Update: Jeter DHs in minor league game, won’t discuss ankle anymore

March 23, 2013 by Mike Axisa 35 Comments

2:26pm: Jeter went 0-for-4 with four ground outs in his minor league game this afternoon. Afterwards he said his timing is off, but he believes there’s still enough time to be ready for Opening Day according to Bryan Hoch and Meredith Marakovits.

1:00pm: After successfully fielding ground balls and taking batting practice this morning, Derek Jeter is slated to DH and leadoff every inning in a minor league game this afternoon. He received a cortisone shot in his surgically repaired ankle two days ago.

“I will not address how anything feels anymore … It’s good. It’s not broken. Some things, you’ve got to work through, like I told you. It’s really pointless to sit here and say each and every day, ‘How’s it feel? Does it feel better?’ It’s pointless. Some days are good, some days are bad, but you’ve got to work through it. That’s what I’m going to do,” said Jeter to reporters. Pretty silly for the team captain to say he won’t talk about his major injury anymore, but whatever. As long as he’s healthy when the season starts, I guess.

Robinson Tilapia

What if we just refer to it as “down there?” Will he tell us?
dan2

Has Jeter ever said “whatever is best for the team”?
Its always about him. He comes across as a self-centered, arrogant, prick.
This team is so much better if he never plays short again. Keep the bat and sell the glove. You cannot do it any more in the field, captain.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  *flush*
- Manny’s BanWagon
  
  Spoken like a true Mets fan.
- trr
  
  WTF?
- http:/www.twitter.com/_swarlesbarkley Mark Teixiera – Ghostbuster (formerly Drew)
  
  While I disagree with you saying that Jeter is never about the team, I do agree that it’s really arrogant of him to just say I am not talking about the injury anymore. You are the captain of the New York Yankees, you collapsed on the field in the postseason and couldn’t walk off the field under your own power. It’s a serious injury and the media and the fans have a right to know how the healing process is going. I personally don’t give a shit if he talks or not, but the fans and the media is a big reason why he is famous and beloved to begin with. So it’s not exactly being fair on his end. If a reporter was asking him about a possible 3 way with Minka Kelly and the Directv girl, then I can understand him saying he isn’t going to talk about it. Personal things and on the field injury are two completely different things though. Just give the generic bs answer you always do Derek.
pc

jeter has been consistent since 96, he only says the minimum needed and thats all, keep asking and he will keep responding the same way, covertly.
jg233

Would love to see Jeter tell the media to F@%k off!…He has more than earned the right at this point. Soreness is not an injury, people dont seem to understand that.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  All of this. Seriously.
  
  Derek’s exactly right here. He’s 39 years old. That was major surgery. There’s going to be good days and bad days. Hanging on every little up and down in the process will help no one.
  
  Yankee staff should know how his ankle is doing day in, day out, not dan2 commenting above.
  - jjyank
    
    Yeah. I mean, I don’t really blame the media for asking the question, they’re looking for things to tweet and write about. But I also don’t blame Jeter for being frustrated with the same questions every day. If there was a serious setback, not some soreness, I’m sure that changes things. I can’t blame the guy for not wanting to explain this over and over again. He’s earned his right.
- forensic
  
  There is no right to tell the media to fuck off. It’s part of the job and if he doesn’t want it then don’t do the job. It’s part of why he gets paid tons of money. It part of why he’s called the captain.
  
  He’s old, coming off a very serious injury, the face of the franchise and one of the faces of the sport, and the media has a job to do, part of which is to follow injuries to players, especially players of his stature.
  
  He’s had 12 PA in more than a month of spring training, was then shut down and got another shot because of pain/soreness/inflammation, and just now may play again with a touch over a week left until the regular season starts.
  
  They absolutely should be asking the questions and looking for info. If he doesn’t like it, then too bad.
  
