YANKEE NOTES
BOSTON – Dan Duquette, the Red Sox GM who ordered Michael Coleman benched during his minor-league days because he wouldn’t take a psychological exam, sauntered over to the Yankees’ outfielder yesterday while the Bombers went through their pre-game stretching routine.
Duquette broke a Yankee rule by attempting to talk to Coleman during the stretch since one of Joe Torre’s few rules is that nobody interrupts players while they are stretching. However, Duquette didn’t get too far.
“I saw him coming from across the field with his crazy smile,” Coleman said. “He should worry about his own place.”
Asked what the men talked about, Coleman said it wasn’t a conversation.
“[Duquette] said, ‘congratulations,’ ” said Coleman, who didn’t offer anything to the man whom he feels held him back from playing for the Red Sox and the one who dealt him to the Reds.
While Duquette stood over Coleman, he didn’t move a muscle toward Roger Clemens who was stretching 12 feet away.
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First it was a cranky shoulder. Then it was a throat infection. Next was a cranky quadriceps muscle that landed him on the DL at the start of the season. Now, Derek Jeter is battling a painful wisdom tooth that needs to be extracted.
“I have to wait until Monday because we have an off day,” said Jeter, whose left side of his face is swollen. “I have no choice but to wait until then. But I am having trouble eating.”
In addition to the painful wisdom tooth, which is cutting through the top of his gums, Jeter isn’t enjoying his weekend stay in Fenway Park because of the constant abuse he gets from the fans.
“You should come down to the seats when I am in the on-deck circle,” Jeter said. “Have you ever seen hate in people’s eyes? These people hate me.”
Jeter gets abuse in Detroit from Tiger fans because in a weird way they believe the Michigan native sold out by playing for the Yankees. But it’s nothing compared to the Fenway faithful.
“It’s expected and it’s no big deal,” Jeter said. “I am sure the Red Sox hear the same things when they come to New York.”
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Jorge Posada was charged with his third passed ball in three games and fourth of the season yesterday in the seventh inning of a 5-4 loss to the Red Sox.
“It’s tough to see here,” Posada said of Fenway. “It’s very bright and I am not comfortable right now. Especially when the pitchers are trying to come in. I have to get comfortable. I am not picking up the pitchers.”
“He has had trouble here during the day games and we will watch it,” Torre said.
