MLB

Without Jeter, Yankees feel pain of absence

BALTIMORE — Despite not having Derek Jeter for most of the season, his Yankees teammates said losing the shortstop for what’s left of this year is devastating.

Thanks to the twice-fractured left ankle giving him pain, Jeter was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday when general manager Brian Cashman said the Yankee captain’s season was kaput.

“Obviously it’s a big blow, a huge loss,’’ Alex Rodriguez said of the news that leaves the Yankees with Eduardo Nunez and newly acquired Brendan Ryan as the shortstops for a team battling to get into the second AL wild-card spot. “The more he is around the better it is for us. It’s a big blow.’’

The Yankees started Wednesday night’s game against the Orioles at Camden Yards two games back of the Rays for the second spot and were three games behind in the loss column.

Even though Jeter appeared in only 17 games this season because of ankle, quadriceps and calf injuries, and hit .190 (12-for-63), CC Sabathia said his friend will be missed.

“It’s Derek Jeter and it’s never easy to play without him,’’ Sabathia said. “Not having him for so long, I am not saying you get used to it, but it’s a weird situation to be in. We have battled all year and it’s up to us to go out and do it. It’s going to be tough any time you lose your captain.’’

Robinson Cano didn’t hide his emotions when talking about not having Jeter for the most important stretch of the season.

“It’s bad, bad, bad, bad, man,’’ a dejected Cano said. “He wants to play so bad. It’s not my injury, but I feel frustrated because he worked to get back every day. You don’t know how bad he wanted to play this season. Hopefully it works out for him and he is healthy for next season.’’

Mariano Rivera felt for Jeter.

“It’s hard to see a guy fighting all year and he hasn’t been able to play the way he knows how to play the way we need him to play,’’ Rivera said. “It’s hard to see your captain like that. For us, it’s sad because this guy always tries to the right thing for the team.’’

David Robertson viewed the news as the latest body shot the Yankees have absorbed this season.

“It’s a tough blow for us and we have had a lot of them this year,’’ said Robertson, who was cleared to pitch Wednesday night after a case of right shoulder tendinitis kept him out since last Thursday. “You have to try to find a way to push forward without your captain on the field. He has been such a critical part for so long. It’s tough not having him around. We waited all year long.’’