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DETROIT -- Think of it this way -- Derek Jeter has homered in 20 percent of his last five at-bats.
Of course, that wasn't manager Joe Girardi's justification for writing Jeter's name in the cleanup spot for Sunday's washed-out game at Comerica Park, which would have been his second career appearance as the Yankees' No. 4 batter. But after Jeter went deep in the first inning on Saturday, ending a string of 184 homerless at-bats to begin the season, it was easy to make the connection.
"He hits one home run and now he's a cleanup hitter?" Mike Mussina said.
"He couldn't justify the move until I hit a home run," Jeter said.
In actuality, Girardi wanted to give Hideki Matsui a day off, and thought Jeter -- not exactly a prototypical power threat -- was a good option to dig in fourth against Kitty's lefty Nate Robertson. Plus, Girardi had thoughts about Detroit's bullpen.
"It's a little different," Girardi said. "You hate being in situations where you stack your lefties and they have left-handed relievers. They have [Bobby] Seay and [Clay] Rapada, and it's just a way to change it up a little bit. It forces them to pitch a little bit different. He's not the conventional fourth hitter, but he's very good in RBI situations and he's always been good. He's going to hit wherever we put him."
Jeter, batting .330 (36-for-109) with five doubles, one homer and 17 RBIs since rejoining the Yankees' lineup on April 14 after missing six games due to injury, tended to agree.
"He's probably right," Jeter said. "I'm not going to do anything different ... besides try to hit home runs now."
Jeter's only big league tour of duty in the cleanup spot came on July 10, 1999, against the Mets at Shea Stadium, where Jeter went 0-for-4 with an intentional walk. The 9-8 Mets victory was memorable in New York circles not for Jeter's performance, but instead a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning by pinch-hitter Matt Franco, who briefly became a household name by victimizing closer Mariano Rivera.
Sunday's rainout in Detroit made a return to the cleanup spot a moot point, and Girardi said not to expect Jeter back in the four-hole on Monday, when the Yankees open a four-game series at Tropicana Field. Just to deliver one last rib, Girardi presented Jeter with the lineup card as the Yankees were packing their bags on Sunday.
Jeter scribbled a tongue-in-cheek message on the card, and he brought it right back to the manager's office.
"He knew it was going to rain," Jeter said.
Pitching matchup
NYY: LHP Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.77 ERA)
Pettitte started and recorded a no-decision in his 400th career start on Tuesday, despite limiting the Indians to two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings and striking out a season-high six batters. His only blemish was a two-run homer to Jhonny Peralta on a sinker that did not cut quite enough, a problem Pettitte continues to fight in his bullpen sessions.
TB: RHP Matt Garza (1-1, 4.91 ERA)
Taking on the Blue Jays in his last start, Garza tossed his best game of the season. Despite battling command issues, the right-hander allowed just a run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Although he collected his first loss of the season, Garza still managed to lower his ERA from 6.16 to 4.91.
Tidbits
Yankees relievers have not allowed a run in 14 innings pitched over their past four games, and over the last 15 games, they own a 1.78 combined ERA, dating back to April 25. ... Johnny Damon leads the Yankees with a .511 slugging percentage, and he's batting .357 (25-for-70) with four homers and 11 RBIs since April 20. ... The Yankees and Angels are the only teams in the big leagues who still have not played an extra-inning game.
Of course, that wasn't manager Joe Girardi's justification for writing Jeter's name in the cleanup spot for Sunday's washed-out game at Comerica Park, which would have been his second career appearance as the Yankees' No. 4 batter. But after Jeter went deep in the first inning on Saturday, ending a string of 184 homerless at-bats to begin the season, it was easy to make the connection.
"He hits one home run and now he's a cleanup hitter?" Mike Mussina said.
"He couldn't justify the move until I hit a home run," Jeter said.
In actuality, Girardi wanted to give Hideki Matsui a day off, and thought Jeter -- not exactly a prototypical power threat -- was a good option to dig in fourth against Kitty's lefty Nate Robertson. Plus, Girardi had thoughts about Detroit's bullpen.
"It's a little different," Girardi said. "You hate being in situations where you stack your lefties and they have left-handed relievers. They have [Bobby] Seay and [Clay] Rapada, and it's just a way to change it up a little bit. It forces them to pitch a little bit different. He's not the conventional fourth hitter, but he's very good in RBI situations and he's always been good. He's going to hit wherever we put him."
Jeter, batting .330 (36-for-109) with five doubles, one homer and 17 RBIs since rejoining the Yankees' lineup on April 14 after missing six games due to injury, tended to agree.
"He's probably right," Jeter said. "I'm not going to do anything different ... besides try to hit home runs now."
Jeter's only big league tour of duty in the cleanup spot came on July 10, 1999, against the Mets at Shea Stadium, where Jeter went 0-for-4 with an intentional walk. The 9-8 Mets victory was memorable in New York circles not for Jeter's performance, but instead a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning by pinch-hitter Matt Franco, who briefly became a household name by victimizing closer Mariano Rivera.
Sunday's rainout in Detroit made a return to the cleanup spot a moot point, and Girardi said not to expect Jeter back in the four-hole on Monday, when the Yankees open a four-game series at Tropicana Field. Just to deliver one last rib, Girardi presented Jeter with the lineup card as the Yankees were packing their bags on Sunday.
Jeter scribbled a tongue-in-cheek message on the card, and he brought it right back to the manager's office.
"He knew it was going to rain," Jeter said.
Pitching matchup
NYY: LHP Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.77 ERA)
Pettitte started and recorded a no-decision in his 400th career start on Tuesday, despite limiting the Indians to two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings and striking out a season-high six batters. His only blemish was a two-run homer to Jhonny Peralta on a sinker that did not cut quite enough, a problem Pettitte continues to fight in his bullpen sessions.
TB: RHP Matt Garza (1-1, 4.91 ERA)
Taking on the Blue Jays in his last start, Garza tossed his best game of the season. Despite battling command issues, the right-hander allowed just a run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Although he collected his first loss of the season, Garza still managed to lower his ERA from 6.16 to 4.91.
Tidbits
Yankees relievers have not allowed a run in 14 innings pitched over their past four games, and over the last 15 games, they own a 1.78 combined ERA, dating back to April 25. ... Johnny Damon leads the Yankees with a .511 slugging percentage, and he's batting .357 (25-for-70) with four homers and 11 RBIs since April 20. ... The Yankees and Angels are the only teams in the big leagues who still have not played an extra-inning game.
