TAMPA — When Joe Girardi answered a call from Yankees trainer Steve Donohue late Thursday afternoon and was informed Derek Jeter’s left calf was tender following a workout, the manager immediately knew what to do.
“I remember what happened last year, though it’s different calf, so I am being cautious,’’ Girardi said about shutting down the shortstop.
Girardi said it’s possible Jeter will not play until Tuesday, the day after a dark day on the schedule. Jeter initially felt the tenderness Wednesday playing against the Blue Jays, but went through a complete workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field the next day.
Jeter, 37, missed two weeks because of a right calf problem last year. It turned into a blessing because Jeter went to the minor-league complex and worked on his swing. Hitting .260 when he went on the disabled list June 14, Jeter hit .331 the rest of the season after coming back July 4.
“The reason I am not playing now is because I had one last year,’’ Jeter said. “It’s just a sore calf, nothing out of the ordinary. Things happen in spring, it’s no big deal. There are three weeks left, there is no need to force the issue.”
Jeter wasn’t alone on Girardi’s injury update.
Russell Martin’s left groin was stiff, and Girardi was not sure when he would play again. Girardi didn’t know when or how Martin suffered the injury. Martin got tangled up with Nationals pitcher Chien-Ming Wang at first base Thursday but said that wasn’t the reason. Girardi planned to catch Martin “seven or eight’’ innings Friday in order to work with CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes, but the manager scratched that.
“It’s a precautionary measure,’’ Martin said. “It’s similar to a feeling I had in L.A. when I didn’t go to the trainers and I was out three weeks.’’
Nick Swisher’s left groin was better according to Girardi but the right fielder was sent for an MRI exam.
“He did all the [pregame] stuff but I think they are just being cautious,’’ Girardi said. “I guess they felt it move a little bit. This could be soreness.’’
“If I had to play I would play,’’ said Swisher, who left Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays. Swisher initially felt it getting out of the batter’s box on a ground ball he was annoyed at hitting.
The swelling in right-hander Freddy Garcia’s pitching hand is vanishing but not completely gone. He was hit on the paw Wednesday in Dunedin against the Blue Jays and possibly could be out for two weeks.
Ramiro Pena is nursing a sprained right ankle and Girardi doesn’t know when the utility infielder will surface.
“The way he walked off the field [Thursday] I wasn’t encouraged,’’ Girardi said.
Eduardo Nunez, Jeter’s primary backup, will swing a bat today after three days of inactivity. Nunez has not played since getting hit on the right hand March 5.
David Robertson played catch on a back field and ran sprints for the first time on grass. Robertson has made one spring appearance due to a bruised right foot.
Girardi’s instruction for Jeter was to stay away from the field yesterday.
“I think he could take BP but I told him don’t even go outside,’’ said Girardi, who started Doug Bernier, not even on the 40-man roster, at short.
george.king@nypost.com
