Yankees SS Derek Jeter may miss Red Sox series with thigh injury
April 11, 2008
BOSTON (AP) -Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter may miss the weekend series against the Boston Red Sox and New York general manager Brian Cashman didn't rule out placing the team captain on the disabled list with a strained left thigh.
Jeter has been sidelined since hurting his quadriceps last Monday. He was replaced by Alberto Gonzalez in the lineup Friday night for the opener of the three-game series against Boston.
``I would assume that he would be out for this series, myself,'' Cashman said before the game. ``We'll evaluate it every day. He'll tell you that he's not, but I'm just going to assume he's out for the series.''
Jeter stretched and threw before the game, which started in a drizzle. More rain is expected Saturday,
``It's not the greatest weather conditions and it's going to get chillier as the three days go on,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ``So, does it play completely into it? No, but it doesn't help it.''
Cashman said he was looking toward Jeter returning on Monday for the start of a two-game series at Tampa Bay. But there's a chance he could go on the disabled list.
``It's one of those in-betweeners,'' Cashman said. ``Because it's not a clear-cut DL, if we can get him back in day 7, 8 or even 9 and assure ourselves that he's going to be healthy, then we'll just wait it out.''
He also discussed the unlikely possibility of moving Alex Rodriguez from third base to shortstop if Jeter is sidelined for an extended period.
``If it's something like two, three months like when Derek dislocated his shoulder (in the 2003 opener), would we consider the idea of Alex? Then that would be the scenario that we would at least consider that. I'm not saying we would do it,'' Cashman said.
``He hasn't played shortstop since 2003,'' he said. ``Thankfully, that's not a scenario that we're apt to deal with.''
Catcher Jorge Posada started at designated hitter for the second straight game after sitting out Wednesday night's game at Kansas City with a sore right shoulder. He grounded out to first base on his first at-bat. Jose Molina started at catcher and grounded out in the third.
Cashman said it's unlikely Posada will go on the disabled list.
``He can be a backup (catcher) here for a period of time and then assume the starting role when he's feeling better,'' Cashman said. ``He's still going to have to get over the final hurdle of throwing again like he was used to without restriction, with full force.
``Even though the MRIs have made us feel comfortable, at this point he's got to get back on the field ... doing the job that will allow us to forget that this episode even took place.''
Posada allowed five steals in Tuesday's 5-2 loss at Kansas City and left in the sixth inning with what was described as a ``dead arm.''
Cashman said Posada felt better after throwing before Friday's game.
``The rest is important with his arm as well,'' Girardi said. If ``he has to make a throw off-balance it could set him back another couple of weeks and that's what we don't want. Our plan right now is if we're going to play him, we're going to DH him and see how it progresses day-to-day.''
Baseball Today
New York Yankees at Boston (3:55 p.m.) Josh Beckett tries for his first win of the season when the Red Sox take on Mike Mussina and the Yankees.
STARS
- Albert Pujols, Cardinals, hit a three-run homer and an RBI double in an 8-2 rout of the Giants.
- Chien-Ming Wang, Yankees, pitched a two-hitter to lead New York to a 4-1 win over the Red Sox.
- Carlos Pena, Rays, homered twice and drove in six runs in Tampa Bay's 10-5 win over Baltimore.
- Tim Hudson, Braves, scattered three hits in eight innings in a 3-0 victory over the Nationals.
- Pat Burrell, Phillies, hit a two-run homer and had a tiebreaking double in the sixth inning to help Philadelphia snap the Cubs' five-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory.
- Livan Hernandez, Twins, scattered seven hits over seven innings in a 5-0 win over the Royals.
- Jeremy Hermida, Marlins, homered twice and drove in three runs in Florida's 10-6 victory over the Astros.
- Jason Bay, Pirates, hit a home run in the sixth inning that gave Pittsburgh a 1-0, rain-soaked win over the Reds.
- Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks, gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in eight innings during Arizona's 8-2 victory over the Rockies.
- Raul Ibanez, Mariners, homered twice off Jered Weaver, doubled and drove in three runs in an 8-5 victory over the Angels.
AILING
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (strained left thigh) may miss the weekend series against the Red Sox and New York general manager Brian Cashman didn't rule out placing the team captain on the DL. Jeter has been sidelined since hurting his quadriceps last Monday. ... Detroit lost Dontrelle Willis after just 14 pitches when he slipped on a delivery in the first inning against the White Sox. He appeared to hyperextend his right knee, but the severity of the injury was not immediately known.
PEAVY OVER PENNY
Jake Peavy (3-0) beat Brad Penny and the Dodgers for the second time in seven days. Peavy improved to 11-1 in 20 career starts against L.A. with a 2.31 ERA. He's won his last nine decisions against them - including last Saturday's complete-game two-hitter at Petco Park.
SO LONG
Astros ace Roy Oswalt gave up four home runs in a game for the first time in his career in a 10-6 loss to the Marlins. He allowed nine hits and eight runs in four innings. The three-time All-Star has struggled in three starts this season, allowing a combined 30 hits and 17 runs.
REHABBING
Tampa Bay pitcher Scott Kazmir (left elbow strain) threw 46 pitches during his second batting practice session and is scheduled to pitch in an extended spring training game Tuesday. ... Orioles closer Chris Ray (right elbow surgery) worked out with the team before their game against Tampa Bay. ... Mike Hampton lightly tossed about 40-50 pitches in front of the Braves' dugout three hours before Atlanta's game with the Nationals. He injured his left pectoral muscle on April 3. ... Angels ace John Lackey played catch in the outfield and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session of about 45 pitches Sunday. Lackey hopes to be back by early May.
FINED
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was fined ``a lot of money'' by Major League Baseball for accusing umpire Phil Cuzzi of having a vendetta against him. Guillen went after Cuzzi in the media after the manager was tossed in the third inning on Monday. Guillen wouldn't say how much he was fined, only that ``I could buy land in Venezuela with that money.''
SCHOOLED
Missouri's Jacob Priday set a Big 12 Conference record, hitting four home runs against Texas in a 31-12 rout Friday night. The senior went 5-for-5, drove in nine runs and scored six times.
SPEAKING
``It was tough to come into the dugout after that and see the whole team deflated. I feel bad.'' - Indians ace C.C. Sabathia, after giving up nine runs and 12 hits in 3 1-3 innings of a 9-7 loss to Oakland.