Yankees answer questions about SI story

TORONTO --Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Yankees manager Joe Torre were asked Tuesday about a Sports Illustrated article that portrayed the team as being critical with the way Rodriguez handled his struggles this year.

Giambi is quoted in the article as saying Rodriguez has a "false confidence" and that Torre should "stop coddling him." Giambi and Rodriguez both downplayed the negatives on Tuesday.

"I found an enormous amount of support from my teammates," Rodriguez claimed.

Torre acknowledged meeting with Rodriguez in Seattle in August and telling him to change his demeanor.

"The tone I took to Alex is basically being honest with himself. And what I meant by that was, he had a tough series in Boston ... and I like to watch body language, he was making it appear like it was OK," Torre said.

The Yankees, meanwhile, activated right fielder Gary Sheffield from the 15-day day disabled list, and closer Mariano Rivera threw a bullpen session and said he hopes to return this weekend.

Giambi, incidentally, left Tuesday's 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth inning with soreness in his left wrist and Torre said he is going to rest Giambi.

Sheffield, who had wrist surgery June 13, did not play Tuesday. Torre said he will start playing first base after the Yankees clinch the AL East title. With Tuesday's win and Boston's 7-3 loss to Minnesota their magic number was reduced to one.

"Once that happens, he'll probably get a lot of work," Torre said.

After acquiring right fielder Bobby Abreu from Philadelphia, New York talked about having Sheffield play first base.

Rivera, sidelined since Aug. 31 by a muscle strain near his right elbow, threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session. He'll throw off a mound on Wednesday.

"I feel real good," Rivera said. "I'm excited"

Rivera wants to pitch in three games before the postseason begins.

Giambi had talked before the game about possibly getting a third cortisone shot in the wrist.

"Hopefully, it will calm it back down," Giambi said of the rest. "It was sore in Boston and it's taken a couple of steps backward. Just today, after my third at-bat it really started to flare up."

He said he doesn't know when he'll return.