TAMPA – With all the innings restrictions placed on their young starters, the Yankees desperately need Andy Pettitte to carry his familiar workhorse load this season.
So when he was scratched from his start yesterday with elbow problems, the red flag rose. But both Pettitte and the Yankees insist the flag should be lowered. They say the injury is minor, a touch of tendinitis, and that the veteran lefty will make his next scheduled start Monday. In fact, Pettitte said he still wanted to start yesterday against the Rays, but “was overruled.”
To further lessen worries, Pettitte said, “If I was concerned I would have told them I couldn’t pitch.”
Pettitte struggled with elbow pain for much of his career and ultimately needed surgery in 2004. But he insists the pain in this case is on the outside of the elbow, rather than inside with the ligament, and is not nearly as painful as when he needed surgery. The Yankees tend to be cautious with even minor injuries, especially at this time of year.
Pettitte said he was unsure how he injured himself, and speculated it could have been because he had been feeling so good and, perhaps, was throwing too hard for this time of year. He is getting treatment and is expected to do all of his normal work leading up to his Monday start.
Pettitte’s agreement to return in early December after he contemplated retirement was a key reason the Yankees all but dropped out of their pursuit of Johan Santana. The Yanks expect Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina to be the veterans who provide significant innings. Pettitte and Wang, in particular, are needed for 400 innings. Without those innings, the Yanks could be in significant trouble considering that the prescription for Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy calls for about 450 innings combined.
“I would hate to go out to the season saying that if I do not throw 200 innings, this team can’t win,” Pettitte said. “But I know how important it is that I throw those innings.”
Cashman said the Yankees have been pleased by what they have seen of young starters such as Jeff Marquez, Alan Horne and Jeff Karstens to believe they have enough coverage should they have injuries. Cashman said he believes the cost in either dollars and/or prospects to sign a still-available free agent such as Kyle Lohse or trade for a starter such as Oakland’s Joe Blanton is too great.