Giambi set to start rehab assignment, says he's 'fired up'

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TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi is set to start a minor league rehab assignment Friday night with Class-A Tampa and hopes to rejoin the team next week.

Jason Giambi

Designated Hitter
New York Yankees

Profile

2007 Season Stats

GM	HR	RBI	R	OBP	AVG
45	7	23	19	.380	.262

The designated hitter, who has been sidelined since May 30 after tearing tissue in his left foot, said he will play two games with the Yankees' Florida State League team before he is re-evaluated Sunday.

"I'm to that point where I really can't do anymore working out, taking BP and running," Giambi said. "Now it's going to be more game activity. I think that will be a gauge to see how I do."

Giambi took on-field batting practice for the second time Wednesday and went through an extensive base running session.

"I'm fired up," Giambi said. "It's gone faster than I expected."

Giambi is hitting .262 with seven homers and 23 RBIs. His foot began bothering him soon after he played the field for the first time on April 28, and he hit .117 in May with three homers and six RBIs.

The Yankees' offense is putting up staggering numbers, scoring 63 runs in its last five games going into Tuesday night's game against the Royals in Kansas City. That's the first time New York's offense has scored 63 times in a five-game span since July 26-29, 1931, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Even so, manager Joe Torre said, it will be good to have Giambi back.

"You certainly don't discount the ability of Jason Giambi," Torre said. "Streaks are streaks, and Jason is probably as steady a player as you want to find in terms of his on-base percentage. That's usually important for us in the way we play the game."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

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