MLB notes: Jeter says offseason was ‘absolutely terrible’

The Associated Press

First Published Feb 17 2013 05:59 pm • Last Updated Feb 18 2013 12:15 am

Derek Jeter had a miserable offseason he would rather forget.

Not only did the New York Yankees captain not win another World Series ring, but his season also ended when he had to be helped off the field because of a broken ankle.

"Absolutely terrible," Jeter said Sunday, the spring training reporting day for New York’s positions players in Tampa, Fla. "Mentally it was rough, too, but more physical. I was stuck on the couch for a good five, six weeks where I couldn’t really move around too much. I had a little scooter to move around. It was not fun."

The 38-year-old broke his left ankle lunging for a grounder in the AL championship series opener against Detroit on Oct. 1, and had surgery a week later. He could start running on a field in the next couple days and expects to be ready for opening day against Boston on April 1.

"Why wouldn’t it be realistic?" Jeter said. "I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Opening day, yeah, it’s been a goal all along."

Jeter says the ankle has healed, and that the challenge is to get back into baseball shape.

Helton apologizes

Calling his recent drunken driving arrest a "monumental mistake," Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton fought tears as he apologized Sunday and asked for forgiveness at the start of spring training.

Helton said he had never had a DUI problem before his Feb. 6 arrest.

"Obviously the last place I want to be on the first day of spring training is here talking about a mistake I made," Helton said. "Last week I got behind the wheel of my truck after I had drank. All I can do now is apologize and ask for forgiveness. I spoke to my teammates today and they were very supportive."

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