TAMPA, Fla. - Scott Proctor didn't have much reason to come to spring training thinking about making the Yankees' opening day roster, however, he felt he owed it to himself to look at it that way. If he didn't take himself seriously, who else would?

So when Ron Guidry started talking to him early in spring training about the Yankees' plans to make him a starting pitcher in the minors, Proctor said he respectfully interrupted and said, “I don't want to talk about Columbus until you send me down.”

And that's not going to happen, at least not right away.

With Carl Pavano and Aaron Small beginning the season on the disabled list, the Yankees have decided to include Proctor on their season-opening roster, rewarding him for his strong spring training in which he has given up only two runs in 17 innings.

“We didn't have to take him as the extra pitcher with the two guys on the DL,” Manager Joe Torre said. “But the way he's pitched, he's made a spot for himself.”

Proctor, who has allowed seven hits and seven walks while striking out 14, said he has trusted his pitches more and always kept a positive outlook, and he credited Chad Bohling, the team's director of optimal performance, for helping him in those areas.

“It's just executing my pitches, because I know I've always had the stuff to get major-league hitters out,” Proctor said. “It's just a matter of believing it.”