OFF HIS STRIDE: Hitting coach Kevin Long wants Derek Jeter to shorten his swing, focusing primarily on the length and direction of his stride. (Anthony J. Causi / New York Post)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Derek Jeter does not admit failure easily in public. It is not part of his uber-confident persona.
But the Yankees captain is making a concession this offseason that intimates how intolerable he found his .270 season.
Jeter is renowned around the Yankees for having a set routine and hating to deviate from it. Yet in response to his poorest campaign, Jeter is going to break with his habitual offseason plan and do one-on-one sessions with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, The Post has learned. Jeter may travel to Arizona, but Long more probably will go to Tampa, likely in January.
The two had begun to implement some changes late in the year that showed some positive results. Essentially, as a way to shorten a too-long swing, Long wants to continue to get Jeter to better control the direction and the length of his stride.
“This is the first time he has done something like this in the offseason,” Long said by phone. “And why should he have done anything before. He has had such a prolific career and been so good. He didn’t feel the need to go out and do stuff. But now we are thinking let’s get on an offseason program and be where we need to be when spring training opens. The only reason to do this is because he did have a down year.”
For Long, this is nothing new. He does offseason tutorials and troubleshooting with Yankee hitters all the time. For example, he travels annually to the Dominican Republic to work with Robinson Cano and last season he revamped Nick Swisher’s swing in Arizona. His most-dedicated offseason partner is Alex Rodriguez, and Long is in Miami now working with A-Rod and Melky Cabrera.
Mainly, though, this is about working with A-Rod, who is attempting to — among other things — become leaner and more agile this offseason.
Jeter, however, had until now stuck by an offseason hitting plan in which some time after Dec. 1 he began taking batting practice at the Yankee minor league camp, often under the watchful eye of minor league coach Gary Denbo, who has been instrumental in Jeter’s swing since the team drafted the shortstop in 1992. But, clearly, now Jeter thinks something different must be done to regain his swing for a season in which he will turn 37.
“I have always thought his swing was very good and efficient,” Long said. “There is no reason to go crazy with this thing. Might he pull the ball more, especially get it to center and left-center, yeah, if we do this right. But I don’t want him to go far away from his strength. He has made a great career driving the ball to the opposite field. This is the first year I am being pro-active with him because in the past he had been so good. Things have to be addressed now. Until now this guy had been my lowest-maintenance player in the majors.”
Long believes Jeter can return to being a .300 hitter for the duration of the three-year extension just recently signed.
“I really, really truly in my heart think he can continue at a high, high level,” Long said. “We will work earlier than usual to get him to that high level.”
*** Several teams have called Minnesota to inquire about the availability of ace Francisco Liriano
, including the Yankees, who are making sure of what is available in case they don’t land Cliff Lee
. But a Twins official said the team is focused on upgrading the front of the rotation and could not imagine how they would let Liriano go unless it were a trade that led to obtaining another high-end starter.
The Twins would, however, consider trading strike-thrower Kevin Slowey
, especially if they are able to re-sign free agent Carl Pavano
.
***A White Sox official told me he could not imagine trading ace John Danks
. But in the aftermath of re-signing Paul Konerko
for three years at $37.5 million, Chicago GM Kenny Williams
conceded the club has just about maxed out budget so, “we have to be as creative as possible on the trade front. The free-agent front is too expensive, right now.”
Still, the White Sox would be much more likely to trade Gavin Floyd
or Edwin Jackson
. However, they are hesitant to move a starter with youngster Chris Sale
having to be slipped into the rotation while Jake Peavy
rehabs from upper back surgery that cost him the final three months of last season.
***The A’s have been frustrated that they’ve been unable to convince a free agent hitter to play at their pitcher’s park. But they remained confident that Hideki Matsui
was seriously considering their proposal to be their DH.
***The Rays have been uninspired by offers for Matt Garza
. So they are planning to wait until July and if they are out of the race try to see if the market is better at that time for Garza.
***The Royals are fielding many calls about ace Zack Grienke
and that volume could go up once Lee signs and teams become more desperate to find a high-end starter. But an interested executive said Kansas City is asking more now in return than at the trade deadline last July, though less time is left on the righty’s contract.