The Yankees Are Rushing Jeter Back, Aren't They?

(Courtesy of Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News)

Mike Axisa touched on this yesterday at RAB, then Joe spoke to the media again about it before last night's game, and everything seems like it's coming together in the worst way possible.  Based on the changes that have already been made to his proposed rehab playing schedule, the aggressive initial approach to getting him back in game action and the heavy hints being dropped by Joe, all signs point to the Yankees trying to bring Derek Jeter back from the DL before the All Star break, possibly as early as Friday.

I don't think I need to reiterate how bad an idea I think this is, but I will.  Jeter has been back in "real" game action for all of 3 games.  He's played 1 5-inning game at shortstop, 1 full game at DH, another 5-inning game at shortstop, and then got a scheduled off-day yesterday.  It sounds like the plan is to have him play back-to-back games at short tonight and Thursday and then depending on how he comes through he could be activated this weekend.  The team's original plan was to have Jeter play at least 2 consecutive full games at short before declaring him ready to go.  Now it could be just 7 innings.  Even if the plan is to play him 9 innings tonight and 9 tomorrow, that seems way too aggressive for Jeter given the problems he's already had coming back from this ankle injury.

An accelerated 1-week rehab stint for a player coming back from serious surgery is a bit of slippery slope to begin with.  That's any player from any injury.  When you factor in Jeter's age, already diminished mobility, and the fact that he's had his comeback from this injury derailed once earlier this year due to he and the team pushing too hard to get him back on the field, this unofficial change of plans is borderline reckless.

I know the Yankees are hurting for offense of any kind right now, especially from the left side of their infield, but how is rushing Jeter back after a handful of Triple-A games a smart way to solve that problem?  They've already watched Kevin Youkilis and Mark Teixeira go down trying to do something similar with their injuries.  This team doesn't just need Jeter on the field and in the lineup, it needs a HEALTHY and PRODUCTIVE Jeter in the lineup.  Of course Derek is going to say he feels good and he's ready to go, that's who he is.  Until the coaches see it for themselves for a couple of consecutive days, they shouldn't be going on his word.  That plan worked out poorly for everybody once.  The Yanks can't afford to have it backfire again.

In fairness to the team, there's been nothing official stated by anybody in the organization that this is what they are planning to do.  But from the jump Jeter's rehab assignment has had a different feel to it.  He went from running the bases at the complex to starting at short for Triple-A SWB in a day.  I understand and fully appreciate the desire to improve the batting order, and even a less than 100% Jeter is very likely better than Cruz and Gonzalez and Nunez.  I'd just feel a little more comfortable if everybody pumped the brakes for a second and exercised a little more caution with handling Jeter's return.