TAMPA — Don’t look for Derek Jeter to bounce off the disabled list on April 6 — the first day the shortstop is eligible.
Asked yesterday about general manager Brian Cashman’s hope Jeter would be available as soon as the DL stint ended, Jeter didn’t know or care to predict when he will return to the middle of the Yankees’ infield and top of the order.
“I have stopped putting dates on it,’’ Jeter said of his return from a fractured left ankle.
From the time he was injured in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Tigers, the plan was for Jeter to play Monday against the Red Sox on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium.
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That didn’t change when spring training opened. When Jeter was held out of the early exhibition games his mantra remained the same.
Nevertheless, that shifted this past Saturday when after a four at-bat stint in a minor league game Jeter struggled running to first.
“Take it day to day and see what happens,’’ said Jeter, who had a cortisone injection the previous Wednesday.
While admitting not being ready for Opening Day was disappointing, Jeter said he is focused on being ready to help for more than one game.
“I am disappointed I am not going to be ready Opening Day,’’ said Jeter, who will miss his second Opening Day. The other one was 2001 when Luis Sojo played short. “Big picture, I will be ready. I ran out of days, ran out of time.’’
Jeter said the ankle was sore following the minor league game.
“The goal was to be ready for Opening Day, but the goal is also to be ready for the season,’’ said Jeter, who will be replaced at short by Eduardo Nunez. “I pushed it to get ready for Opening Day, and it didn’t work out.’’
Did the 38-year-old Jeter push it too hard?
“I don’t know,’’ Jeter answered.
After talking to Dr. Robert Anderson, who performed the late October surgery, Jeter was still down about not making it to Opening Day but was informed this is all part of returning from a significant injury.
“It’s a setback for Opening Day, but it’s not a setback in the recovery process,’’ Jeter said. “In the normal recovery process these things happen. There are issues all along the way.’’
Jeter said he was unaware what the plan is for him.
“I have to put together a schedule,’’ said Jeter, who didn’t know if he was staying in Florida or going with the Yankees when they travel home after tomorrow’s game. “It’s whatever gets me ready to play. If staying here gets me ready to play, stay here.’’
According to manager Joe Girardi, Jeter will not been seen on the field today, but tomorrow is a possibility. Jeter hasn’t done anything baseball related since Saturday, so it’s likely when he does return it will be for fielding and hitting drills and not in a minor league game.
“Derek is the kind of guy who really pushed to where he could play Opening Day,’’ Girardi said. “It didn’t work out and we are taking a deep breath here.’’