DUNEDIN, Fla. — Standing behind the batting cage Wednesday morning, Yankees manager Joe Girardi watched Derek Jeter take batting practice hacks against coach Tony Pena.
“Wow, in the air,’’ Girardi said as Jeter lofted a pitch toward center field.
Jeter has been the most scrutinized Yankee in spring training, which ends Saturday. His left ankle has been watched constantly. Scouts’ stopwatches time him to first base in 4.45 seconds when 4.3 is average from the right side. Though the Yankees only wanted to see him healthy, the .128 batting average going into Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays was hard to ignore for a player who will be 40 in June.
So why was Girardi commenting on Jeter hitting the ball in the air? After all, of Jeter’s 3,316 hits, only 256 have cleared the fence. Girardi, however, has been encouraged by Jeter lifting the ball in games recently.
“The big thing for me is that he is healthy, he is responding day after day, playing four out of five days,’’ Girardi said of his iconic shortstop and captain, who starts the final season of a lock Hall of Fame career Tuesday in Houston. “I think he is starting to swing the bat a little bit better, starting to get the ball in the air, hitting some line drives. I don’t worry too much about spring training with veteran guys, especially a guy who hasn’t played in a year and a half. He talked about his timing and he feels it’s better and better.’’
In a 10-6 loss Wednesday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Jeter played shortstop in a day game after a night game for the first time this spring and went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
“I try to do that with everyone in spring training, so [the player knows] this is what my body needs to do,’’ Girardi said.
Jeter said getting the ball off the ground is that final step that arrives, though this time it may have taken longer.
“I don’t work on it, but this year it may have taken a little longer,’’ said Jeter, who raised the average to .143. “At first you want to make sure you are seeing the ball. Then make sure you are swinging at good pitches and making contact.
“Driving the ball in the air is usually the last thing that comes. That happens every spring. Maybe this year it has taken a little longer. I think that’s understandable considering I haven’t played in a long time.’’
As for watching Jeter patrol shortstop, Girardi hasn’t noticed anything amiss.
“He is fine. I don’t have any issues. He is consistent out there,’’ Girardi said. “It’s really nice to see him move and not force it like we had to watch last year. It was hard for everybody to watch. It was not something we were accustomed to. He has gone to his left, he has gone to his right and he has come in.’’
Jeter has stuck to his pre-camp mantra about experiencing his final season in 24-hour bites.
“I am taking it day by day and not thinking about Opening Day,’’ said Jeter, who will be at shortstop Tuesday night when he begins the final leg of his career. “I am trying to look forward to it not being over.’’