YANKEE NOTES
With his lineup ravaged by injuries, Joe Torre said that he’s considering a few changes, including moving Derek Jeter to leadoff and sliding Alfonso Soriano into the middle of the order.
“We talked about that last year,” Torre said. “[Soriano] can probably hit anywhere. I don’t think I’d do that until I know Jeter’s leg is OK. I don’t want him trying to steal second and third right now. But we’ll play with it.”
No problem there for Jeter, who basically said, “Been there, done that.”
“I’ve been everywhere but fifth, I think,” he said. “It doesn’t make a difference to me.”
Jeter, who sat out Friday night’s game with an ailing left hamstring, was back in the lineup yesterday.
“It’s tight,” he said, “but I can play.”
*
After cracking just three homers in his first 48 games, Hideki Matsui admitted he’s a little discouraged.
“I may be a little frustrated not being able to hit home runs as I wish,” Matsui said, “but I guess I just have to take it slowly and game-by-game, absorb as much as I can and fully get used to it.”
For his part, Torre said he believes it’s still too early to evaluate Matsui’s slugging prowess. But he did say he believes Matsui’s swing is tailored more for line drives than home runs.
“He doesn’t have the prototypical power swing. He’s going to hit 20-25. He’s not going to hit 35-40,” Torre said. “If he does, that’ll be a real surprise for me. Just from his swing. It’s not a negative, not a criticism. He has a line-drive swing.”
*
Bernie Williams will fly to Birmingham, Ala. to meet with Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on whether his left knee requires surgery. Williams was examined by team doctor Stuart Hershon on Thursday and was diagnosed with a sprain and a tear of the medial meniscus.
“If everything is in agreement with Dr. Hershon, I’m sure the surgery will follow,” Torre said.
Williams said he would fly to Alabama tomorrow but may not see Andrews until Tuesday morning.
*
Asked whether he had spoken to George Steinbrenner lately, Torre said, “I talked to George the other day in regard to Bernie, just about what we were going to do.”
*
Torre on the Yankees’ recent troubles at home: “I don’t think it means anything. We love playing here. We’re just not playing well. I think it’s just coincidence.”
