Jeter is latest victim of Yankees flu bug
New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter fields a ball and throws to first before the Yankees first spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field. (March 3, 2010) Credit: AP
TAMPA, Fla. - The flu bug that's been going around the Yankees the last two weeks claimed Derek Jeter as its latest victim Thursday.
"We sent him home, just got him out," Joe Girardi said before last night's game against the Braves was rained out.
Yankees players and coaches have been dealing with separate flu and cold viruses. Bench coach Tony Peña has gotten the worst of it, missing the last six days with the flu. Peña returned Thursday.
"Seems like people are either getting the flu or a head cold. I haven't seen anyone have both yet," said Girardi, who is battling a cold. "Maybe Saturday he'll be back."
Girardi said Jeter, who wasn't scheduled to travel to Viera for today's game against the Nationals, might come to the facility to work out.
Burnett still throws
A.J. Burnett, the scheduled starter, threw a three-inning, 50-pitch simulated game to Jorge Posada after the game was rained out. "Got a lot out of it. It was good work," Burnett said. "And the fact that Jorgie stayed late meant a lot. Shows you how much he wants to work with me, too."
Hal pays visit
Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner sat in on Girardi's coaches' meeting. "We had a meeting to go over our club and where we're going and what we need to do over the next few weeks, and talk about players, and we'll do it again next week, same type of thing," Girardi said. "He likes to be in the meetings. He likes to hear."
Head games
Girardi said he has "encouraged" C Francisco Cervelli, who suffered a concussion Saturday when he was beaned, to wear the oversized Rawlings S100 batting helmet that David Wright tried last season. Cervelli called the helmet "ugly" but said he'd wear it.
