Tex cleared to start exercise program today

NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira moved slowly out of the Yankees' dugout on Monday, taking his place on the first-base line during home-opener introductions. The club's regular first baseman wasn't about to jog and risk further aggravating his strained right hamstring.

Teixeira was in uniform at Yankee Stadium, just a couple of hours after popping into an MRI tube to determine the extent of his injury. The tests revealed a Grade 1 strain, and Teixeira has been cleared to begin an exercise program today.

"I was hoping it was only going to be a seven-day, two-week type thing," Teixeira said. "I didn't want to go on the DL, but we can't play short and push it this early. Hopefully the two weeks will be plenty of time."

Teixeira was placed on the disabled list on Saturday after feeling his hamstring grab while he chased a foul ball the previous night against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

"I knew it wasn't anything major," Teixeira said. "I could walk, I could put some pressure on it. I just knew that there was something not right, and that's what the MRI showed."