Listening to manager Joe Girardi talk about Derek Jeter’s program, it doesn’t sound like the shortstop will bounce off the disabled list Sunday, the first day he is eligible.
Jeter is shelved with a strained right calf.
“He will continue to increase his work here,’’ Girardi said of Jeter, who played catch during batting practice yesterday but wasn’t seen running or in the batting cage. “When we go on the road [Friday], I think he will go back to Tampa.’’
* Alfonso Soriano’s first big league hit was a homer as a Yankee. In yesterday’s 5-4 win over the Tigers, his 2,000th hit landed in the left-field seats.
“It’s nice to get it out of the way,’’ said Soriano, who was 0-for-10 when he connected off Tigers stud Justin Verlander. “I feel more comfortable. I don’t have to think about it. It’s more important we got the win.’’
Soriano’s third homer as a Yankee was his 20th of the season. He joined Boston designated hitter David Ortiz as the only players to hit at least 20 homers in each of the last 12 seasons.
* Andy Pettitte was removed by Girardi two outs from qualifying for a victory, but the manager wasn’t looking at the elevated pitch count (101) as much as the results.
“I thought it was gritty. He was in trouble a lot and figured ways to get out of innings, and to only give up the one run, I thought it was extremely gritty on his part,’’ Girardi said.
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Pettitte, who hasn’t won since July 11, was hooked with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth. He gave up eight hits and three walks, but stranded seven runners in the first four frames.
* Girardi doesn’t normally go overboard in describing things, but he gushed about Ichiro Suzuki approaching 4,000 combined career hits in Japan and America.
“It’s incredible that anyone can get 4,000 hits in professional baseball,’’ Girardi said of Ichiro, who is seven shy of 4,000 after going 0-for-4. “The pursuit of it doesn’t seem to bother him. It will be interesting when he gets to 3,999 if it bothers him. I think it’s incredible with what he has done. He is consistent, plays every day and finds ways to get on base.” Ichiro, 40 in October, is 285 short of 3,000 hits in MLBand likely will have to play in 2015 to reach the mark only 28 players in big league history have attained.
* When general manager Brian Cashman mentioned on July 31 there was a possibility Kevin Youkilis could return from back surgery before the end of the season, it was somewhat of a surprise because 12 weeks of rehab following a June 20 operation would take him to the middle of September.
Youkilis has been working out in Manhattan for about four weeks and was in the Yankees’ clubhouse before yesterday’s game.
Youkilis said he was told he could be taking dry swings within eight to 10 weeks post-surgery, but he said yesterday, “It won’t be next week.’’
* When general manager Brian Cashman mentioned on July 31 there was a possibility Kevin Youkilis could return from back surgery before the end of the season, it was somewhat of a surprise because 12 weeks of rehab following a June 20 operation would take him to the middle of September.
Youkilis has been working out in Manhattan for about four weeks and was in the Yankees’ clubhouse before yesterday’s game.
Youkilis said he was told he could be taking dry swings within eight to 10 weeks post-surgery, but he said yesterday, “It won’t be next week.’’
Youkilis, who signed a one-year deal for $12 million, says he hasn’t given up hope to play again this season.
“I have been rehabbing away, nothing fun, no baseball things yet,’’ said Youkilis, who hit .219 (23-for-105) with two homers and eight RBIs in 28 games. “You have to know what your body says. I hope to play at some point.’’
* Dellin Betances is back home, and he owes his promotion to the organization moving him from a starter to a reliever months ago.
The 6-foot-9, hard-throwing right-hander from Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to help an over-worked bullpen.
Infielder David Adams was optioned to the minors to make room for Betances.
A starter his entire career, Betances moved to the bullpen early in the summer and flourished there, notching a 1.46 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings of relief after struggling so mightily as a starter last year.
“It’s always good to be here. It’s home,” he said. “Confidence-wise, I feel good. I got to pitch more often. Instead of going every five days, I get to throw two or three times. The more time I get on the mound, it’s helping me get more consistent.”
“It’s being more aggressive, attacking the strike zone right away,” Betances,
who made his Major League debut in The Bronx in 2011, added. “It’s one of those
things, you got to come in and give whatever you have that day.”
“His numbers are much better in the bullpen than as a starter. I am anxious to see how he is doing,” Girardi said. “I think he simplified it. He is not worried about a third or fourth pitch. He seems to be more comfortable. Sometimes guys
are bullpen guys and are more comfortable.”