Former Yankee Velarde Has Had Very Few Regrets

Second baseman Randy Velarde says he has no regrets but there was a hint of wistfulness as he reflected on the New York Yankees’ World Series victory over the Atlanta Braves last October.

Velarde spent eight years as a Yankee utility player before signing with the Angels last season.

“The part that hurt was not being there for the championship, because I was there through all the tough times,” Velarde said. “I knew when they won it would be something special, and it was.

“But I don’t regret leaving New York. Who could foresee what would happen? I wanted to play every day. That was a decision I made, and I can look back on that and be happy about it.”

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Manager Terry Collins--and a Japanese media horde--saw Shigetoshi Hasegawa pitch in an Angel uniform for the first time. Hasegawa threw for 15 minutes as photographers jostled for shooting positions.

“One of the Japanese reporters asked me if I liked him, and I said, ‘Yeah,’ ” Collins said. “Then he asked, ‘Is he going to be in the starting rotation?’ I said, ‘Geez, he’s thrown once on the side!’ ”

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Craig Grebeck, the 5-foot-7 utility infielder, hasn’t even arrived in Tempe but is already the object of the first prank of the season. In front of Grebeck’s locker is a bottle of shampoo tied to a step stool. A sign taped to the contraption says, “Grebeck Shower Booster.”