ARLINGTON, Texas — Derek Jeter continues to make progress toward returning from the disabled list, but when he is activated remains an unanswered question.
“I think I could play today,’’ Jeter said after taking batting practice, ground balls and running the bases before the Yankees’ 2-0 win over Texas Thursday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. “I do what I am told. I feel good. I don’t feel anything in my leg.’’
Jeter suffered a Grade 1 strain of his right quadriceps running the bases July 11, the first day he came back from a season-long disabled-list stint, caused by two fractured bones in his left ankle.
The first day he is eligible to play is tomorrow at home against the surging Rays.
Wednesday, manager Joe Girardi didn’t express much optimism that Jeter would play Saturday. Thursday, he backed off a bit, but didn’t commit to having Jeter tomorrow.
“Let’s see. The one thing you can’t do is [say] he is definitely going to be there and when he is not there, all these flags go up,’’ Girardi said. “Let’s see how today goes and see how [Saturday] goes. He will run again [today], see the doctor and go from there.I am not throwing anything out there and I am not dismissing anything.’’
An indication Jeter is improving was a burst of speed getting out of the batter’s box.
“I assumed I wouldn’t feel anything, it’s been two weeks,’’ Jeter said. “I went into it thinking I wasn’t going to feel anything.’’
Because the Yankees play five interleague games against the Dodgers and Padres next week in California when the designated hitter won’t be used, Jeter was asked if that would present a problem.
“No, there are a lot of days off coming up,’’ Jeter said. “This weekend and a day off and two games and a day off and six games and another day off. We have a lot of days off coming up.’’
* Girardi makes out the lineup card but said he isn’t sure how much Alex Rodriguez will be bothered by the time he has missed since stopping a rehab assignment Sunday.
“That’s for the doctors and trainers to handle, not me,’’ Girardi said. “The last time I checked I didn’t have a license.’’
The plan calls for Rodriguez to work out in Tampa until Aug. 1. Then he will play in a simulated game or a minor league game.
* Curtis Granderson (broken left pinkie) and Jayson Nix (hamstring) played a rehab game for Single-A Tampa Thursday night. Granderson and Nix both went 0-for-2 with a walk. They both scored a run.
* Not wanting leadoff hitter Brett Gardner to fizzle like he did going into the All-Star break, Girardi sat the center fielder against left-hander Derek Holland, though Gardner was batting .409 (9-for-22) in the last six games.
Gardner was 1-for-6 (.167) against Holland.
“I thought we played him so much in the first half he kind of got beat up,’’ Girardi said of Gardner, who went 7-for-42 (.167) in the two weeks before the break. “We saw his numbers tail off at the end of the first half. I am trying to be smart about it.’’
Girardi put Gardner in center field for the ninth inning and shifted Melky Mesa to left.
* Austin Romine is showing signs at the plate after making a change in his approach with batting coach Kevin Long.
“We went to the cage and spent a whole day hitting the ball the other way,’’ said Romine, who had three hits (two doubles) Thursday.
He is 7-for-15 (.467) with four doubles in the last six games but is still at .193 for the season.