SAN DIEGO — Derek Jeter’s season from hell is likely to hit a third ring of inactivity.
Diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of the right calf Saturday night there are strong signs the shortstop is headed for the DL on Monday.
“It’s a nightmare, the whole season has been a nightmare,” said Jeter, who started the season on the DL thanks to two fractured bones in the left foot, came back for one game July 11 and suffered the quad injury.
Jeter returned last Sunday and woke up Monday feeling the calf wasn’t right.
He played Tuesday and Wednesday in L.A. and Friday night against the Padres but he looked compromised in the field and running the bases. He hasn’t played the past two games and yesterday in the ninth he was getting treatment when Joe Girardi sent Vernon Wells to pinch-hit with two outs in the ninth.
In the four games Jeter has played since coming off the DL for the second time he is 3-for-15.
“Who knows, I am tired of trying to speculate,” Jeter said when asked if he knew when he would be ready to play. “It’s frustrating. We will see what happens (today).”
If history helps clear the picture, remember Jeter missed close to three weeks with a Grade 1 strain of the right calf in 2011.
“It’s different, the last time I felt it,” said Jeter, who suffered that injury running to first base and left the game. “This time I didn’t feel anything. I can’t pinpoint when it happened.”
“It’s always possible,” Girardi said of Jeter going on the DL. “It’s not what we want to do. I can’t say 100 percent, no, he will be on it.”
Naturally, Girardi is concerned about his 39-year-old shortstop.
“Could it happen again? We are at the time of the year where you say take 25 days off,” Girardi said. “You can’t do that.”