Today’s news is powered by The Thin White (not Zach) Duke:

• Joe Posnanski: Jeter . . . UNDERrated?:

. . . I think that in many ways Derek Jeter this year has added a third title. He has, against all odds, become UNDERRATED. And that is a wicked turn. I think Jeter at 35 is having one of his greatest seasons. I think he’s playing defense better than he ever has, he’s getting on base and slugging like he did in his prime, and in my view he has been the Yankees most valuable player in 2009. And, for once, it’s funny, I don’t hear too many other people talking about it.

Now, let me be clear — there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the American League MVP this year is Minnesota’s Joe Mauer, and nobody else is even close, and I feel so strongly about this that I am doing daily updates about it on my blog. But the Twins are probably not going to make the playoffs, and there are many people who feel that the most valuable player must come from a playoff team. And if that’s the case then … well, I think at this moment Jeter might be my MVP, non-Mauer division.

Look: He’s hitting .330 through Tuesday and has a .394 on-base percentage — tied with A-Rod for best on the Yankees. He’s on pace for 218 hits, 109 runs, 21 homers. 27 stolen bases. He’s having a great offensive season, quite similar to the season last year’s MVP, Boston’s Dustin Pedroia, had.

And — this is weird — those advanced statistics that have so universally mocked his defense now show him to be, well, darned good defensively.

• Ian Kennedy update:

New York Yankees pitcher Ian Kennedy likely will pitch next month in the instructional league, his first game action since having surgery May 12 to remove an aneurysm from beneath his right biceps.

Kennedy said Wednesday it’s doubtful he will return for a minor league game this season. The right-hander is throwing fastballs and changeups during bullpen sessions and could be ready for a simulated game early next month.

• Spare the A-Rod:

Alex Rodriguez winced as he made his way down the first-base line on Tuesday, having been drilled on the left elbow for the second time in the Yankees’ past five games.

While Rodriguez certainly wouldn’t claim the repeated bruising is helping his performance at the plate, he also isn’t about to use it as an excuse. For the time being, Rodriguez is prepared to keep moving forward.

“I’m not really concerned,” Rodriguez said prior to Wednesday’s series finale with the A’s. “I’m probably just dealing with a little bit of a back [issue] and my elbow. It’s all part of it. I feel pretty good up there. I felt really good up there last night. I had five quality at-bats.”

• Relax . . . don’t do it:

But Chamberlain’s last three starts have yielded in a 6.75 ERA during that span, which is why Yankees manager Joe Girardi ordered the pitcher to relax with his extra time. As part of the Joba Rules, the pitcher will have eight days’ rest heading into his next scheduled start, Tuesday against the Rangers.

Instead of using the extra days off to throw, Chamberlain has laid low.

“We told him during this extra stretch to just take a couple of days off,” Girardi said. “You don’t necessarily have to pick up a ball, just take a couple of days off then we’ll get you on your five-man schedule. I just told him to relax.”

Chamberlain will play catch on Wednesday — the first of any pitching work he’s done since his last start on Sunday against the Mariners. He will also play catch on Friday before throwing a bullpen session on Saturday.

“I just thought it was a good idea,” Girardi said of taking it easy on Chamberlain. “I think he gets tired about always talking about it and answering questions.”

• Atlanta’s manager pays a visit to the Stadium:

Braves Manager Bobby Cox decided to make Wednesday a personal doubleheader. Cox made his first trip to the new Yankee Stadium during the day before trekking to Citi Field to manage the Braves against the Mets at night.

Cox, who played 220 games for the Yankees in 1968 and 1969, was given a tour of the Yankees’ new stadium by Lou Cucuzza, the visiting clubhouse manager.

. . . As Cox strolled around the field, he said the distance from the plate to right-center field seemed short. That is the exact spot where many homers that resembled fly balls have vanished in the cozy ballpark.

• Yanks’ reps for Aaron award named:

The Yankees have looked to Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira to help lead their potent offense all season, and now the trio of pinstriped sluggers have been nominated for the prestigious Hank Aaron Award.

The Hank Aaron Award, presented by Sharp, is presented annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league, with each club having three nominees. This is the seventh consecutive year that fans have had a voice in selecting the award winners.

Fans can vote through Sept. 15 to determine the club nominee, and then voting will be held Sept. 16-30 to select the winner in each league. The winners will be announced during the World Series.

• Brad Arnsberg turns 46 today.  Arnsberg was a 1st-round pick of the Yanks in ’83, but never really made it as a pitcher in his three stops in the majors.  He DID however become a relatively successful pitching coach, and is currently employed by the Blue Jays.
• Ready to feel old?  Graig Nettles turns 65 today.  Nettles got his first cup of coffee in 1967 at the age of 22, and didn’t end his career until 21 years later.
• On this date in 1923, a 4-piece bat used by Babe Ruth is banned by AL president Ban Johnson because of the glue used on it. A protest is made against the Browns’ Ken Williams for using a bat with a wooden plug in it. Johnson rules that all bats must be one piece with nothing added except tape extending to 18 inches up the handle.
• On this date in 1964, on the New York team bus following a 5 – 0 White Sox win, Phil Linz begins to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on his harmonica. Manager Yogi Berra orders Linz to stop, then slaps the instrument out of his hands when he continues playing. The incident is reported as indicating dissension on the club and Berra’s lack of control, as well as the level of Linz’s humor.