Girardi puts Jeter in lineup after hint he may sit

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CLEVELAND –
After giving every indication Tuesday night that he would sit Derek Jeter for the New York Yankees‘ series finale against the Indians, Joe Girardi spoke to his 37-year-old shortstop and decided to put him in the lineup Wednesday.

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ESPN MLB Insider Jayson Stark says it’s amazing no other Yankee in history has come close to 3,000 hits like Derek Jeter. Stark talks about what Jose Reyes can expect and discusses Albert Pujols’ return.

That means Jeter’s pursuit of membership in the exclusive 3,000-hit club — which moved to within four after a two-hit performance in the Yankees’ 9-2 victory over the Indians Tuesday night — continues for one more night on the road before the Yankees return home for the final four games before the All-Star break.

“I had to ask,” Jeter said. “I told him I’m fine and that was pretty much the extent of it. … He just told me what he was thinking and I told him what I was thinking and we came to a decision.”

Jeter will be playing shortstop and batting leadoff.

“It was a tough decision,” said general manager Brian Cashman, who was told by Girardi in a morning telephone call that Jeter would be in Wednesday night’s lineup. “Joe was wrestling with a lot of things, whether to rest him, or whether it would be better to play him and help him get this over with.”

Ultimately, the manager decided it was best to give Jeter one more crack at moving closer to the milestone Wednesday rather than add the pressure of Jeter having to get four hits in four games this weekend.

“Yeah, I’d love to do it at home,” he said. “We were at home before I got hurt. Now we’re on the road, I want to get hits today. I can’t think about what’s going to happen when we get back home. I’ll try to get hits today like I do every other day. If I say I want to do it at home now, what’s that saying? I don’t want to get a hit every time up?”

If he is unsuccessful this weekend, it is almost certain he would reach his goal on the road; the Yankees begin the second half of their season with four games in Toronto, followed by three at Tampa Bay.

Tuesday night Jeter reached base on an infield single in the first inning and a two-run double to the gap in the second.

New York fans have been harsh on Jeter in the past two years as his productivity has slipped. But the Yankee faithful would relish the chance to see No. 2 make history at home.

“It would be a wonderful thing for him and the fans if he did it in New York,” said Girardi, Jeter’s teammate for four seasons.

Someone wanted to know what would happen if Jeter began Wednesday’s game 3-for-3, leaving him at 2,999?

Jeter smiled, waved his hand and shook his head without answering.

On Tuesday night, Jeter said some “negativity” had spoiled his chase for 3,000. Now that’s he’s so close, possibly a game away from the record books, he promised to start enjoying it more.

How does he plan to do that?

“I don’t know,” he said, an answer he gave to several questions about his emotions.

Jeter Goes For Four

The last time Derek Jeter had a 4-hit game at the Indians was July 9, 2003 — the opposing pitcher was CC Sabathia. Jeter had 3 of his 4 hits off Sabathia.

Most 4-Hit Games by a Yankee
Live Ball Era (Since 1920)

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Girardi knows the pressure has been tough on Jeter.

“Everything he does, and has done this year has been under a microscope,” he said. “That’s what I can assume he’s talking about. I want him to enjoy this. I want him to take a second and think about what you’ve accomplished. This is not an everyday occurrence. I hope he can do that.”

Indians manager Manny Acta is a big Jeter fan, but not big enough that he wants to witness history against his club.

“He should take an 0-fer today,” Acta joked.

Jeter again acknowledged the chase for 3,000 has been difficult.

“It’s been hard,” he said. “I’ve been gone, you know what I mean? So my focus has not been on 3,000 hits, my focus has been on trying to get back on the field. I’ve only been back for a couple days. You play the first game and it’s like you never played before, trying to get comfortable.

“I was more comfortable yesterday. Hopefully today, a little bit more.”

Wallace Matthews covers the Yankees for ESPNNewYork.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Follow Wallace Matthews on Twitter: @wallacematthews

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6742966&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines