Jeter chases Mauer for title
09/03/2006 3:20 PM ET
Notes: Jeter chases Mauer for title
Matsui heads to Staten Island; Giambi going through slump
By Ryan Mink / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- While Derek Jeter says he's not paying attention to the American League batting title race, the matchup between Jeter and Minnesota's Joe Mauer has been hot news around Yankee Stadium.
The two hitters entered the series with 10 points separating their season averages, but that has been trimmed to seven over the past two games.
Jeter is 9-for-17 on the homestand -- 4-for-7 in the series against the Twins -- and has a season-high 13-game hit streak. He is now hitting .343 on the season.
Mauer is 2-for-5 against the Yankees and is at .350, the same average with which he entered the series. While Jeter's average has been climbing, Mauer's has fallen significantly over the past two months. He was hitting .392 as of July 1.
But Yankees manager Joe Torre isn't counting Mauer out of the title.
"He's a big, strong kid, and I think it's gone far beyond the fact that, 'Oh, wait until the dog days come,' because the dog days have come and gone and this kid is still standing tall," Torre said, adding that being a catcher makes Mauer's season more impressive.
Mauer said playing shortstop can also be a demanding position. Mauer was surprised the batting title was the hot topic when the Twins are in a playoff run, but said he can't imagine what it's like for Jeter.
"He's doing it on a bigger scale, media wise," Mauer said. "From everything I've seen -- and I got to play with him on his team in Pittsburgh [for the All-Star game] -- he's everything as advertised. He handles everything really well."
While Jeter says the batting title isn't on his mind, Torre said he believes Jeter would care more about winning AL MVP.
"I think Derek would appreciate that more than a batting title, because it's connected to the team and that's what he's about," Torre said.
Jeter is certainly a candidate for the award, as is Boston's David Ortiz, who Torre thought was the other player with the best bid. Johnny Damon, who played with Ortiz in Boston, said he felt Jeter deserves the award.
"I always appreciated what Derek did, even from afar [while with Boston]," Damon said. "On any given day, he can go out and beat you, and it doesn't have to be the long ball. It can be a number of things."
While Ortiz's 47 homers, 121 RBIs and clutch hits make him a more than legitimate MVP contender, Jeter's consistency is what Torre and his teammates laud.
That consistency reached a new high Sunday as Jeter tied legendary Yankee Phil Rizzuto for most games played at the shortstop in franchise history, with 1,647.
"The fact of what this youngster has done in a short period of time is pretty remarkable," Torre said. "His consistency has been unparalleled, in my mind, especially from age 20 right through to the present time."
"I think it just means I've been here for a long time," Jeter said with a laugh. "It's flying by, but then it does seem like it's not flying by. So it's a little bit of both."
Matsui update: Hideki Matsui will go to Class A Staten Island to do any further pregame workouts before playing for Double-A Trenton at home on Wednesday.
Torre said he expects Matsui to be the designated hitter in the game before eventually moving into the field in the three or four games he expects Matsui to play with Trenton.
"I don't think he needs practice in the outfield," Torre said. "There's nothing he has to prove that he can't [accomplish] in batting practice, catching fly balls."
Underused bullpen? With back-to-back rainy days, Torre didn't use Kyle Farnsworth as he planned to.
Farnsworth hasn't pitched since Aug. 27, against the Angels, and is still serving as the Yankees' closer while Mariano Rivera is rested. Torre said Rivera is unavailable Sunday and will be day-to-day in the Yankees' series against the Royals.
Scott Proctor, who leads in the AL in appearances, hasn't pitched since giving up a two-out ninth-inning homer against the Tigers on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately, Proctor hasn't been out there since he gave up that home run," Torre said. "I know people like to get out there and get the taste out of their mouth. Hopefully that won't be an issue. It certainly wasn't a punishment on our part."
Giambi scuffling: Jason Giambi isn't only battling his sore left wrist but a mild slump, as well. He is 5-for-22 (.227) since leaving Boston. Giambi had a cortisone injection in the left wrist on Thursday.
"I think it just takes a couple of days for that medication to kick in," Torre said. "He's swinging the bat all right, just isn't getting any hits right now."
Coming up: The Yankees will hit the road to open a three-game series with the Royals on Monday. Chien-Ming Wang will face Kansas City's Luke Hudson in the 8:10 p.m. ET start.
