TAMPA — To Derek Jeter batting leadoff instead of second in the Yankees lineup means only one thing: You are guaranteed no one will be on base for your first at-bat.
“You hit 60 seconds earlier than you normally do,” Jeter said.
Joe Girardi is looking at flip-flopping Jeter, the usual No. 2 hitter, and leadoff man Johnny Damon this season. Jeter was at the top of the Yankees lineup for the second straight day, with Damon second, for tonight’s game against Cincinnati.
“It’s exactly the same unless somebody’s on base,” Jeter said. “Some particular inning whoever is hitting ninth leads off and gets on base, then it’s back to hitting second.”
Girardi liked what he saw earlier in spring training when Damon batted second so catcher Jorge Posada, who is coming back from right shoulder surgery, could hit first and get extra at-bats.
“I’m telling you from experience about moving from first to second, or second to first, besides the fact that you’re a little earlier or later in the first inning, in my opinion it’s doesn’t really make much of a difference,” Jeter said.
The Yankees’ lineup tonight could be close to the one used for the regular season opener April 6 at Baltimore. After Jeter and Damon it’s Mark Teixeira, Hideki Matsui, Posada, Robinson Cano, Xavier Nady, Cody Ransom and Brett Gardner.
Third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the normal No. 4 hitter, is expected to be out until May after right hip surgery on March 9.