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NEW YORK — During Tuesday's game, Jason Giambi walked by Joe Torre and said, "Anytime you're ready, Skip." That was all the manager needed to hear before he wrote Giambi's name on Wednesday's lineup card as the designated hitter. After missing the last six games with a sore wrist, Giambi proved Torre's decision was the right one, answering with a two-run home run to right field in his first at-bat in the second inning.

Giambi's 37th homer of the season marked the slugger's first since Aug. 20 at Boston, where he hit two homers and went 2-for-4 with five RBIs in the Yankees' win. Wednesday, Giambi singled in the third, followed with a two-run single to right in the fourth and finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs in the Yankees' 16-5 victory.

"I couldn't have planned a better day," said Giambi, whose wrist felt a little tired after his four at-bats. "I just wanted to take some good at-bats and hit the ball hard and go from there. It went way better than I thought it would."

With Giambi at DH, Joe Torre can't see enough of Gary Sheffield at first base, giving the ex-right fielder the start again over three other candidates, Andy Phillips, Craig Wilson and Miguel Cairo. Torre and his coaches have liked what they've seen from Sheffield, but they, and Sheffield, know he needs to improve his footwork before the postseason begins on Oct. 3.

With a healthy Sheffield, Hideki Matsui and Giambi back in the lineup, Robinson Cano — currently in second place behind Joe Mauer in the AL batting title race — found himself hitting in the nine spot Wednesday night. The Yankees went on to hit five home runs against the Orioles Wednesday, the most in a single game since July 20, 2005 at Texas when the Bombers hit six.

"Johnny (Damon) was joking with me earlier," said Giambi. "(He told me) I have to protect the No. 9 hitter. They may walk him to get to me. It's unbelivable what Robbie Cano has done this year. Top to bottom, there's not breathing room at all. With the veteran hitters that we have, there's just no break. It's unbelievable."

From one through nine, Torre admitted this is the best lineup he's had in his 11 years as Yankee manager. As far has how he'll piece it together come October, he'll have a lot to consider during the regular season's final days.

"This is pretty darn good," Torre said. "We have a guy named Bernie Williams sitting on the bench and (Melky) Cabrera who's not in the lineup. We have some present problems to solve before next Tuesday, but we just want to make sure we have all the information before we make any decisions."

Six players are currently vying for five positions — not including Williams — with Giambi, Sheffield, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Matsui and Cabrera all hoping for ample postseason playing time. While the outfield will most likely be Matsui, Damon and Abreu from left to right, Sheffield and Giambi will be the two first base/DH candidates with Phillips, the best defensive player of the three, on the bench with the young Cabrera.

"I'm leaning more towards defense," Torre said. "If we're talking about left field, Melky is better than Matsui, but Matsui certainly isn't marginal. Matsui doesn't scare me by any stretch of the imagination, but the other kid has a better arm and gets to more balls.

"First base, both guys have good hands but Sheff looks like he has a little more range. But Jason's been a first baseman. That's probably going to be the toughest decision when you're writing the lineup down ... Is the take more than the give here?"

Until Game 1 on Tuesday, everyone will play and everyone will stay sharp. Williams pinch ran for Abreu after his fourth-inning single and took over in right. Cabrera pinch hit for Damon and took over in center. Wilson replaced Sheffield in the sixth at first base. After Cano hit a two-run home run in the sixth, his 15th of the season, Cairo took over at second. Phillips, who made 13 straight starts at first base from June 26 - July 9, ran for Alex Rodriguez in the seventh and replaced him at third.

Torre has been impressed with what he's seen from Sheffield at first base, but he's not a lock to start there Tuesday night. If Sheffield isn't the starting first baseman, in the late innings, he may not even be the replacement. Regardless, Torre will have a discussion with each potential candidate and make everyone aware of their postseason role.

"I certainly don't want to leave anything to the imagination here if I know what I'm going to do," Torre said. "And if I don't know I'll let them know that too.

"With the offense we have, if you want defense to override any offense, that's tough to do. If you wind up in a game when you're behind, you're going to wind up taking that defensive guy out for an offensive guy anyway. It'll be a busy week trying to figure it out with my coaches."

Torre plans to name his postseason roster before the last regular-season game on Sunday but won't figure out the lineup until Monday during the team workout.