Marchand: Jeter Is A Long Way From Coming Back

From Andrew Marchand:

Derek Jeter is not even hitting right now. Jeter is not even fielding right now. Jeter is not even running right now.

Jeter is not even close to getting in a minor league game or a simulated game.

So even Jeter, for all his positive traits and accomplishments, wasn't going to be ready by Saturday when he is eligible to come off the disabled list.

"He won't be ready," Yankees GM Brian Cashman said.

Cashman doesn't want to create expectations if he doesn't have to, so Cashman won't put a timetable on Jeter's return. There is a good chance the Yankees really have no idea and aren't really hiding anything.

At this point, Jeter is only doing a throwing program and physical therapy.

...

When will he be ready? The Yankees don't really know. Jeter probably doesn't know, either. It was never going to be April 6. There was always a better chance it would be May 6.

This sucks, but all it means is that Nunez is going to have to step up while Jeter recovers. Currently, there are too many easy out in this lineup and Nunez cannot be one of them.