--SS Derek Jeter offered his usual refrain that he doesn't look into the future when asked about what would happen when his contract is up in 2010 and -- amid several questions about diminished range at short -- whether he would eventually consider a position switch. "You never heard me talk about a contract and you'll never hear it," Jeter, whose 10-year, $189 million deal will be up in two years, told the New York Daily News. "That's a dead issue to me. You'll never hear a public thing from me about it ..." On whether he would move from shortstop in the future, Jeter said "I think about one year at a time -- this year." Critics have pointed to Jeter's diminished range to his left defensively and decreasing power at the plate as signs his skills are slipping, but Jeter said he would tune out critics as he has throughout his career. "That's what I'm talking about when I say everything's so negative," Jeter told the news of criticism of his 2008 season when he hit .300 with just 39 extra-base hits. "... I hope every bad year I have I hit .300 you know? It could've been better. Every year could be better."
--3B Alex Rodriguez was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, retroactive to March 27, but could be back earlier than initially expected. A report in the New York Post said Rodriguez was progressing so well in his rehab from hip surgery that he could return at the end of April instead of mid-May as had originally been projected. Hitting coach Kevin Long also told the paper Rodriguez was already at "70 percent." --INF Ramiro Pena made the club as a utility player after turning some heads in Yankees camp by batting .295 to take advantage of the absences of stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Pena, 23, has always been know as a standout defensive shortstop but his ability to hit for average snagged him a spot after playing to fill in for Jeter (World Baseball Classic absence) and Rodriguez (hip surgery). "We were all so happy," a smiling Pena told reporters of himself and his family after hearing the news. Pena, 23, will likely have a short stay as long as Rodriguez returns in mid-May as expected, but his long-term prospects could be more interesting as reports have speculated as to whether he could become Jeter's successor at short. INF Angel Berroa was demoted, and RHP Dan Giese was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
BY THE NUMBERS: .433 -- Spring training batting average for Mark Teixeira, who is hoping to break his trend of slow starts in April in his first season with the Yankees.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It took me an inning and a half to find a scoreboard with the balls and strikes. Everything is so different." -- Derek Jeter after playing in the first exhibition game at the new Yankee Stadium.
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