TAMPA – Judging by Derek Jeter sitting out only the running portion of yesterday’s workout, his cranky right hamstring isn’t that serious.
However, when you add in that Jeter – and Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano – are leaving to join their World Baseball Classic clubs next week, and could be gone for an extended period of time, the Yankees have a concern.
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“We know how Derek acts during the season, so it’s somewhat of a concern,” manager Joe Girardi said.
“It’s awful early to play meaningful games. Guys are going to get sore. It does concern me. The last thing we want is for a player to get hurt during the WBC. We will talk and make sure he is healthy.”
When the Yanks entered their running program yesterday morning at Steinbrenner Field, Jeter stood to the side and watched on Field 3. He rejoined the team on Field 1 for cutoff and relay throws, took batting practice and extra hacks later indoors.
“The leg is a little sore, I was told not to run,” Jeter said. “It’s no biggie, no story. You will see me out there tomorrow [today]. It’s sore, not a pull, not a strain, it’s sore.”
GM Brian Cashman is trusting Jeter to be truthful about any injury before he leaves or during a stint with Team USA. Yet, since Cashman can’t do anything about Jeter being around medical people who aren’t employed by the Yankees, there is no reason to let his blood pressure elevate.
“There is nothing I can do but accept it,” Cashman said. “It’s in place and it’s being used to grow the game. This time I am used to it. It’s out of my control, so I don’t worry about it.”
Much has been made in recent years that Jeter’s range in the field is a detriment and that he doesn’t provide enough muscle from the No. 2 spot. However, think about this: If he is hurt for an extended period of time, the Yankees are a lot worse off.
With Wilson Betemit smartly traded to the White Sox for Nick Swisher, the backup shortstop is Cody Ransom, a utility infielder. He’s also the backup at second and third.
Though it’s not uncommon for a veteran player’s legs to bark in the early days of camp, Jeter and Rodriguez experienced leg problems early last year.
Jeter left a game on April 7 with a left quad problem and missed the next six tilts, in which the Yankees went 2-4.
Rodriguez missed 16 games last year (the Yankees were 6-10) in April and May due to a strained right quadriceps.
The three Yankees report to their WBC clubs a week from today. Until then they will play in exhibition games for the Yankees, though it’s not likely they will travel to Fort Myers on Friday to face the Twins after having played at least the day before at home.
Jeter, of course, downplayed the attention being given to his leg.
“If you guys wrote about every sore leg, you would have a story a day,” he said.
But just two legs belong to Jeter, and when one of them is sore, it’s news. Especially when the manager says he is concerned about the prospects of Jeter – and Rodriguez and Cano – being injured away from the Yankees.