Kritik und Lob » n franchise history a Los Angeles rookie,

NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter walked to home plate, toyed with his batting gloves, stepped into the batters box as fans chanted his name and legged out an infield hit. A feeling of normalcy returned to the Yankee Stadium. The captain was back after a nine-month layoff. But, perhaps, only for a few innings. Jeter singled on his first pitch of the season, then felt a tight right quadriceps and was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of New Yorks 8-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. He scored a run and went 1 for 4 with an RBI groundout as the designated hitter in his return from a broken ankle sustained in last Octobers AL championship series opener. After icing the leg, the 39-year-old was headed to a hospital for a scan. In a season thus far memorable for sidelined stars rather than sustained success, the Yankees anxiously awaited the test results. "Its not frustrating, yet. Well see. They MRI everything around here," Jeter said. "I hope its not a big deal." Known for trying to ignore most injuries, Jeter vowed not to this time. Sort of. "I cant trick the tests," he said, before adding: "I always play." He played through September and into October last year with what was called a bone bruise. The left ankle finally gave out in the AL championship series opener against Detroit. "I dont think it broke because I was 38. I think it broke because I continued to play on something that maybe I shouldnt have," Jeter said. The possible setback is not what the Yankees were hoping for in a season also hampered by significant injuries to first baseman Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Francisco Cervelli. "Its kind of what we went through this year," manager Joe Girardi said. "So hopefully its nothing, its just some leg tightness and hell be ready to go." Andy Pettitte (7-6) settled down after another shaky first inning to win consecutive starts for the first time since April. Lyle Overbay hit a go-ahead, two-run single in a four-run fifth against Ervin Santana (5-6) as New York overcame a 3-0 deficit and split the four-game series. New York cut short the star shortstops rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues after just four games following injuries Wednesday night to Travis Hafner and Brett Gardner, who hit for Jeter in the eighth. Jeter found out about 11 p.m. in Scranton, Pa., went back to his hotel, waited for his equipment and caught a ride to New York. He arrived about 2:30 a.m., fell asleep 90 minutes later. And then woke up about 6:30 a.m. -- only partly because of the early schedule he had been on during his rehabilitation routine. "Couldnt fall back asleep," he said. "I was nervous going into the game. Its almost like its opening day for me, even though were in -- what are we in, July now? I lost track of the months." Jeter batted second in his first big league game since Oct. 13. He said after the initial injury he would return by opening day, then fractured the ankle again in April during his rehab and missed the first 91 games of the season. Jeter turned on a 95 mph fastball in the first -- "I had my mind made up yesterday that I was going to swing at the first pitch" -- and sent a three-hopper up the third-base line that fell from Miguel Tejadas throwing hand. The crowd of 40,381 screamed "De-rek Je-ter! De-rek Je-ter!" Jeters ankle got more tests when he raced to third on Robinson Canos single up the middle and came home without a throw on Vernon Wells sacrifice fly to right. The Yankees all-time hits leader grounded out in the second and again in the fifth, when second baseman Johnny Giavotella made a diving stop to prevent an RBI single. Thats when the quad tightened. Jeter hit a sharp grounder to shortstop with the infield in during the sixth. Alcides Escobar bobbled the ball as Luis Cruz scored from third, and Jeter was thrown out as he jogged up the first-base line. "He looked the same," Santana said. "Very aggressive." Jeter had not been introduced at Yankee Stadium by Bob Sheppards recording in 271 days, since he sprawled onto his stomach while trying to field Jhonny Peraltas 12th-inning grounder up the middle, immobile on the infield dirt and yelled out in pain. "Its awesome to have him back out there. Hes so positive," Pettitte said. "We need his leadership ability." Jeter went 1 for 9 in his tuneup at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. After initially saying Jeter could play shortstop in Fridays series opener against Minnesota, Girardi said he likely would DH again if healthy. "I think its easy to say that you would expect with his age and a double break that I think hed lose a step or two or half a step, but I think hes moving extremely well from what Im told," general manager Brian Cashman said. Girardis task will be preventing Jeter from playing too much. "I think Derek would run himself out there the next 70 games if it was up to him," Girardi said. "W e have to pick days off, and we have to pick DH days." Kansas City took a 3-0 lead in the first when Salvador Perez hit a two-run double and Lorenzo Cain had a sacrifice fly. The Royals only other run was unearned, set up by Pettittes throwing error on a second-inning bunt. New York closed to 4-3 in the second when Austin Romine hit an RBI double and scored on Eduardo Nunezs single. After Overbays two-out, go-ahead hit, Zoilo Almonte and Nunez followed with run-scoring singles for a 7-4 lead. With Jeter in the lineup, his teammates seemed to relax. "The fans were great, gave me a nice ovation," Jeter said. "Its been a long time." NOTES: The Yankees cleared a roster spot by designating 1B Travis Ishikawa for assignment.Earl Campbell Youth Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Derrick Henry Youth Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. http://www.titansstoreonline.com/Black-74-Bruce-Matthews-Womens-Jersey/ . