Jeter scales back rehab work in Tampa

April 16, 2013 by Mike Axisa 78 Comments

Via the AP: Derek Jeter has scaled back his workload has he rehabs from left ankle surgery/setback in Tampa. He took five rounds of batting practice in addition to fielding 21 ground balls and running in straight line yesterday, compared to fielding many more balls and running the bases last week.

Jeter, 38, did not do any rehab work over the weekend, which Brian Cashman confirmed to Andrew Marchand was planned. I don’t think this qualifies as a setback since he’s still doing some baseball activity, but it’s not terribly encouraging that the Cap’n had to reduce his work lately. I think we’ve all been expecting him to ramp it up a little more, if anything. Either way, it sounds like Jeter is still a long ways off from returning, and that’s not good news.

dkidd

over/under number of at-bats this year

i’m going with 350
- trr
  
  under.
- chris
  
  Way under..
  - Laz
    
    If he can start playing by mid june would get to 350.
- The Real Me
  
  Over. He’s typically over 600 ABs, so I think he can hit 375-400 without too much difficulty. I’m guessing we’ll still see him early – mid May.
  - Rick
    
    Early May is technically in 2 weeks. Seems ambitious, no? I hope you’re correct, but I have a hard time seeing that. Maybe mid May as a best-case scenario.
    - The Real Me
      
      We don’t really have definitive info as to why his workload decreased today or if that will affect his return date. As of today, I’m still in the “wait & see” mode. He could still return early May, or it could be somewhat later in the season. Time will tell. Based on the factual information I have today (not much, really), I think he’ll get over 350 ABs this season.
      - Rick
        
        Would be very happy to see that come to fruition.
  - trr
    
    uhhh….guess again
FEED.ME.MORE!

So long as Nunez stops getting hit by pitches, I don’t think we are in any dire circumstances at SS.

That being said, it would def help having Jeter, especially against LHP. You could DH him and have Nunez play short.

See you in June Cap’n.
- Laz
  
  Could tolerate Hafner vs lhp, but if joe insists on sitting him, they need to get Francisco out of there.
jsbrendog

is this the end
my only friend
the end?
- gageagainstthemachine
  
  let’s hope he doesn’t go out like Jim Morrison…
- Kevin M.
  
  It’s not crazy to think he could miss the whole year at this point. And if that happens is his career over?
  - The Real Me
    
    It may not be crazy, but I think it’s certainly a stretch. With that small chance, I doubt he wants to go out like that (similar to Mariano). I suspect he’d be back next year if that very small chance comes about.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      Yeah. Pretty much. He missed an extended period and you all can bet your sweet asses he’s back next season.
MannyGeee

You know I’m not a Doom & Gloom sort of guy…. I think I have made this clear in my distinct history on this site.

But damn man. This makes me nervous. I have had pretty close to an impacted ass-full of Jayson Nix at the spot, and the fact that Nunie cant seem to stay on the field doesn’t help matters (albeit all kinds of fluke injuries).

Also a first, I am pining for Eduardo Nunez. I think I am moving to EddardWorld.
- Guns
  
  Seriously, we must start putting our faith in Eduardo Nunez. Help us Eduardo, you’re our only hope.
  - I’m not the droids you’re looking for…
    
    He’s not the SS you’re looking for.
- jsbrendog
  
  think we can get a group rate at eddard world?
  - Havok9120
    
    You’ll have to pay homage to his bandwagon.
    - jsbrendog
      
      as long as it isnt the bangwagon
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        The rent, and erection, at EddardWorld is too damn high.
- Rick
  
  Culver is almost ready!
  - jsbrendog
    
    for A ball!!!
trr

Not the best news, obviously. We need more organizational depth at SS.
Eddard

It’s times like these that we realize how lucky we are to have a sure handed backup like Eduardo Nuney. Nix can’t field and does next to nothing on offense. Even Mo Rivera was giving him a dirty look last game in the 9th inning. Hopefully Nuney is back at SS tonight. We need his bat and glove.
- jsbrendog
  
  surehanded? what are you smoking and do they deliver?
  - And in merrie olde England
    
    Have to agree with surehanded, always thought the issue was his arm not his hands. Saying that even the arm is coming round with zero errors so far (SSS). Even Mike has apparently downgraded Nunez’s status to DEFCON3, “shaky” is a massive improvement from some of the stuff that’s deservedly been written. If only he could figure out how to be a ball magnet just on defence.
- trr
  
  surehanded?
  is this sarcasm?
  - BigDavey88
    
    Yes. Eddards ENTIRE shtick is sarcasm. All of his posts. I’m surprised more people don’t pick up on it.
    
