Jeter questionable for finale
06/21/2006 1:17 AM ET
Notes: Jeter questionable for finale
Already battling right foot problem, shortstop hit in left knee
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Derek Jeter was hit on the side of his left knee by a Rheal Cormier in the seventh inning of Tuesday's 9-7 victory over the Phillies, and while he remained in the game, he is questionable for Wednesday's finale at Citizens Bank Park.
Jeter discussed the injury in the same fashion that he always does, saying that his knee was "all right" and that he would be in the lineup on Wednesday.
But Joe Torre revealed after the game that the shortstop has been battling a minor problem with the inside of his right foot for a couple of days.
"It's no problem," Jeter said, again brushing off the injury question. "It's all right. It's no big deal."
But as Jeter, who had wraps on his leg, walked out of the clubhouse following the game, it was clear that he was limping.
Jeter has played in 64 of the Yankees' 69 games this season, missing three games from June 5-7 with a bruised right thumb and two games from May 31-June 1 with a sprained right hand.
Jeter is hitting .339 with five home runs and 45 RBIs this season.
Resting rookie: Melky Cabrera was not in the lineup on Tuesday, the first time since May 23 that the rookie did not start, a span of 24 games.
Kevin Reese, called up from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day, started in left field. Reese was batting .286 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 49 games with Columbus this season.
"It looks like he's forcing it a little bit; he's a little long in his swing," Joe Torre said of Cabrera. "Kevin has been swinging the bat very well, so we'll throw him in there and see what happens."
Cabrera has struggled at the plate recently, going hitless in his last 14 at-bats. Cabrera is just 1-for-18 on the road trip.
"He's a little overanxious, I know he's not as patient and he certainly doesn't appear as comfortable," Torre said. "He's dealing with this for the first time after he had that good start. It's more a young player experiencing his first slump than anything else."
Torre stressed that Cabrera was still the Yankees' everyday left fielder, and that he would be in the lineup on Wednesday against lefty Cole Hamels. Right field will continue to be a rotating position between Bernie Williams, Bubba Crosby and possibly Reese.
"We have to mix and match somewhere," Torre said. "That seems to be the most comfortable position for Bernie right now, and he's not going to play every day."
To make room for Reese on the roster, right-hander Jose Veras was optioned to Triple-A.
Dotel hanging around: Octavio Dotel's plans to head to Trenton on Thursday have been changed, as the reliever will remain with the Yankees through the weekend, joining Columbus on Monday.
Dotel will throw on flat ground with the Yankees on Thursday, then pitch in a game on Monday for Columbus. One or two outings could be enough for him to declare himself ready, at which point he could join the Yankees next week.
"If he's comfortable, we're certainly going to go along with that," Torre said. "He's the one that has to feel good about what he's doing."
Catching a rest: Jorge Posada will not start on Wednesday, as Kelly Stinnett will be paired up with Jaret Wright in the series finale against the Phillies.
Posada may see action later in the game, but Torre believes that the partial day off, combined with Thursday's off-day, will give the catcher a nice break.
"I think that will be more of a benefit for him," Torre said.
First things first: Andy Phillips has had just three at-bats on the road trip, as Jason Giambi has started each of the past five games at first base in National League parks.
Torre plans on giving Phillips some playing time when the team returns home this weekend, giving him a chance to play while giving Giambi some time at designated hitter.
"It will probably help Jason to DH, so there's a pretty good chance," Torre said. "It's tough when they make the schedules to have you play two [NL] cities in a row. It's a disadvantage to American League teams to have players not play for six days."
Coming up: The Yankees and Phillies close out their three-game set on Wednesday, as Wright takes on Hamels. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Notes: Jeter questionable for finale
Already battling right foot problem, shortstop hit in left knee
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Derek Jeter was hit on the side of his left knee by a Rheal Cormier in the seventh inning of Tuesday's 9-7 victory over the Phillies, and while he remained in the game, he is questionable for Wednesday's finale at Citizens Bank Park.
Jeter discussed the injury in the same fashion that he always does, saying that his knee was "all right" and that he would be in the lineup on Wednesday.
But Joe Torre revealed after the game that the shortstop has been battling a minor problem with the inside of his right foot for a couple of days.
"It's no problem," Jeter said, again brushing off the injury question. "It's all right. It's no big deal."
But as Jeter, who had wraps on his leg, walked out of the clubhouse following the game, it was clear that he was limping.
Jeter has played in 64 of the Yankees' 69 games this season, missing three games from June 5-7 with a bruised right thumb and two games from May 31-June 1 with a sprained right hand.
Jeter is hitting .339 with five home runs and 45 RBIs this season.
Resting rookie: Melky Cabrera was not in the lineup on Tuesday, the first time since May 23 that the rookie did not start, a span of 24 games.
Kevin Reese, called up from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day, started in left field. Reese was batting .286 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 49 games with Columbus this season.
"It looks like he's forcing it a little bit; he's a little long in his swing," Joe Torre said of Cabrera. "Kevin has been swinging the bat very well, so we'll throw him in there and see what happens."
Cabrera has struggled at the plate recently, going hitless in his last 14 at-bats. Cabrera is just 1-for-18 on the road trip.
"He's a little overanxious, I know he's not as patient and he certainly doesn't appear as comfortable," Torre said. "He's dealing with this for the first time after he had that good start. It's more a young player experiencing his first slump than anything else."
Torre stressed that Cabrera was still the Yankees' everyday left fielder, and that he would be in the lineup on Wednesday against lefty Cole Hamels. Right field will continue to be a rotating position between Bernie Williams, Bubba Crosby and possibly Reese.
"We have to mix and match somewhere," Torre said. "That seems to be the most comfortable position for Bernie right now, and he's not going to play every day."
To make room for Reese on the roster, right-hander Jose Veras was optioned to Triple-A.
Dotel hanging around: Octavio Dotel's plans to head to Trenton on Thursday have been changed, as the reliever will remain with the Yankees through the weekend, joining Columbus on Monday.
Dotel will throw on flat ground with the Yankees on Thursday, then pitch in a game on Monday for Columbus. One or two outings could be enough for him to declare himself ready, at which point he could join the Yankees next week.
"If he's comfortable, we're certainly going to go along with that," Torre said. "He's the one that has to feel good about what he's doing."
Catching a rest: Jorge Posada will not start on Wednesday, as Kelly Stinnett will be paired up with Jaret Wright in the series finale against the Phillies.
Posada may see action later in the game, but Torre believes that the partial day off, combined with Thursday's off-day, will give the catcher a nice break.
"I think that will be more of a benefit for him," Torre said.
First things first: Andy Phillips has had just three at-bats on the road trip, as Jason Giambi has started each of the past five games at first base in National League parks.
Torre plans on giving Phillips some playing time when the team returns home this weekend, giving him a chance to play while giving Giambi some time at designated hitter.
"It will probably help Jason to DH, so there's a pretty good chance," Torre said. "It's tough when they make the schedules to have you play two [NL] cities in a row. It's a disadvantage to American League teams to have players not play for six days."
Coming up: The Yankees and Phillies close out their three-game set on Wednesday, as Wright takes on Hamels. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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