Ryan Mink is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2001-2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.
Notes: Jeter chases Mauer for title
Matsui heads to Staten Island; Giambi going through slump
By Ryan Mink / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- While Derek Jeter says he's not paying attention to the American League batting title race, the matchup between Jeter and Minnesota's Joe Mauer has been hot news around Yankee Stadium.
The two hitters entered the series with 10 points separating their season averages, but that has been trimmed to seven over the past two games.
Jeter is 9-for-17 on the homestand -- 4-for-7 in the series against the Twins -- and has a season-high 13-game hit streak. He is now hitting .343 on the season.
Mauer is 2-for-5 against the Yankees and is at .350, the same average with which he entered the series. While Jeter's average has been climbing, Mauer's has fallen significantly over the past two months. He was hitting .392 as of July 1.
But Yankees manager Joe Torre isn't counting Mauer out of the title.
"He's a big, strong kid, and I think it's gone far beyond the fact that, 'Oh, wait until the dog days come,' because the dog days have come and gone and this kid is still standing tall," Torre said, adding that being a catcher makes Mauer's season more impressive.
Mauer said playing shortstop can also be a demanding position. Mauer was surprised the batting title was the hot topic when the Twins are in a playoff run, but said he can't imagine what it's like for Jeter.
"He's doing it on a bigger scale, media wise," Mauer said. "From everything I've seen -- and I got to play with him on his team in Pittsburgh [for the All-Star game] -- he's everything as advertised. He handles everything really well."
While Jeter says the batting title isn't on his mind, Torre said he believes Jeter would care more about winning AL MVP.
"I think Derek would appreciate that more than a batting title, because it's connected to the team and that's what he's about," Torre said.
Jeter is certainly a candidate for the award, as is Boston's David Ortiz, who Torre thought was the other player with the best bid. Johnny Damon, who played with Ortiz in Boston, said he felt Jeter deserves the award.
"I always appreciated what Derek did, even from afar [while with Boston]," Damon said. "On any given day, he can go out and beat you, and it doesn't have to be the long ball. It can be a number of things."
While Ortiz's 47 homers, 121 RBIs and clutch hits make him a more than legitimate MVP contender, Jeter's consistency is what Torre and his teammates laud.
That consistency reached a new high Sunday as Jeter tied legendary Yankee Phil Rizzuto for most games played at the shortstop in franchise history, with 1,647.
"The fact of what this youngster has done in a short period of time is pretty remarkable," Torre said. "His consistency has been unparalleled, in my mind, especially from age 20 right through to the present time."
"I think it just means I've been here for a long time," Jeter said with a laugh. "It's flying by, but then it does seem like it's not flying by. So it's a little bit of both."
Matsui update: Hideki Matsui will go to Class A Staten Island to do any further pregame workouts before playing for Double-A Trenton at home on Wednesday.
Torre said he expects Matsui to be the designated hitter in the game before eventually moving into the field in the three or four games he expects Matsui to play with Trenton.
"I don't think he needs practice in the outfield," Torre said. "There's nothing he has to prove that he can't [accomplish] in batting practice, catching fly balls."
Underused bullpen? With back-to-back rainy days, Torre didn't use Kyle Farnsworth as he planned to.
Farnsworth hasn't pitched since Aug. 27, against the Angels, and is still serving as the Yankees' closer while Mariano Rivera is rested. Torre said Rivera is unavailable Sunday and will be day-to-day in the Yankees' series against the Royals.
Scott Proctor, who leads in the AL in appearances, hasn't pitched since giving up a two-out ninth-inning homer against the Tigers on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately, Proctor hasn't been out there since he gave up that home run," Torre said. "I know people like to get out there and get the taste out of their mouth. Hopefully that won't be an issue. It certainly wasn't a punishment on our part."
Giambi scuffling: Jason Giambi isn't only battling his sore left wrist but a mild slump, as well. He is 5-for-22 (.227) since leaving Boston. Giambi had a cortisone injection in the left wrist on Thursday.
"I think it just takes a couple of days for that medication to kick in," Torre said. "He's swinging the bat all right, just isn't getting any hits right now."
Coming up: The Yankees will hit the road to open a three-game series with the Royals on Monday. Chien-Ming Wang will face Kansas City's Luke Hudson in the 8:10 p.m. ET start.
Ryan Mink is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2001-2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.
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