TAMPA — It will take some time before Yankees manager Joe Girardi is convinced Derek Jeter is back to his old self after offseason surgery on his fractured left ankle.
Even after Jeter started at shortstop for the second consecutive day for the first time with no problems, the manager wants to proceed slowly — which is why he only let Jeter play four innings in Saturday’s 7-0 split-squad loss to the Phillies.
“I know he’s been cleared by the doctors, but we still have to be cautious, especially in these early games,” Girardi said after Jeter went 1-for-2 with a double and had no issues in the field. “I think I’m going to be concerned for a while, just because of what he went through.”
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
Jeter repeatedly has vowed to be ready by Opening Day. At this point, there’s no reason to believe he won’t be, but Girardi isn’t ready to let the 38-year-old go all-out.
“Even if he was running like he did before he was hurt, this is how I would do it,” said Girardi, adding he will continue to look at how Jeter moves and bounces back after he plays.
* Lefty reliever Boone Logan said his arm felt “great” after a 30-pitch session of live batting practice, but he admitted his elbow is still sore.
“I do feel it every day,” Logan said. “There’s still a little inflammation, but it’s normal. I’m strong and my arm feels good. I’m excited about how it feels.”
Logan expects to pitch in a game soon.
“I don’t see myself needing to do another live session,” Logan said. “It’s getting better every day. I don’t feel it nearly as much as I did a week ago. I was hoping for it to go away right away. It didn’t, but it is slowly but surely.”
* David Phelps was “frustrated” after giving up four runs over five innings in a 4-0 split-squad loss to the Braves in Orlando.
“It was probably the best command and stuff I’ve had this spring,” said Phelps, who was done in by a two-out walk followed by a two-run shot by Juan Francisco. “It was a lapse.”
* In the Phillies game, Hiroki Kuroda cruised through three innings before Domonic Brown hit a three-run blast in the fourth.
Kuroda blamed his trouble that inning on bad location. He surrendered four runs in six innings, throwing 68 pitches.
* Girardi warned not to read into Brett Gardner hitting seventh against the Phillies, saying he has made no decisions regarding the lineup: “I still don’t know who my players are.”
* Outfielders Zoilo Almonte and Slade Heathcott were sent back to minor league camp.