Jeter's return delayed, keeps focused on April 1

It's unlikely that Derek Jeter will be making his spring debut this Sunday against the Blue Jays — the March 10 date which the New York Yankees had circled on their calenders a couple of weeks ago.

The news does not mean that Jeter's ankle isn't healing on schedule or he is in jeopardy of missing the date that means the most to him — April 1.

"That's my job, to be ready  on April 1," the shortstop said of the season opener at Yankee Stadium. 

"I will be there as soon as I can play," said Jeter. "I don't put a date on it.  That [March 10] was a date that was floated out there, but if I can play before I will play before. If it's after, it's after.  When I am able to do it you guys know I will do it."

Jeter is progressing with his rehab but hasn't run the bases at full speed. He is working on increasing the intensity of his base-running exercises.

"I have to run the bases at full speed. That's probably one of the most important things," he said. "All the other little things come with time and those things you can adjust to once the games start."

Cashman, who initially "floated" the March 10 date, isn't worried about the 38-year-old Jeter's return.

"If it happens to be longer, it’s longer. If it’s sooner, so be it, too," said the general manager.  "I’m not worried about Derek Jeter at all. He’ll be ready when it counts. ... He’s the least of our concerns."

The Captain watched yesterday's 8-2 loss against the Dominican Republic WBA team from the Yankee dugout and sounded like he's not even spring-training game ready.

"Do I feel like I could play today?" he asked. "No. If I could play today I would be playing today, but I still have to do a couple of things but I am getting close. I am heading in the right direction."

Dates to Jeter must mean supermodels and actresses.