  When guys like Manny and Ortiz have said similar stuff, everyone here laughed at them and said its pitiful how they act, but Jeter does this and everyone says he’s absolutely right in not talking to them.
  - Yankee Fan 1
    
    He’s not not talking to the media. He just doesnt want to give an update on his ankle after every AB. There’s really nothing wrong with what he said. I’m sure if something more serious happens than the usual soreness, he will address it.
  - big lous left hook
    
    Cmon. This is derek we are talking about. A classy man with a squeaky clean imagine. Perhaps derek sees it as a distraction. Hey derek how is your ankle? Hey derek how does your ankle feel? The next day. Does your ankle feel better. So on and so forth. Be honest with yourself. When has jeter ever said the wrong thing? Once? Twice?
antd12185

Jester needs to accept the fact he’s damn near 40 years old…. he can’t play SS full time anymore….I say we talk to Atlanta about a deal for pastor icky who can play the position very well and is still under team controlled. Yes his offense isn’t much but sorry we can’t have a total package at every position.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  “I say we talk to Atlanta about a deal for pastor icky who can play the position very well and is still under team controlled. Yes his offense isn’t much but sorry we can’t have a total package at every position.”
  
  You just described……Cito Culver?
  - Pat D
    
    I think we can start a new meme here: Pastor Icky. He shall be the spiritual leader of Molasses Swamp.
    
    That being said, the Cap’n is beginning to sound a bit like a grumpy old man.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      I think Pastor Icky was a rapper who came out of the South in about 2006.
      
      I’m fine with Derek’s stance. I don’t see how day-by-day updates help anyone’s cause.
    - The Tenth Inning Stretch
      
      Candy land, ftw.
  - Manny’s BanWagon
    
    I get your sentiment but Pastornicky had a .613 OPS in the majors which is better than what Culver had in A ball. The only way Culver’s ever gonna make a major league roster is on the small chance he successfully switches back to pitching.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      Hold up…..there actually is no “Pastor Icky,” but “Pastornicky?”
      
      I’m crushed.
      - Pat D
        
        There is a Pastor Icky as long as we say there is a Pastor Icky.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        This is going to very short-lived.
        
        Pat D
        
        I find your lack of faith disturbing
      - Manny’s BanWagon
        
        Maybe he meant Pastor Ricky
        
        http://www.overcomingbyfaith.org/#/our-pastor
Vern Sneaker

He’s human (really), his frustration got the better of him. We really don’t need to know how the ankle is, unless it gets injured again. His performance will tell us what’s going on, even if he tells the press he’s fine every day.
lenny the fish

The media can be annoying when it is the same question over and over again. I guess Mike likes that type of journalism.
- mustang
  
  Bingo!!!
Barry

Someone get his cranky old ass an ensure.. Jeez.
John

Axisa comes off like the grumpy man here. How would you guys feel if everyone asked the same question about a healing body part every single day? I’d be more pissed than jeter seems to be. The media could write and talk and ask about other things about the team. But no lets keep harassing jeter.

Ill take his word for it. If he’s getting better and it feels ok with the occasional soreness day etc than so be it. But if a huge set back or something bad happens then I expect the questions to come in.
Bill

Reporters ask the same questions over and over, ridiculous.
steves

Whenever I see the negative stuff about Jeter and the media that appears from time to time I am always reminded of the words from Bob Costas eulogy of Mickey Mantle:

“None of us would want to be held to account for every moment of our lives. But how many of us could say that our best moments were as magnificent as his…. God knows, no one’s perfect. And God knows there’s something special about heroes.”

Jeter is special in the same way the Mick was at least to this Yankee fan. A magnificent trandscendent baseball hero who is not immune from imperfect human moments.
- Bobby two knives
  
  thank you.
deadrody

Pretty silly, and yet what Jeter says is completely logical. If he has a major setback it will probably be self-evident, but otherwise, he’s just going to go about his business, and enough of the silly how are you today banter.
CIBOMBERS

Jeter stating that he will not address the same subjective question everyday is not “silly”. Anyone that has consistently followed this team will know if Jeets is 100%. this Mike Francesca / Kay mentality that players are responsible to answer every question that they ask, every time is ludicrous.
@NotJackCurry

This is just the beginning. If Yankees become a .500 team (which looks very possible), Jeter will stop talking to the media about every loss.

David Wright, who sat at his locker after every game last years and answered every question is what a real captain is. Not one who is there when only things are going good!