TAMPA, Fla. — To Derek Jeter batting leadoff instead of second in the New York Yankees lineup means only one thing: You are "guaranteed" no one will be on base for your first at-bat.

"You hit 60 seconds earlier than you normally do," Jeter said.

New York manager Joe Girardi is looking at flip-flopping Jeter, the usual No. 2 hitter, and leadoff man Johnny Damon this season. Jeter was at the top of the Yankees lineup for the second straight day, with Damon second, for last night's game against Cincinnati.

"It's exactly the same unless somebody's on base," Jeter said. "Some particular inning whoever is hitting ninth leads off and gets on base, then it's back to hitting second."

SURGERY FOR A'S PITCHER

PHOENIX — Oakland Athletics' two-time All-Star Justin Duchscherer will have arthroscopic elbow surgery next week and will miss at least the first month of the season.

Manager Bob Geren announced the surgery yesterday, but did not say when or where Duchscherer will have the operation. He also said the A's won't know how long Duchscherer will be out until after the surgery. Typically, a pitcher would miss at least six weeks with an arthroscopic procedure on his elbow.

"Anytime you lose a guy it's disappointing, especially when the player is a possible No. 1 guy," Geren said.