MIAMI – Of course, he was fine. Isn’t he always?
After Derek Jeter was lifted in the third inning of last night’s 4-2 exhibition win over the Marlins, the question was why.
“During batting practice a ground ball nipped his finger, the right pinky, but he is OK,” said manager Joe Girardi, who still started Jeter at short. “If it was something he wouldn’t have played.”
As always, Jeter said, “I am fine.”
Girardi said Jeter wasn’t a question mark for tomorrow’s Opening Day gig against the Blue Jays, and that the fielding error he committed on a difficult hop in the second didn’t add to the problem.
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Since the Yankees haven’t officially put Andy Pettitte on the DL and have until 3 p.m. today to finalize their roster, they can bring back Darrell Rasner or Kei Igawa to make Pettitte’s Saturday start if Pettitte runs into trouble in today’s minor-league game in Tampa.
Rasner, the favorite, and Igawa, were sent to the minors Friday night.
“I can go any which way I want to because Andy hasn’t been officially DLed yet,” GM Brian Cashman said last night.
Of course, the Yankees want Pettitte’s back not to bother him today. That would allow him to face the Rays on Saturday.
“I’m good to go,” Pettitte said after playing catch and fielding grounders at the Yankees’ minor-league complex yesterday.
Pettitte was supposed to start the Yankees’ second game of the season, but back spasms that surfaced March 20 have kept him away from game action. He hasn’t worked a game since March 17, and that was after missing a start due to a tender left elbow.
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After giving up solo runs in the first and second innings, Phil Hughes blanked the Marlins over the final three. Hughes, who is to pitch the third game of the season, allowed two runs (one earned), three hits and fanned four.
Chad Moeller’s three-run, inside-the-park homer in the ninth lifted the Yankees to the victory and was aided by center fielder Alejandro De Aza spraining an ankle going for the ball in left-center.
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It’s only spring training, but the Yankees made 25 errors in 28 games.
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When the Yankees signed La Troy Hawkins as a free agent, they heard he was a wonderful presence in the clubhouse. Friday night he proved it.
Seeing that Scott Patterson was upset about being sent out, Hawkins headed for Patterson’s locker. Hawkins knew Patterson was almost perfect in eight games (one hit, no runs in 71/3 innings) and figured he needed some encouragement.
“I told him to go to his room and have some drinks and charge it to my room, 901,” Hawkins said.
Patterson didn’t run up Hawkins’ room service bill but appreciated the support.
“That was awesome, I probably needed that at that point,” said Patterson, who will open the season at Scranton-Wilkes Barre.
Hawkins also gave Patterson advice he received from Kirby Puckett, Rick Aguilera and Kevin Tapani when he was with the Twins.
“I told him I have been there before and they know what you can do,” Hawkins said. “He isn’t that far away. They put him in every situation they could and he came out smelling like a rose. He got big-league hitters out. It was OK to be upset.”