    *returns to lurk mode*
    - pat
      
      No sh*t. Don;t know why people repeatedly respond. He is clearly trying troll and get reactions. Every f*cking thread half the comments are “DuRR EdDArD U R SOOO DUMB”.
      - Laz
        
        Some of his posts are actually rationally sound.
    - trr
      
      thanks Davey
      lurk on, brother!
- Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
  
  Sure handed?
  
  Ohh Eddard you rock my world.
Andrew

I’m curious to know how a report of one day’s activities of doing a bunch of BP + some running qualifies as scaling back an entire rehab program or something like what is being phrased here as ‘bad news’. Because it was “less than some days last week”? How is this a clear indication of some sort of necessary slow-down in rehab? There is no Yankees person or even anonymous Yankees source listed as saying he’s needed to scale back his program due to more discomfort, lack of progress, etc. Because he had 2 days off and didn’t immediately take 1,000 grounders and 500 rounds of BP yesterday, it equals a full-on scaling back…I’m going to go ahead and cast some doubt on the medical/rehab expertise at play here and wait for some sort of actual report on him needing to slow things down for physical reasons, as opposed to this being a concerted part of their second version of his rehab plan. This reads as a bit of a premature jump to me.
- Kevin M.
  
  Totally agree. In fact I think he’ll still be back by opening day just like he predicted all along.
  
  Nothing to see here….move along.
  - The Real Me
    
    Well, opening day might be just a bit of a stretch.
    - I’m not the droids you’re looking for…
      
      Your sarcasmeter = broken.
  - trr
    
    opening day …2014
chris

This proves the point that the Yankees should of gotten a legit back up ss in case this might happen..I thought even if he came back on time he was going to dh a lot…nix can play a lot of positions but not too well and hes got no bat…
- pat
  
  A legit backup SS like who?
  - Mandy Stankiewicz
    
    Well, Scutaro’s name came up last year when Arod’s hip went out.
    - CP
      
      He signed a 3 year/$20M contract with the Giants. Is he really that much better than Nix and/or Nunez? And would he have even signed with the Yankees, considering that it was assumed (and still is) that Jeter would be back at some point early in the season?
      - Mandy Stankiewicz
        
        Pat wanted to know who was a real SS available via FA or trade, and there’s one.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        Scutaro would have been a very good addition, but not at three years.
        
        I’m fine, for now, with Nunez starting and Nix backing up. The Nix hate is a bit too much. He’s our third-string shortstop. Maybe we just need to stand him next to Gil Velazquez more in order for him to look more attractive. Works for some chicks.
        
        pat
        
        A 7 million dollar backup infielder? That’s a first.
        
        Mandy Stankiewicz
        
        Like our soon to be two platooned OF’s making a combined 4 years 28 Million dollars? Not here.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        You’re……combining years? It doesn’t work that way. They both exit stage right at the same time.
  - Rick
    
    Our back-up SS played the other day. His name is Robinson Cano. The real problem is not having a back-up catcher, shoulda re-signed Martin because Chris Stewart sucks.
    - pat
      
      Backup C making 8.5 a year? Lol no thanks.
      - Rick
        
        Could not agree with you more. My prior sarcasm aside, others on this site will fight you to the death over this.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      And Cervelli’s your backup at second. Right.
      
      Mariano for fifth outfielder as well?
      - Rick
        
        100%. Saw the way Cervelli went back on a ball prior to being called off, it was not pretty. Really wanted to see Robbie get a chance to make a play at short though.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I’d love to have seen a double play get turned.
        
