Don’t take June 29 in the “When Will Derek Jeter Return?” pool.
That’s the first day the Yankees shortstop is eligible to come off the disabled list, but it doesn’t sound as if he will be in the lineup against the Brewers at the Stadium that night. Jeter has been on the DL since suffering a Grade 1 strain to his right calf on June 13 when he left a game against the Indians after running out a fly ball.
“He is still feeling the calf,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “He is doing nothing but long-toss. He is getting better but not in position to do anything yet.”
Jeter, who will turn 37 on Sunday, played catch for the third straight day yesterday at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa, but it’s what he hasn’t done that indicates he won’t be back in six days.
He hasn’t run straight ahead, never mind around the bases. Nor has he fielded ground balls or taken batting practice.
“I can’t tell you right now when he will be ready,” Cashman said. “He is getting treatment every day and feeling better, but he can’t run and can’t swing the bat.”
Putting Jeter, who was against the decision, on the DL for the first time since 2003 turned out to be the correct call since he still feels discomfort.
This week in Cincinnati, manager Joe Girardi hinted Jeter might require a minor league rehab game because the worst-case scenario would be having his shortstop return and suffer a setback that would require a day or two of recovery.
Then there is the matter of Jeter approaching 3,000 hits. If he does return on Wednesday, he would have two home games to get the six hits he needs to become the first Yankee to reach that milestone.
Since he is averaging 1.1 hits (68 in 62 games), six in two games is a reach. If he doesn’t do it in The Bronx, the next three tilts will be at Citi Field against the Mets with three to follow in Cleveland.
A more likely scenario is giving Jeter an extra week, meaning he would return July 5 in Cleveland, where the Yankees play the next day before returning home for four against the Rays before the All-Star break. The first eight games after the break are at Toronto and Tampa Bay.
If Jeter reaches 3,000 at home, the Yankees say they don’t have anything special planned.
“We would obviously frown on anything that delays the game for a long time,” MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said. “We certainly don’t want anything that takes 10 to 15 minutes.”
Helping the Yankees take it slow with Jeter is the fact they are winning without the captain. The Yankees have won seven of the nine games Jeter has missed. Eduardo Nunez, Jeter’s replacement at short, is batting .290 (9-for-31) and has looked more comfortable in the field across the last four games after committing his team-leading eighth error last Saturday in Chicago.
Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner have filled the leadoff role very well, batting a combined .353 (12-for-34) with an on-base percentage of .476.
Girardi is adamant that whenever Jeter returns he will return to batting first. He is hitting .260 with an on-base percentage of .324.