Schadenfreude 114 (A Continuing Series)

Joel Sherman, Post:

[T]here is no hiding his fading game. He was back atop the lineup last night more for who he was then who he is; an honor emeritus. In explaining why Jeter was leading off, Joe Girardi used words such as "leadership" and "consistency," but never greatness. His consistency in 2011, in fact, is about steady failure: 155th out of 157 qualifiers in line-drive percentage, 152nd in extra-base hit percentage, 135th in OPS.

None of that improved last night ... He went 0-for-4, again not showing much vitality in his swing; a soft lineout to short serving as a highlight. His average once addicted to .300-plus, is down to .256. No amount of intangibles covers that up.

Stefan Bondy, Daily News:

Sunday was an anticlimactic finish to his two-game, two-day barnstorm in Trenton. It was highlighted by a bunt single in his final at-bat ... Jeter also walked, struck out on a high fastball and committed a throwing error.

George A. King III and Joel Sherman, Post:

Three hours before last night's game Mariano Rivera wasn't sure he would be available to manager Joe Girardi due to soreness above his right elbow on the outside of the arm. ...

"The triceps has a little soreness. ... I am not concerned ... If you don't feel soreness while you are pitching you must be a magician." ...

Rivera worked hard over the weekend. Girardi used the closer in a non-save situation for two outs Friday as he protected a 5-1 victory over the Mets. On Saturday, as Sergio Mitre was turning a 5-0 game to 5-2, Rivera was forced to warm. And on Sunday, Rivera threw 21 pitches, his most since May 15, in failing to maintain a 2-1 lead.