Report: Yankees Hope To Have Derek Jeter Back On The Field By May 1
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees are lacking punch in their lineup.
That has been made abundantly clear in the team's two losses to the Red Sox to begin the 2013 season.
New York desperately needs its hard-hitting superstars back in the lineup, but the Bombers will have to scratch and claw for weeks. Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson are out until at least May, and Derek Jeter is also on the shelf.
Dealing with an ankle injury, Jeter is eligible to come off the disabled list on Saturday. But general manager Brian Cashman confirmed that the captain won't return at that time.
So when will the 13-time All-Star be back in pinstripes?
New York is hoping to have the future Hall of Famer back on the field by May 1, according to CBSSports.com/WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman. Jeter is taking part in long toss and undergoing therapy in Tampa, according to Heyman, so he doesn't exactly appear to be on the fast track back to the Bronx.
"Our expectation is that he is going to be an everyday player again,'' manager Joe Girardi told reporters on Wednesday. "When that is is what we're concerned about, and how long it takes for him to get through what he needs to get through to be that everyday player.''
Jeter was projected to be ready for Opening Day before he was scratched from a spring lineup on March 19. Initially, the five-time World Series champion chalked it up as ankle stiffness and said that the decision was precautionary.
He was then placed on the disabled list a week later.
"Of course it's disappointing," Jeter said in late March. "I told you guys all along that the goal was to be ready on Opening Day, and I didn't reach it. I ran out of days. I pushed to try to get there on Opening Day, and it didn't work out. But I've still got to be ready for the majority of the season."
Eduardo Nunez has started at shortstop for New York in their two games this season. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the first game on Monday. He rebounded at the plate on Wednesday, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base, but committed an error on a ground ball late in the game.
The reigning American League East champions have scored just six times in their first two contests.
In his 18th big league season in 2012, the five-time Gold Glove Award winner batted .316 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs in 159 games.
The Yankees just can't catch a break, can they? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...
