"Lance Berkman, who struggled after being acquired last year by the Yankees, at least until the postseason, said healthy knees have allowed him to have a bounce-back season with the Cardinals that has him starting Tuesday night in right field for the National League.

"Because of the knee last year I got into some real bad habits mechanically," Berkman said. "My swing wasn't very good and I felt like I never really had my legs under me for most of the year.

"I did hit the ball well in the playoffs and that was sort of a springboard for me to convince me that I could still play at a high level."

Berkman said he never had any talks with the Yankees about re-signing because GM Brian Cashman let him know after the season that Jorge Posada would be the full-time DH in 2011.

Berkman also said he spoke to close friend Andy Pettitte a couple of weeks ago and got the feeling the former Yank is loving life as a family man. Berkman doesn't expect him to make a comeback next year."