Before Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Yankees manager Joe Girardi gave a fairly revealing glimpse into the race for the big league utility job. He said it's between veteran Angel Berroa and young shortstop Ramiro Pena. Berroa has been the better hitter this spring and has much more experience, but Pena's bat has come to life lately and he seems to be a much better defender and probably a better runner.

TICKETS FOR EXHIBITION AND REGULAR SEASON GAMES TO GO ON SALE ON-LINE ONLY TODAY AT 10:00 AM AND EVERYWHERE ELSE ON MARCH 25; YANKEES TO OFFER SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL-GAME VALUE PROGRAMS

Tickets for individual games to see the 26-time World Champion New York Yankees in the inaugural season at Yankee Stadium will go on sale today at 10:00 AM at www.yankees.com and www.yankeesbeisbol.com only. Beginning Wednesday, March 25, tickets may also be purchased at the Yankee Stadium Ticket Office, at all area Ticketmaster outlets, via Ticketmaster by phone at (877) 469-9849 and Ticketmaster TTY at (800) 943-4327, and at all Yankees Clubhouse Shops.

As in past years, the Yankees will make available individual-game ticket value programs throughout the 2009 season. A complete list of ticket specials, including game dates, seating locations, and terms and conditions, can be found at www.yankees.com/ticketspecials, by calling (718) 293-6000 or e-mailing tickets@yankees.com.

· $5 Games – For select games throughout the season, tickets in select areas of the Terrace and Grandstand Levels and Bleachers will be $5. Tickets for $5 Games may be purchased in advance or on the day of the game. Available games include: 4/20 vs. Oakland, 4/21 vs. Oakland, 5/7 vs. Tampa Bay, 5/20 vs. Baltimore, 6/3 vs. Texas, 6/17 vs. Washington, 7/2 vs. Seattle, 7/20 vs. Baltimore, 8/11 vs. Toronto, 8/27 vs. Texas, 9/15 vs. Toronto and 9/28 vs. Kansas City.

· Youth Games – All fans 14 and younger, when accompanied by an adult, can purchase half-price tickets for Saturday games. Tickets are available only on the day of game at Yankee Stadium Ticket Windows.

· Student Games – Students who present their valid high school or college ID cards when purchasing tickets for any Wednesday game can receive one half-price ticket in designated seating locations. Tickets are available only on the day of game at Yankee Stadium Ticket Windows.

· Senior Citizen Games – Senior Citizens (60 and older) can purchase $5 tickets for any Monday through Thursday game in designated seating locations. Tickets may be purchased in advance or on the day of game at Yankee Stadium Ticket Windows ONLY. Tickets will not be held for either advance or day of game sales. All tickets are first come first served. A valid form of identification must be presented at the time of purchase.

· Family Games – Families can enjoy specially priced tickets on designated Monday through Thursday games in April, May and September. Tickets may be purchased in advance or on the day of game.

· Value Pack Games – For select games, groups of four fans can get a great deal at an affordable price. Each Value Pack includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four non-alcoholic beverages and one New York Yankees Official 2009 Yearbook.

Tickets to the first two exhibition contests at Yankee Stadium vs. the Chicago Cubs on April 3 at 7:05 p.m. and April 4 at 1:05 p.m. will also go on sale on Tuesday, March 24 at 10:00 AM at www.yankees.com and www.yankeesbeisbol.com only and everywhere else on Wednesday, March 25.

For the exhibition games vs. the Cubs, Bleachers tickets will be 25¢ and Grandstand tickets will be $1.10—the same prices they were the day the original Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923. Tickets on the Terrace Level will cost between $20-35, tickets on the Main Level will be priced between $20-45, and tickets on the Field Level will range from $45-$50.

The 26-time World Champion Yankees will begin their 81-game home regular season schedule on Thursday, April 16 at 1:05 p.m. vs. the Cleveland Indians.

The Yankee Stadium Ticket Office is located outside the new Yankee Stadium adjacent to Gate 4 on 161st Street and Jerome Avenue. Beginning March 25, the Yankee Stadium Ticket Office will be open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The old Yankee Stadium will be chopped up and sold to fans in little pieces as part of a $10 million-plus deal the team struck with the city, The Post has learned.

The payment will give the team the right to sell city-owned portions of the ballpark, including all 57,000 seats, the foul poles, dugouts and even the urinals sources familiar with the deal said.

"They wouldn't have brought me over here if I wasn't going to do something," Swisher said. "We're just going to see how it goes."

“I’ve been thinking all day about what I wanted to say,” Swisher told us after the game, an 8-3 loss to the Phillies. “I’m the type of guy, I want to play every day, there’s no doubt about that. I guess we’re just going to see how it plays out.

"I still had the same mind-set going in, to try and get ready for the season," Nady said. "I know Swisher is obviously going to be a big part of this team. We both plan on playing a lot, and I think we're going to need everybody in order to have success."

"I thought he did a really good job most of Spring Training," manager Joe Girardi said. "I thought this was probably his best."

On a recent morning, Mr. DeLea swept his hand across a portion of the 80 acres of Yankees Sod on a vast hillside in South Jersey. Last fall, some of the secret blend of bluegrass was peeled in broad strips, hauled north on trucks and laid inside the new Yankee Stadium. But most of it was still here, greening under a late-winter sun. ...

A former consultant with the company and now Mr. DeLea’s vice president for business development, Mr. Andres saw a field of bluegrass far bigger than the two and a half acres needed to cover the grassy portions of the new Yankee Stadium. The team had asked Mr. DeLea to reserve 10 acres for the stadium, apparently in case of some horrific horticultural incident in the Bronx, but that left a lot of leftover sod.