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Steve McNair Womens Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Nate Davis Titans Jersey . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position.LOS ANGELES -- A rested Clayton Kershaw couldnt save the Los Angeles Dodgers season one more time, leaving them a long winter to think about falling short of the World Series again.The Dodgers blew a 2-1 NL Championship Series lead against the Chicago Cubs and lost 5-0 behind Kershaw in Game 6 on Saturday. They dropped the final three games of the series, getting outscored 23-6, while playing sloppy defense and failing to contain the Cubs once slumping offense.We were in a good spot, center fielder Joc Pederson said. We just didnt take care of business and we made some mistakes and it cost us.Kershaw carried the team in the NL Division Series against Washington, earning his first career save in a decisive Game 5. But the postseason struggles that have haunted him in the past reared up again, with Cubs tagging him for five runs -- four earned -- in five innings Saturday.Id rather be in this position and fail than not to get to be in this situation at all, said Kershaw, who missed 2 + months with a herniated disk and returned in September to a team that had thrived in his absence.Im really thankful to be on a team that has gotten to be in the postseason four years in a row. Im really thankful for that group of guys in that clubhouse. Im really thankful that I get to come back next year and try again, he said.The Dodgers used a franchise record-tying 55 total players and 31 different pitchers in a season that saw 28 different players land on the disabled list, the most for any team in the last 30 years. The most notable was Kershaw, but others included starting pitchers Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy.There was a lot of growth and I think that how we came together as a team, not only the 25 guys in the clubhouse but guys that helped us get to where were at, just the way we played the game every night, with certain adversities, that our guys were accountable, made no excuses all year long, rookie manager Dave Roberts said.Here are some things to know about the Dodgers year and upcoming offseason:COREY SEAGER: The favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year honors, the shortstop finished the season ranked among the top 10 NL leaders in several categories. His 193 hits were the most by a big league rookie since 2001. Seager hit .308 and had a .512 slugging percentage while earning his first All-Star selection at age 22. He would be the teams 17th Rookie of the Year and first since 1996. He was one of six rookies on the teams NLCS roster.DAVE ROBERTS: The manager guided his team to a 91-71 regular-season record and the clubs fourth consecutive NL West title in his debut.dddddddddddd Roberts used his status as an ex-player to gain credibility and trust in the clubhouse while embracing the front offices emphasis on advanced statistics. His in-game moves were a crazy quilt of pitching changes and substitutions in the field, with Roberts eager to capitalize on individual matchups that demanded scorekeepers use pencil. With so many injuries, Roberts had opportunities to give to anyone who was in uniform. He wasnt afraid to twice pull pitchers in the middle of no-hitters as a way to preserve them.FREE AGENTS: Closer Kenley Jansen and third baseman Justin Turner are among 11 potential free agents. Jansen surely boosted his value with his performance in the playoffs, including the NL Division Series clincher against Washington and Saturdays Game 6 loss when he tossed a career-high three innings in relief of Kershaw. The first-time All-Star notched a career-best 47 saves, second-best in the majors. Without that core at the back end, our season would have been dramatically different, Roberts said. Turner produced 27 home runs and 90 RBI in addition to being a clubhouse leader, which could earn him a sizeable increase from the $5.1 million he made this season. Others who could leave are starting pitchers Anderson and Rich Hill, relievers Joe Blanton, J.P. Howell and Jesse Chavez, infielder Chase Utley and outfielder Josh Reddick.STARTING PITCHING: The Dodgers did nothing to bolster the rotation last winter when they lost Zack Greinke to division rival Arizona, and that left them vulnerable when Kershaw and the other starters got hurt. Their biggest pitching addition was Hill at the trade deadline in August. Kenta Maeda posted the second-most wins in franchise history a Los Angeles rookie, but he was ineffective in the playoffs. The rotations problems -- similar to last season when they had no reliable starters beyond Kershaw and Greinke -- put a heavy burden on the bullpen.JULIO URIAS: Roberts thought the 20-year-old pitcher would be a September call-up. Instead, the left-hander made his major league debut on the road in May in the bright lights of New York. He had four different stints with the Dodgers during the season as they preserved his number of innings. Urias hit a rough patch as the loser in Game 4 of the NLCS against Chicago, giving up four runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings as the youngest postseason starting pitcher in major league history. He has a promising future and gained valuable playoff experience. ' ' '