Posts for June 29, 2011 -- The Sports Section -- Sports News on NYMag.com by Will Leitch and Joe DeLessio

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Posts for June 29, 2011

Derek Jeter Progressing, But There’s Still No Timetable for His Return

Each week for roughly the past two months, we've been trying to project when Derek Jeter will collect his 3,000th career hit. His calf injury, however, has put that chase on hold, and even now — on the day he's eligible to come off the disabled list — the Yankees won't provide a timetable for his return. But here's what we know about his rehab progress: He took 43 swings today during four sessions of batting practice, increased his speed during sprints, and took ground balls both on the grass and from his usual position at shortstop. He plans to go through the same workout tomorrow, and whenever he is ready for game action again, Joe Girardi says he'll probably need two rehab starts before rejoining the big-league club. And in the meantime, if you're growing tired of reading about his rehab, or his career hits total, or his place in his batting order, we direct your attention here. [MLB.com, USA Today]

With His Buyout Official, Chris Drury Goes Out With Class

By Joe DeLessio

First came word that the Rangers would buy out Chris Drury's contract — which triggered memories of his arrival in New York and the expectations that came along with it. Then came reports that an injury could prevent the Rangers from buying out his contract and could possibly even prevent him from playing again. But today brings the true final chapter of Chris Drury's Rangers career: The team has indeed bought out the final year of Drury's contract. There's a press release now and everything.

Drury, as you’d expect, is leaving on a classy note. »

Someone Has Invented a Way to Make Derek Jeter Disappear From the Internet

Derek Jeter's name will be in the news a lot in the coming weeks, once he's activated from the disabled list and continues his pursuit of 3,000 hits. Of course, that's bad news for those who are already tired of reading about the Yankees captain. Which is why a Brooklyn man has found a way to make him disappear from the Internet. (If it isn't already clear, fans of Jeter might want to stop reading at this point.) Rob Spectre — who describes himself on his website, jeterfilter.com, as a resident of Brooklyn and hater of the Yankees — has developed an extension for the Google Chrome browser that removes all mentions of Derek Jeter from any web page one visits. It's a little aggressive, though: For instance, we tried it on a post from this blog about why the Yankees should continue to let Brett Gardner bat leadoff even after Jeter returns, and it deleted not only all of the text, but also the photo of Gardner. (Presumably, it will also cut out the text of the post you're reading right now.) Similarly, it wipes out all of the content on the 2009 American League batting leaders page on baseball-reference.com — and, for that matter, all of the content on jeterfilter.com itself. [jeterfilter.com via Watchdog/Newsday]

Roger Federer Out at Wimbledon After Blowing Two-Set Lead

By Nick Sywak

For the second year in a row, Roger Federer has lost in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon to someone other than Rafael Nadal. For the true Fedophile, this is a confusing state of affairs. Losing to Nadal was hard to take at first, but eventually we got used to the idea. There was no shame in it: To be beaten by Nadal as epically as Federer was at Wimbledon in 2008 was to partake of a doomed nobility, to be a glorious empire vanquished by a world-historical Attila. But when in 2009 he lost undramatically in the finals of the U.S. Open to Juan Martin del Potro — a force of nature in his own right, but no Nadal, at least not yet — it all felt a little prosaic, a little human. Then last year's unprecedented capitulation in the Wimbledon quarters — in four sets, no less, with no tiebreakers! — to Tomas Berdych? What gave? The faithful whispered darkly of impending mortality.

He blew a two-set lead to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. »

It Was a Busy Night for Starting Pitchers the Yankees Considered This Winter

By Joe DeLessio

Last night, down in Philadelphia, the Yankees' off-season Plan A, Cliff Lee, helped out the team he spurned by throwing a complete-game two hitter — his third straight shutout — in a 5–0 Phillies win over the Red Sox. Meanwhile, in the Bronx, the Yankees pounded Zack Greinke, whom the Yankees considered after Lee returned to Philadelphia. (The Yankees held talks with Kansas City about acquiring the righty, but he'd eventually land in Milwaukee.) Greinke lasted just two innings last night, allowing seven runs on five hits, three walks, and a hit by pitch, and the Yankees would cruise from there, adding some insurance runs later on in the 12–2 victory. (Last night was a good one for local-team blowouts.) And as for the two pitchers the Yankees actually did sign to address their pitching concerns: One of them, Freddy Garcia, earned the win last night and lowered his ERA to 3.28. Meanwhile, Bartolo Colon — who started the season in the bullpen but would become a key contributor to the rotation — is inching closer to returning from the disabled list: He threw a simulated game on Monday, and the Yankees hope he'll be able to start against the Mets on Saturday at Citi Field.

Better Know an Underdog: Feliciano López

By Nick Sywak

Today the top four men's seeds square off against underdogs ranging from the greenest of teens to genuine top-ten contenders. All American eyes will be on Mardy Fish, who will be looking to cap a surprising renaissance by taking out defending champion Rafael Nadal. All other eyes will be irresistibly drawn toward Feliciano López, the Spanish dreamboat whose match with Andy Murray, Great Britian's great white hope, also promises to be the most competitive contest of the day.

López has never been ranked higher than twentieth. »

The Mets Go Over .500, Yay!

By Will Leitch

To be as frank as one can possibly be here, the Mets finally making it over .500, for the first time since the first week of the season, is not a particularly momentous occasion. After all, a year ago, they were ten games over .500 at this point of the season, and you know how that one turned out. The Mets still have a very tiny chance of making the postseason, and they're still likely to trade Carlos Beltran, Francisco Rodriguez, and (maybe?) Jose Reyes. This is still the first year of the transition. But what a fun little year it's turning out to be!

Slams, and almost a cycle! »