to win games. Not see how quick we can play them."

Alex Rodriguez noted that the Yankees not only walk a lot but strike out a lot. "When guys strike out, it actually prolongs the game, in a weird way," he said. "Because usually on average when you strike out, you have to see at least five pitches. If you're a contact hitter, you usually put the ball in play right away. Teams that strike out a lot and walk a lot prolong the games. And we have plenty that strike out, too."

Extra bases

Mark Teixeira spent part of Thursday at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa taking batting practice. He went 0-for-4 Friday to drop to 0-for-16. "I think everyone wants to get that first hit of the year out of the way,'' Girardi said. "I have a feeling it's going to happen [Saturday].'' . . . With lefthander David Price on the mound, Marcus Thames started in left for Brett Gardner, as he did Tuesday against Boston lefty Jon Lester. But Girardi said Gardner will not sit against all lefties. "There might be a day we give Curtis [Granderson] a day, too, against a lefty," Girardi said. "But we want to get Marcus in there and get him going." . . . Girardi said Francisco Cervelli will get his first start Saturday.