        Perhaps if Jeter really is going to be out for a while, you look and see if there’s utility help on the market, especially if this goes into the summer. For now, though, Nix usually will not embarrass himself defensively and isn’t the complete non-zero he’s made out to be at the bat. The bar for “Option C” isn’t supposed to be that high.
    - trr
      
      he is better than Nix/ Nunez.
      THAT much better? well….
    - trr
      
      So does Ricky Martin
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        I take it you’re not a Menudo fan from back in the day.
- Havok9120
  
  You’re talking about a player that does not exist. Or, if he does, he’s not available.
Jonathan

I get to see them 3-4 times a year. This year in KC for 3 years on May 10-12th. So no Jeter/Teixeira/ARod and probably Granderson. Hooray. At least I got to see Rivera blow his knee out last year….oh wait. I can only fathom the Royals fans this year….I’ve been all over and they are HANDS DOWN the worst fans (like chanting steroids while Andy pitched to their Jose Guillen…). They talk the most shit, know the least about their team/visiting team and baseball in general and are usually shit canned and only came as an “event” instead of to see a baseball game. The problem is they come in waves. The first 1-4 innings are handled by the drunks who only showed up for the start then go to the club/bar for the night. The 5+ innings are the idiots who have been drinking since 3 in the parking lot. If the Yankees are up 3+ you’re safe in the 8th and 9th because they all left. The best time I ever saw was when they dropped 10 runs in the 8th while down 4-2 when the fans were at their all time worst. By the end of the 8th there wasn’t a Royals fan left.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=260904107
- Guns
  
  Yeah they really got under my skin during the HR Derby. It was so silly the way they acted. I can’t imagine rooting for a player to fail during an exhibition. And they acted as if they achieved some great victory. Meanwhile, Robbie goes on to have another MVP type season.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I wonder how indicative that is of teams that haven’t achieved a whole lot in years and aren’t northeast teams like the Orioles.
mitch

If there is a silver-lining in this, i think the possibility of Jeter opting out after the season for a bigger contract is basically zero.
- The Real Me
  
  Not yet. Certainly plenty of time for him to come back and play strong. Maybe it’s mid-May or even June, but there’s plenty of time left in the season even then.
- Rick
  
  I think this goes both ways though. Since his contract was signed “pre-budget” the team may now be hoping that he opts out. While a very reduced salary, if the team truly believed Eduardo Scissorhands was the answer then they may have very well let him walk. Not saying they would have, but the other side is worth exploring.
- mt
  
  I would like to believe that but I feel he would have to be out longer before he would definitively not opt-out – if he comes back in May and does OK for rest of year, I can see him still opting out at end of year .
  
  Why not? He can just be one more free agent to add to the current Yankee list of 12 or so (Hughes, Chamberlain, Logan, Rivera (retiring), Pettite, Kuroda, Hafner, Youkilis, Nix, Overbay, Francisco, Granderson, and the big kahuna Cano)
  - Vern Sneaker
    
    I’d be very surprised if he opted-out. Maybe retire if it turns out he is totally unable to play, but to leave the Yanks? Doubt it. And who’s going to pay more than the $8 million he’d make with the Yanks at his age, even if he can still perform adequately?
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I’d rather have him healthy and playing.
John C

Where have you gone Robert Eenhorn?
- Darren
  
  He opened up a bar with Dave Silvestri and Russ Davis.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Erick Almonte busses tables.
    - I’m not the droids you’re looking for…
      
      And Brien Taylor wa…oh never mind.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        The correct answer there is “not a shortstop.”
        
        Electric Nunez ll
        
        …and Russell Davis wasn’t, either.
Phil

Well between Tex, Grandy and Jeter maybe we will be waiting for Jeter’s return the longest. Where is Jim Mason or Alviro Espinosa?
http://paccana.com Thread

It’s really amazing how long he’s been playing at a high level. Hopefully he can continue for a few more seasons.
LarryM Fl

IMHO, this is not good. A professional athlete, age 39, is attempting to rehab an injury which was described as more football type than baseball with bone, ligaments and tendons involved. We may see Jeter before Arod but not before June. It is a shame. When he does make it back. I expect he will be more of a part time fielder but supplement his playing time as a DH.

Gardener has inflammation of the elbow and played 9 games last year. There is no comparison of injuries but just saying. One appears more severe than the other.

Hurry up Eduardo get back in the lineup.
Pistol pete

Does not sound good. A 39 year old SS coming off a major bone break and tendon injury. The SS position is going to be far too demanding for Derek. The Yanks may use him as a DH but it looks like this injury is going to force the greatest SS in Yankee history and one of if not the greatest shortstops of all time to retire. If he and Mo retire together there should be a movement among writers to have these two enter the Hall of Fame as not only first ballot choices but unanimous 100 percent of ballot choices, who could possibly argue with that.