Yanks do the math on 3,000; that sums it up

As extras in this particular parade, Derek Jeter's teammates are not exactly envisioning the day when they will get their own 3,000th major-league hit.

"It's going to be,'' Curtis Granderson said, "a very, very long time. And probably in a video game.''

Russell Martin chortled at the absurd question. "I think I'm right on pace,'' he said. "I just have to play another 20-something years.''

In his sixth year, Martin, 28, has 688 hits. Jeter had 865 on this date in his sixth season.

Competent big-league hitters though they may be, these fellows can do the math. Granderson, 30, stopped to consider that "I might be around seven or eight hundred now.'' Actually, in his eighth season, he has 904. But Jeter, at precisely that stage of his career, had 1,275. The numbers seem to grow.

"I've seen guys get 2,000,'' Granderson said, "and they're not even getting close.''

Mark Teixeira said he didn't know how many hits he has accumulated midway through his ninth season -- it's 1,398, compared to Jeter's 1,453 midway through his own ninth year -- but Teixeira, 31, is quite sure he has "no chance'' at 3,000. "I won't be around that long.''

When Teixeira, with more impressive power numbers than batting-average statistics, hit his 300th home run nine days ago, he thought of how -- just last summer -- he had witnessed Alex Rodriguez's 600th and how that made his feat seem almost ordinary. "Seeing what Alex did . . . I hit 300; great, but it puts it in perspective,'' he said.

And now the Yankees have Jeter, 37, only two hits shy of 3,000. They fully understand the hue and cry. Rodriguez "said it best,'' Nick Swisher said. "You can't fake 3,000 hits.''

With 2,762 career hits, Rodriguez is in Jeter's ballpark -- possibly only two years away from his own 3K moment. But Rodriguez, who will turn 36 July 27, already is in his 18th season while Jeter is in his 17th (each is in his 16th season as an everyday player), and nothing is promised.

To get 3,000, "that's 200 hits a year for 15 years,'' Martin marveled. "You have to start really young and be good for a really long time.''

Maybe Robinson Cano, 28, has a shot at 3,000 eventually. He already has 1,174 through 61/2 years compared to Jeter's 1,109. More likely Cano, certainly, than Swisher, 30, with 872 in his eighth year.

Swisher's 3,000th? "Tonight!'' he said, running with what most consider a pure fantasy. "Runner on third, two out, a laser into leftfield, the crowd goes wild!''

For all but Jeter and perhaps A-Rod, it's not even a distant vision. "I'm a 140-a-year guy. Maybe,'' Swisher said. "You think of 3,000, then you think of Pete Rose. Oh, my gosh; that's a lot of hits. I'd have to be around a long time.'' And with Friday night's rainout, everybody will have to stay around a bit longer.