While Joe Girardi has no idea exactly when Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter will be healthy enough to play, the Yankees manager believes Rodriguez — who may face a possible suspension — is further along in the rehab process than Jeter.
“We said both of them after the All-Star break and Derek hasn’t done any baseball activity yet and what is it, June 6? I am not sure, but it seems like [Rodriguez] is [ahead],’’ Girardi said before last night’s 6-1 win over the Mariners at Safeco Field.
Jeter won’t know if he can increase the workload on his left ankle until he sees Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, N.C., next week.
Jeter spoke to reporters Thursday outside the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa. He said his visit to Anderson, who operated on the left ankle last October, was always planned for next week.
Jeter surfaced at Yankee Stadium last week and played catch during batting practice, but didn’t participate in any other activities. He said he can’t do anything else until he is examined.
The reports Girardi gets on Rodriguez, whom he texts “once or twice a week to see how baseball is going and he is doing good’’ indicate the third baseman, who had hip surgery in January, is making progress.
“He is moving more side to side when it comes to ground balls,’’ Girardi said. “For a long time [grounders] were right at him. He is moving more side to side so he is feeling more comfortable.’’
Rodriguez also is taking batting practice and running.
* Girardi started Lyle Overbay three straight games in right field at Yankee Stadium against the Indians, but don’t look for the first baseman in the outfield that much on the 10-game West Coast trip that will be played in much larger parks than Yankee Stadium.
“I still have to keep him involved,” Girardi said. “Three days in a row, I don’t think I would do that.’’
* Ivan Nova impressed scouts watching him Wednesday night for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Nova pushed his fastball to 98 mph with a smooth delivery.
In six innings, Nova allowed no runs, two hits, fanned six and walked two.
Nova lost his spot in the rotation when he went on the disabled list with a right triceps problem in late April, came off the shelf and pitched two games in relief and was optioned to Triple-A on May 31.
It was Nova’s first minor league game since July 19, 2011.
* Brett Gardner, who went 1-for-4 last night, has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games since May 24. Gardner is batting .300 (15-for-50) over the stretch and scored at least one run in 13 of his last 21 starts.
* Starting Thursday night, the Yankees had 11 series remaining before the All Star break. Six are against teams currently under .500 — including three of their next four (Mariners, Angels and Dodgers). … Catcher Francisco Cervelli said his fractured right hand is improving and he could begin doing baseball activities “maybe next week.’’
* Last season, when Ichiro Suzuki was dealt from the Mariners to the Yankees, he stayed at his house despite switching teams. This year he is at the team hotel not far from Safeco Field.
“I never came [to Safeco] from downtown,’’ Ichiro said. “I was here 12 years and I didn’t realize how many Starbucks there are in Seattle.’’