Derek Jeter’s rehab program for a strained right calf muscle progressed yesterday to the point he used a bat to hit soft-toss and off a tee.
Beyond that?
“You got me,” Jeter said when asked whether running will be added to the program.
Jeter is not likely to be activated from the disabled list when he is first eligible on Sunday, when the Yankees play a series finale against the Red Sox in Fenway Park. Manager Joe Girardi had said when the Yankees go on the road on Friday, Jeter will report to the minor league complex in Tampa.
“Tee and toss is the new thing,’’ Girardi said before last night’s 2-1 win over the Angels at Yankee Stadium. “He is making progress.’’
PHOTOS: POST COVERS A-ROD THROUGH THE YEARS
Asked whether Jeter could be activated Sunday, Girardi said, “I am not sure.’’
* According to Girardi, Travis Hafner — on the DL with a strained right rotator cuff — feels better, but is not ready for baseball activities.
* Ichiro Suzuki went 1-for-4 and has 3,994 combined hits in Japan and America.
* David Robertson has retired the last 25 batters he has faced with the bases loaded — including the final batter in the ninth inning last night.
The streak started on April 19, 2011. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the longest streak since Jeff Brantley retired 30 straight from 1989 to 1991.
* After missing most of last season with a right elbow injury, Brett Gardner has turned into a major contributor during a season in which Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Kevin Youkilis and Curtis Granderson have missed significant time.
“His personality has come out and it’s good,’’ Girardi said of Gardner’s gritty style of play.
Gardner knocked in the Yankees’ first run with a single and is 6-for-18 (.333) in the past four games, including two game-winning hits over the weekend.
With 119 hits, Gardner is on pace to eclipse his season high of 132 set in 2010 and 2011. He also is likely to notch a career high in strikeouts — at 99, he is just two shy of the 101 whiffs he had in 2010.
* Former Islanders great and NHL Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine was a guest of the Yankees last night, watching batting practice with son Daniel and Dr. Sean Levchuck and his son, Connor, an Angels fan.
LaFontaine and his son left last night for Moncton, New Brunswick, where Daniel will try out today for the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Daniel is a graduate of St. Anthony’s in Melville.
* Robertson and Ryan Dempster are on opposite sides of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, but they are on the same page when it comes to raising money for charity.
Robertson’s charity, High Socks for Hope, and Dempster’s charity, Dempster Family Foundation, are involved in a competition called “Power of 2 — Baseball Edition.”
The charity that garners the most donations from yesterday until Aug. 26 will be Power of 2 champion. The other charity’s pitcher will have to arrive and do a press conference at Yankee Stadium next month dressed as a superhero.