MLB

Jeter shaky on basepaths, opener more in doubt

TAMPA — Only fools bet against Derek Jeter. However, the Yankees captain has to move a lot better than he did yesterday in order to be in the Opening Day lineup a week from tomorrow.

Prior to being scratched Tuesday due to stiffness in his surgically repaired left ankle, Jeter was running well but not great on the bases. Yesterday, in his first game action since being scratched, Jeter went 0-for-4 in a Triple-A game against the Pirates at the Yankees’ minor league complex.

But it wasn’t the four groundouts people noticed. It was the way Jeter ran. While over-night rain left the field slippery in spots, Jeter likely has to show more on the bases before the Yankees are comfortable keeping him off the DL to start the season.

“No, not at all,’’ Jeter said about whether he was running full speed to first. “It takes time, but I was also cautious, the field was kind of wet and I almost wiped out twice coming out of the box, but that is something you build up to.’’

For Jeter, time is running out. The Yankees play the Red Sox a week from tomorrow at Yankee Stadium and they have to make a big decision.

Because Jeter doesn’t know when he will return to the field, it’s likely that if he does open the season on the roster, it will be as a DH and not at shortstop. Yesterday, Jeter and manager Joe Girardi said they didn’t know if Jeter would play the field today.

“We’ll see,’’ Girardi said. “I know it’s a 10 o’clock [start to the minor league game] over there tomorrow. It’s kind of a quick turnaround, so we’ll see.’’

If Jeter starts on the DL, he can be backdated to March 22 and be eligible to come off April 6 as long as he doesn’t appear in a major league exhibition game.

The Yankees may feel Jeter missing four games isn’t a steep price to pay to get him moving better than he is now.

Since the start of spring training Jeter has repeatedly said being ready for Opening Day is the goal.

That remains in play, but yesterday he added something to the answer about whether there is enough time for him to be ready for the Red Sox.

“Yup, take it day to day and see what happens,’’ Jeter said.

Prior to the Triple-A game, Jeter worked out at George M. Steinbrenner Field. He took batting practice, ground balls and said the daily questions are growing old.

“I will not address how it feels anymore. It’s not broken. It’s pointless to say how I feel every day,’’ Jeter said. “There are some good and some bad and I have to work through it.’’

As for the four at-bats, Jeter took a positive sign from them.

“Results aren’t the most important thing, it’s just to see pitches,’’ Jeter said. “That’s what I did and we will move from there. I feel comfortable. The good thing is that I am seeing it good.’’