MIDDLE MAN: With a crowd of teammates looking on, including Mariano Rivera (right), CC Sabathia goes through a drill during a spring training workout. Yesterday, he threw off a mound for the first time since elbow surgery, and said he “immediately felt good” after admitting to being anxious prior to the bullpen session. (Reuters)
TAMPA — He has pitched in 383 regular-season major league games and 19 more in the postseason. So the last emotion you would expect to invade CC Sabathia’s large body while climbing a bullpen mound for the first time in spring training would be anxiousness.
Yet, that’s how the spine of the Yankees’ rotation felt yesterday morning at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“I felt nervous, it was my first time going up [on the mound],’’ Sabathia said. “It immediately felt good.’’
In order to not rush Sabathia, who had a bone spur removed from his left elbow following the ALCS, he had not thown off a mound until yesterday. Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Phil Hughes threw for the second time in the bullpen.
Manager Joe Girardi wasn’t shocked a pitcher with Sabathia’s resume would be nervous.
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
“I’m not surprised,” Girardi said. “When you kind of not let it go a little bit I think there will be a little [nervousness]. You’re probably a little anxious to see what your arm is going to feel like when you get up there.’’
Not much can be gleaned from a 29-pitch workout that didn’t include breaking balls. Yet, considering what Sabathia means to the Yankees’ pitching plans and the fact he’s recovering from surgery, every movement made by the 6-foot-7, 290-pounder will be scrutinized.
During offseason workouts, Sabathia said the difference in his repaired elbow was noticeable and didn’t differ when the intensity increased.
Sabathia said he never throws breaking balls during the first bullpen session of the spring and will starting spinning some while working on flat ground today and tomorrow. His next batting-practice session is slated for Tuesday.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild hasn’t released his plans for the early part of the exhibition season schedule, but Sabathia is assuming he won’t throw the first time through. Girardi said it’s likely Sabathia won’t throw in a game until the first week of March.
The Yankees open the exhibition schedule Saturday against the Braves on the road.
Sabathia wasn’t alarmed none of his tosses found the strike zone.
“I didn’t throw a strike but that’s normal for my first bullpen,’’ said Sabathia, who was 15-6 with a 3.38 ERA last year, a season in which he landed on the disabled list twice with elbow problems. He beat the Orioles in the first and final games of the ALDS and was punished by the Tigers in Game 4 of the ALCS.
From what the medical staff has told Girardi and witnessed in four days of pitchers and catchers workouts, the manager believes Sabathia and Rivera, who underwent major knee surgery last summer, will be ready.
Still …
“I’m pretty confident they’re going to be OK but I want to see them out there before I make that assumption,’’ Girardi said. “I feel pretty good because I know where they are in their rehabs. I think they’re pretty far along. Mo has been throwing for a while so I feel pretty good about it, but I want to see Mo in a game having to break for first [base].’’
As Rivera removed the small brace from the right knee following a 25-pitch bullpen effort, he talked about taking the next step.
“I trusted myself that I was capable of doing this and everything feels good,” he said. “Next is facing hitters, having reaction and covering first, that will be the biggest tests.’’
Because Rivera historically works only seven to eight innings each spring, the calendar is an ally.
“I will take as much [time] as I need to be in position to take ground balls and field the position,’’ Rivera said.
Sabathia’s elbow isn’t bothering him and Rivera’s knee shows no sign of being a hindrance. Of course it’s early, but the two most important parts of the Yankees’ staff have passed preliminary tests.
Imagine if they hadn’t.