Jeter returns to defensive lineup
06/13/2006 11:55 PM ET
Notes: Jeter returns to defensive lineup
Veteran back at shortstop after three games as DH
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- For the first time in more than a week, Derek Jeter played shortstop for the Yankees.
Jeter, who missed the first three games of the homestand after being hit on his right thumb by a pitch in Baltimore last Sunday, was originally penciled into Tuesday's lineup as the designated hitter, which would have marked his fourth consecutive game in that position.
But after Joe Torre watched Jeter take batting practice and field some ground balls, the manager decided to insert him back into his regular position.
"I'm ready to go," Jeter said. "I always expect to play. As long as I'm capable of doing it I could play."
Jeter went 1-for-5 on Sunday, snapping an 0-for-14 stretch with a fifth-inning double. The hitless streak was the longest for Jeter since May 2004, when he also went 0-for-14.
Jeter's biggest problem since being hit by the Rodrigo Lopez pitch wasn't his hitting, it was his inability to throw the ball without pain.
With Jeter back in the field, the Yankees moved Bernie Williams from right field to DH, inserting Kevin Thompson into the lineup in right field.
Giambi still out: Jason Giambi was hopeful for a return to the starting lineup Tuesday against Cleveland, but was expected to sit a second straight game with an injured thumb after being hit by a pitch Saturday. Giambi said there has been a "huge" improvement to the thumb after icing it on the team's off-day and again before Tuesday's game.
"That left hand is sore," Torre said. "We'll just have to see what he can do."
But after putting pads in his batting glove and all the treatment, discomfort remained. Even the amount of padding felt unusual to the slugger.
"It felt like I had an oven mitt on," Giambi said with a laugh. "We put pads on, did whatever, but just couldn't get over the top where I could swing. It's not going to help just to go stand up there."
Giambi is shooting for a Wednesday return as the DH. The thumb is still black and blue and there is pain between it and the next two fingers, but Giambi said there has been marked improvement.
"The other day I couldn't even use it," he said. "So they made big headway."
Sheff surgery a success: Gary Sheffield underwent successful surgery on his left wrist Tuesday, putting him on track to return in about 12 weeks.
Dr. Charles Melone, the hand specialist that has been working with Sheffield, performed the surgery. Melone told general manager Brian Cashman that the surgery went well, and that no other damage was found in the wrist.
"He just told me it went extremely well, but the time frame is the time frame and I think there's going to be a real good, positive result," Cashman said. "He'll work extremely hard. He'll be fine and it will be stronger than it was before."
"We hope that everything goes well," Torre said. "He's anxious to get back, but he knows what the process is going to be."
Sheffield will likely have to wait about six weeks before he can begin his rehab program, and he should return about six weeks after that.
"We've just got to go with what we've got here," Cashman said. "I hope for a speedy recovery for him now and in the future. It's just nice to know that when he goes through rehab, we'll get him back."
Dotel on the way: Octavio Dotel continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, as the weather in Tampa called for rain most of this week.
Dotel allowed two runs on three hits -- including a home run -- in one inning against Ottawa, striking out one in his first appearance with Columbus.
Dotel, who is in the final stage of his rehab from last year's Tommy John elbow surgery, could join the Yankees in about 10 days.
"He's the one that has to say, 'I'm ready to go,'" Torre said. "I think he's close to doing that, whether it's in five days or 10 days. I think we're close enough to see the finish line."
When he joins the team, Dotel will join Kyle Farnsworth and Scott Proctor as the primary setup men for Mariano Rivera. Torre stressed that, despite the recent problems in the bullpen, the Yankees aren't rushing Dotel back.
"It's important, as long as we've waited for Dotel, not to rush this thing," the manager said. "Whatever he's comfortable with, we'll be ready for him. The fact that he feels good and he's throwing all of his pitches is great."
Bubba Crosby also played for Columbus on Tuesday, going 1-for-4 as the DH. Crosby could return by Wednesday or Thursday.
Torre said before the game that Crosby was feeling "a little sore" from playing over the weekend, but that the soreness was not related to the hamstring injury that landed him on the DL to begin with.
A new day: Monday's off-day couldn't have come at a better time for the Yankees, who had lost four straight games after being swept by Oakland over the weekend.
"What you do on an off-day is try to forget what's happened the last few days, come out here and try to feel better about yourself," Torre said before Tuesday's game. "The only way to do that is to go out and play a winning ballgame."
The Yankees had won nine of their last 11 games before this recent skid. Torre held a meeting with his players before Sunday's game, though one player said that the manager did not raise his voice. Instead, he gave players the opportunity to stand up and speak, and a couple of players, including Johnny Damon, did just that.
"The general message was basically, 'Don't beat yourself,'" the player said. "We've been giving too much away. If we're going to get beat, we have to make the other team earn it."
Torre said that the day off probably had mixed effects on the team, as veterans have an easier time leaving the game at the ballpark, while youngsters may spend the day worrying about what they're not doing right.
"A week ago, we were playing lights out and doing everything right," Torre said. "The last few games, we've stumbled and haven't been as good. We have to turn that around. Over 162 games, things like that happen."
