Jeter not quite as hard on himself about bunt
PHILADELPHIA - Derek Jeter held up his right arm as if he were a pitcher releasing the ball. "When he was about right here," Jeter said. "I'm serious."
The question was when he decided to bunt with two strikes, two on and none out in the seventh inning of Game 2. Jeter fouled off the bunt try for strike three. He called the decision "stupid" after the game but backtracked Friday. "It was kind of like stealing third with two outs," he said. "If you make it, it's good. If you don't, it's stupid.''
He later said, "That's how you win, man," he said. "You win by moving guys over and trying to get them in. I always try to do that. You have to understand how hard it is to score."
Prep work
Joe Girardi said CC Sabathia has been preparing as if he will start on three days' rest Sunday but added that nothing should be read into that. "We've had him prepare because it would be silly to not do that and then say, 'Uh-oh, CC, you're starting Game 4,' " Girardi said. "He is prepared to start either one."
Girardi said being up or down two games to one after Game 3 wouldn't impact his decision . . . much.
"I don't think that necessarily has too much to do with it; it's just physically how players are doing," he said. "You know, that does have a little something to do with it, but it's just something we want to discuss."
Riding pine
Girardi benched Nick Swisher in Game 2 in favor of Jerry Hairston Jr. and did not commit to Swisher for Game 3.
"Discussion, discussion and discussion," Girardi said when asked about the composition of the lineup. "[But] rightfield is probably about the only issue, yes."
Hitting it
Yankees pitchers will be hitting in the next three games and took batting practice Friday. "Brian Bruney sure talks a lot, but he does have a pretty good hack," Johnny Damon said. "Burnett's swing looks pretty good and CC looks calm and ready to do damage also.''
Sabathia has hit three home runs in 98 career plate appearances, including the postseason. During BP, he hit several long fly balls. "I had a couple games where I hit three homers in high school," Sabathia said.
Over the fence? The 6-7, 290-pounder laughed. Said Sabathia, "I'm not going to be hitting any inside-the-parkers."
Thinking ahead
Damon and Hideki Matsui will be free agents after the season. Though each has expressed a desire to return, it is unlikely that both will, with Matsui probably the bigger long shot.
"I think we both would love to stay," Damon said. "I think I might understand the free-agency cycle more than he does, and you play it out. Come the offseason, I think we'll know early who's here and who's not."
