ANAHEIM, Calif. — Solid pitching performances by A.J. Burnett on Friday in Seattle and Andy Pettitte on Monday against the Angels offset the recent funk at the plate by Yankees hitters.
“They threw extremely well,” general manager Brian Cashman said of Burnett, who needed a solid outing after an extended struggle and goes again today, and Pettitte, who hadn’t worked since Sept. 11 due to a tired left shoulder. “This game is a game of checks and balances and some times things don’t balance out.”
Given his choice, Cashman would prefer his hurlers strong.
“Right now, we are unbalanced, but I would rather see us pitching good until the hitting comes back,” Cashman said.
Outside of scoring 10 runs Saturday in Seattle, the Yankees scored five runs in three games on the road trip heading into last night.
“We haven’t scored a lot of runs on the road trip,” Joe Girardi said. “We have to turn it around.”
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David Robertson threw 20 pitches in the bullpen yesterday and said there was no problem with the right shoulder.
“I threw fastballs and spun about three curveballs at the end,” Robertson said. “It felt great.”
Robertson, who hasn’t pitched since he experienced stiffness in the wing on Sept. 5, is slated to throw a light bullpen session tomorrow, even though the Yankees are off. He likely will need a third session before the Yankees put him in a game.
Girardi believes there is still enough time for Robertson, who became a depend able reliever in front of Phil Hughes due to the ability to strike out hitters (61 in 41 innings), to get himself ready for the playoffs.
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Should Robinson be ready for the postseason, Brian Bruney‘s chances of pitching in the playoffs diminish.
Bruney, who has struggled since coming back from a second bout of elbow trouble, gave up two hits and a run in an inning Monday night.
Afterward, Bruney scolded himself for not being more aggressive.
“My mechanics were better than they have been in a long time but I wasn’t aggressive enough,” said Bruney, who gave up a pinch-hit homer to Kendry Morales.
“He is one of those guys who needs to pitch better,” Girardi said.
Girardi hasn’t decided if he is going to take 10 or 11 pitchers, but sounded like he was leaning toward 10.
“You can probably get by with 10,” said Girardi, who will likely require only three starters in the ALDS.
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Lefty reliever Phil Coke rejoined the team yesterday, but according to Girardi wasn’t available since he was still weak after a bout with acute gastritis Monday that required a visit to a hospital where he was administered an IV. Coke stayed at the team hotel Monday night.
“They took blood and urine,” Coke said. “It’s over and done with. I want to get stronger and back on the field. I was upside down [Monday], my whole body hurt.”
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According to several club sources, the Yankees haven’t talked internally about whether they will have an interest in Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. The lefty with a 100-mph fastball is expected to be cleared by MLB in a month and become a free agent.
“He has a big arm and will cost a lot of money,” a talent evaluator said.
The Yankees may be a bit shy when it comes to foreign pitchers after spending a lot on Jose Contreras and Kei Igawa.
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The Red Sox had four scouts watching the Yankees last night, in the event the teams meet in the ALCS. The Yankees had three of their scouts on hand looking at the Angels for the same reason. The Yankees have multiple scouts on the Tigers and Twins because they will play one of them in the ALDS.