Cash: Jeter not coming off DL Wednesday

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman officially ruled out the possibility of activating Derek Jeter Wednesday from the disabled list.

The confirmation to Newsday came as little surprise, given the shortstop's slow progress while rehabbing at the team's Tampa training complex. Cashman seemed doubtful last week that Jeter -- whose quest for 3,000 hits has been stalled at 2,994 since he strained his right calf June 13 -- would fully heal in time to be activated for the second game of a three-game series against Milwaukee at Yankee Stadium.

"He took a step in the right direction," Cashman said in a phone interview Monday. "But he won't be ready Wednesday."

Manager Joe Girardi had seemed to think there was a slim chance Jeter could return the first day he's eligible, saying last week: "We're getting to the point where Wednesday is probably in jeopardy. But I can't rule it completely out."

The Yankees seem to be doing just fine without Jeter, who turned 37 Sunday. They have gone 9-3 to improve to an American League-leading 45-31.

At the minor-league complex in Tampa, a loud clap of thunder sent minor-leaguers scrambling into the dugouts Monday morning, but Jeter stayed on the infield a few minutes longer. He took only seven ground balls before heavy rain set in, but that came after his first true batting practice since the injury.

Moments later, as the prospects watched through the rain from a sheltered area, Jeter participated in his first running work. In a wet outfield, he went through a series of brisk jogs -- straight ahead, then backpedaling, then sideways -- and was pleased with his progress. "Steps in the right direction," he said, adding that the leg felt good.

Despite the limitations of steady rain for the second day in a row, Jeter took several steps forward. Trainers cut short a batting-cage session (again, off the tee and from short underhand tosses) to get him out on the field.

First came batting practice -- three sessions of about 10 swings each, as Jeter sprayed the ball around the field without any visible discomfort. Lightning suspended the Gulf Coast League game on the adjoining field (which had Yankees top pick Dante Bichette Jr. batting cleanup against the Tigers), but Jeter still went out to shortstop. The drill was simply fielding balls and tossing them aside without so much as a throw to first, but Jeter's desire to move along in his recovery was clear.

Moments later, he and third baseman Eric Chavez, out since early May with a broken foot, went out on the warning track and threw long toss. With prospects standing on tables to see over the outfield fence, Jeter took his first careful runs, a key in testing his injured calf.

Jeter wasn't the only key Yankees contributor who made solid progress.

Starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, on the disabled list since June 12 with a strained right hamstring, threw a simulated game, with four innings of 15 pitches each. He pitched well, striking out three of four batters in one stretch, and 11 of his final 15 pitches were strikes.

Depending on how Colon feels Tuesday, he could return to the Yankees to pitch against the Mets this weekend or make a rehab start in the minor leagues first.

With Greg Auman

in Tampa, Fla.