DETROIT — According to manager Joe Girardi, whenever Derek Jeter finally gets back on the field it’s going to take more than a few minor league games to get the shortstop ready for major league action.
“I don’t think you can say, play in three or four games and be back,” Girardi said. “He is going to have to go through somewhat of a spring training.”
Jeter, who hasn’t played in any type of game since March 23 when his surgically repaired left ankle didn’t allow him to run the bases very well, hasn’t worked out on the field since.
He has been limited to long tossing and strengthening exercises at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa.
Friday, according to general manager Brian Cashman, Jeter took ground balls directly at him and took 30 swings while swinging off a tee and in a soft toss drill.
Girardi said he doesn’t believe Jeter will need six weeks — normally a regular spring training — but made it clear Jeter will return when Jeter is ready. He played in five big league spring training games.
“Position players always tell you they don’t need six weeks [of spring training],’’ Girardi said. “How many weeks he needs? That depends on how he bounces back.’’
* When shortstop Eduardo Nunez left the game Friday with a bruised right biceps, Girardi didn’t have an extra infielder.
And if Nunez is forced to miss Saturday’s game, Girardi said catcher Francisco Cervelli would be the emergency infielder.
If Girardi sticks to the early plan of alternating Chris Stewart and Cervelli, the latter will catch Phil Hughes today since Stewart worked with Ivan Nova yesterday.
* Hiroki Kuroda passed the first test when his right middle finger didn’t bother him during a pregame bullpen session yesterday at Comerica Park.
Until the right-hander tested the digit that was hit by a Shane Victorino liner Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, the team and pitcher did not know whether he would be able to start against the Indians Monday night in Cleveland.
According to pitching coach Larry Rothschild the bullpen session went without a problem and he expects the No. 2 starter to face the Indians.
“I anticipate he will,’’ Rothschild said. “Let’s see how he comes out of the side [session today]. He did 90 percent of what he normally does and threw all of his pitches. He looked fine.’’
If Kuroda’s finger, which was wrapped after Friday’s 8-3 loss to the Tigers, doesn’t feel good today the Yankees have options.
With Hughes coming off the disabled list today to start, David Phelps, who was slated to throw today, can be moved into Monday night’s assignment if Kuroda can’t make it.
* You might want to get used to Robinson Cano hitting second for a while.
“Maybe until we get some people back,’’ said Girardi, who batted Cano second for the second straight game yesterday when he went 1-for-4. “The idea about hitting him second is possibly he gets more at-bats and that’s not such a bad thing. The big thing is that we have people on in front of him and he has a chance to do some damage. It’s something we are going to do for a little bit, but it’s hard because we have a lot of left-handed hitters and we are trying to break them up.’’
Cano is 2-for-15 (.133) in the first four games.
* Kevin Youkilis went 2-for-4 and homered. In one game, Youkilis already bettered what he did at Comerica Park last year, when he went 1-for-32.“It’s great to be part of an Opening Day here. I don’t have an expectation from the fans. I thank them for supporting me in the years I was here, but I’m a Yankee now I wouldn’t expect to get some special recognition,’’ said Boesch, who received a small round of a applause when introduced as part of the Tigers’ home opener ceremonies. “I’m happy. This is a great organization. It’s not like I got sent to Erie. I’m playing for the Yankees. You can’t ask for more than that. It’s a new chapter in my career. This is a great clubhouse. It’s been an easy transition.’’
Lefty reliever Drew Smiley retired all 12 batters he faced. The last time a reliever worked four innings without allowing a baserunner against the Yankees was Baltimore’s Eddie Watt in 1966.
* Brennan Boesch was one of six left-handed hitters Girardi used against Tigers righty Fister yesterday. And it had more to do with arithmetic than Boesch playing against his former team for the first time.
“I don’t want him to get too up for that, that’s a concern,’’ Girardi said of Boesch, who was cut by the Tigers in spring training despite having an option left. “But he has had success off Fister.’’
Boesch took a .538 (7-for-12) with a homer off Fister into the game. Also playing a part was Vernon Wells was 1-for-12 (.083) versus Fister. Ichiro Suzuki (2-for-5) shifted from right to left, Wells was on the bench and Boesch started in right.
Boesch went 1-for-4 and made a catch crashing into the wall in the third inning to rob Prince Fielder of an extra base hit.
*
When Mark Teixeira suffered a right wrist injury before the World Baseball Classic he was told to expect to miss eight to 10 weeks.
“You want to be optimistic. If they say eight to 10, your goal should be eight,’’ Teixeira said. “Take it slow, still have a month to go and hope there are not setbacks.’’
Eight weeks would be May 1, but Teixeira didn’t put much stock in a recent report that he would return by then.
“Nothing has changed for me,’’ Teixeira said.