TAMPA — Derek Jeter was scratched from last night’s lineup against the Braves due to the flu that is circulating through the Yankees’ clubhouse.
“We sent him home,” said manager Joe Girardi, who never saw the shortstop. “It’s going around, it’s either the flu or a head cold. One or the other. He came in and we kicked him out.”
Ramiro Pena would have replaced Jeter in the lineup, but the game was rained out.
*
One day after saying his lawyers were working with the feds to get a date that Alex Rodriguez can talk to investigators about Dr. Anthony Galea, Rodriguez had nothing to add to the saga.
“Zero,” Rodriguez said when asked if there was anything new.
Since Monday is dark on the Yankees’ schedule, it might make for the ideal time for Rodriguez to talk to the feds about his relationship with Galea, who is under investigation for a variety of HGH-related charges.
*
When last night’s game was cancelled, A.J. Burnett threw a simulated game indoors. And while he threw the first five curveballs of the spring, the best thing to come out of the 51-pitch outing was an appreciation for catcher Jorge Posada.
“Jorge staying this late [9 p.m.] meant a lot,” Burnett said. “It showed he wants to work with me. It means a lot.”
*
Girardi said Mariano Rivera will make his first spring outing Tuesday, against the Astros at home. Girardi also said he will likely split Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, with one working Tuesday and the other Wednesday.
*
The day is coming when Girardi will take a look at Curtis Granderson in left, but it appears Granderson will be in center field for Opening Day at Fenway Park.
“We will move him around a bit, we have a schedule worked out. It will be in the next few days,” Girardi said.