Coming up: The Yankees play the second of three games against the Indians on Wednesday, as Randy Johnson (7-5, 5.63 ERA) takes on Jason Johnson (3-6, 5.70 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. Associate reporter Ryan Mink contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Notes: Jeter returns to defensive lineup
Veteran back at shortstop after three games as DH
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- For the first time in more than a week, Derek Jeter played shortstop for the Yankees.
Jeter, who missed the first three games of the homestand after being hit on his right thumb by a pitch in Baltimore last Sunday, was originally penciled into Tuesday's lineup as the designated hitter, which would have marked his fourth consecutive game in that position.
But after Joe Torre watched Jeter take batting practice and field some ground balls, the manager decided to insert him back into his regular position.
"I'm ready to go," Jeter said. "I always expect to play. As long as I'm capable of doing it I could play."
Jeter went 1-for-5 on Sunday, snapping an 0-for-14 stretch with a fifth-inning double. The hitless streak was the longest for Jeter since May 2004, when he also went 0-for-14.
Jeter's biggest problem since being hit by the Rodrigo Lopez pitch wasn't his hitting, it was his inability to throw the ball without pain.
With Jeter back in the field, the Yankees moved Bernie Williams from right field to DH, inserting Kevin Thompson into the lineup in right field.
Giambi still out: Jason Giambi was hopeful for a return to the starting lineup Tuesday against Cleveland, but was expected to sit a second straight game with an injured thumb after being hit by a pitch Saturday. Giambi said there has been a "huge" improvement to the thumb after icing it on the team's off-day and again before Tuesday's game.
"That left hand is sore," Torre said. "We'll just have to see what he can do."
But after putting pads in his batting glove and all the treatment, discomfort remained. Even the amount of padding felt unusual to the slugger.
"It felt like I had an oven mitt on," Giambi said with a laugh. "We put pads on, did whatever, but just couldn't get over the top where I could swing. It's not going to help just to go stand up there."
Giambi is shooting for a Wednesday return as the DH. The thumb is still black and blue and there is pain between it and the next two fingers, but Giambi said there has been marked improvement.
"The other day I couldn't even use it," he said. "So they made big headway."
Sheff surgery a success: Gary Sheffield underwent successful surgery on his left wrist Tuesday, putting him on track to return in about 12 weeks.
Dr. Charles Melone, the hand specialist that has been working with Sheffield, performed the surgery. Melone told general manager Brian Cashman that the surgery went well, and that no other damage was found in the wrist.
"He just told me it went extremely well, but the time frame is the time frame and I think there's going to be a real good, positive result," Cashman said. "He'll work extremely hard. He'll be fine and it will be stronger than it was before."
"We hope that everything goes well," Torre said. "He's anxious to get back, but he knows what the process is going to be."
Sheffield will likely have to wait about six weeks before he can begin his rehab program, and he should return about six weeks after that.
"We've just got to go with what we've got here," Cashman said. "I hope for a speedy recovery for him now and in the future. It's just nice to know that when he goes through rehab, we'll get him back."
Dotel on the way: Octavio Dotel continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, as the weather in Tampa called for rain most of this week.
Dotel allowed two runs on three hits -- including a home run -- in one inning against Ottawa, striking out one in his first appearance with Columbus.
Dotel, who is in the final stage of his rehab from last year's Tommy John elbow surgery, could join the Yankees in about 10 days.
"He's the one that has to say, 'I'm ready to go,'" Torre said. "I think he's close to doing that, whether it's in five days or 10 days. I think we're close enough to see the finish line."
When he joins the team, Dotel will join Kyle Farnsworth and Scott Proctor as the primary setup men for Mariano Rivera. Torre stressed that, despite the recent problems in the bullpen, the Yankees aren't rushing Dotel back.
"It's important, as long as we've waited for Dotel, not to rush this thing," the manager said. "Whatever he's comfortable with, we'll be ready for him. The fact that he feels good and he's throwing all of his pitches is great."
Bubba Crosby also played for Columbus on Tuesday, going 1-for-4 as the DH. Crosby could return by Wednesday or Thursday.
Torre said before the game that Crosby was feeling "a little sore" from playing over the weekend, but that the soreness was not related to the hamstring injury that landed him on the DL to begin with.
A new day: Monday's off-day couldn't have come at a better time for the Yankees, who had lost four straight games after being swept by Oakland over the weekend.
"What you do on an off-day is try to forget what's happened the last few days, come out here and try to feel better about yourself," Torre said before Tuesday's game. "The only way to do that is to go out and play a winning ballgame."
The Yankees had won nine of their last 11 games before this recent skid. Torre held a meeting with his players before Sunday's game, though one player said that the manager did not raise his voice. Instead, he gave players the opportunity to stand up and speak, and a couple of players, including Johnny Damon, did just that.
"The general message was basically, 'Don't beat yourself,'" the player said. "We've been giving too much away. If we're going to get beat, we have to make the other team earn it."
Torre said that the day off probably had mixed effects on the team, as veterans have an easier time leaving the game at the ballpark, while youngsters may spend the day worrying about what they're not doing right.
"A week ago, we were playing lights out and doing everything right," Torre said. "The last few games, we've stumbled and haven't been as good. We have to turn that around. Over 162 games, things like that happen."
Coming up: The Yankees play the second of three games against the Indians on Wednesday, as Randy Johnson (7-5, 5.63 ERA) takes on Jason Johnson (3-6, 5.70 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. Associate reporter Ryan Mink contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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