Brian Cashman (UPI)
CAPTAIN’S COMEBACK: Derek Jeter’s recovery is even on the minds of Tigers fans (above), but it is Yankees GM Brian Cashman (inset) who had to answer questions about it yesterday, when it was announced Jeter will have surgery Saturday. Cashman said he’s not even contemplating life without Jeter. (Reuters; UPI (inset))
DETROIT — Derek Jeter will have surgery on his fractured left ankle Saturday, putting his availability for Opening Day in question.
The shortstop is expected to make a complete recovery in four to five months, which is longer than the original timetable of three months the Yankees provided after he suffered the injury in Game 1 of the ALCS in The Bronx.
The surgery, which will be performed by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, complicates his return. While five months would have him ready toward the end of spring training, any setbacks or complications could push it back to the regular season.
General manager Brian Cashman said he has no plans to look for a backup plan at shortstop.
“I haven’t looked at that at this stage,” Cashman said. “We do have Eduardo Nunez, we have Jayson Nix, so it’s not something we focused on. And I wouldn’t think that’s something we’ll gravitate to.”
He also said he was not concerned about the potential recovery time being lengthened.
“I believe Dr. Anderson just put a more conservative time frame on it,” Cashman said before Game 4 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Tigers at Comerica Park was postponed until today. “My understanding is that it’s possible he will be ready earlier than that timetable, but it is best to at least put out there four, five months as a safer bet.”
Still, as Andy Pettitte learned, setbacks from ankle surgery are possible, especially if there is ligament damage.
“It’s a little more difficult to repair ligaments as well as the fracture,” said Dr. David Geier, Director of Sports Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. “And there’s a lot of work afterwards to recover range of motion and balance, especially as you get older. If that’s the case, he’d still be able to come back and play, but the concern would be if he is going to be the same player.”
Dr. Anderson has operated on NBA players and also serves as a team physician for the Carolina Panthers.
“This is his niche,” Dr. Geier said of Dr. Anderson, who performed surgery on Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks in May after Nicks broke the fifth metarsal in his right foot while running a route during a practice. Nicks has since battled foot problems this season.
Jeter has not been with the team since the injury occurred and the Yankees looked lost without him in the next two games without him — both losses to the Tigers that brought them to the brink of elimination last night.
Nix filled in for Jeter in Game 2, and Nunez took his spot in Tuesday’s Game 3 and homered in the ninth and made a diving play up the middle.
Jeter’s ability to shake off surgery at his age will be the key to whether either player is counted on again at short in 2013.
“Chronic instability with ankle ligaments is something that can happen in these situations,” Geier said. “And when you’re going to be 39, it makes it even more challenging.”
Geier also thought Jeter’s prior foot injuries may have played a role in the potential ligament damage.
“That could have led to it being a more serious injury,” Dr. Geier said. “When you have to repair or reconstruct ligaments, there’s less certainty in a full recovery.”
dan.martin@nypost.com