TAMPA — Even though he was rained out again yesterday and has barely had any Grapefruit League work this spring, Andy Pettitte insisted that won’t be an alibi for when he starts the season.
“I feel good. It doesn’t matter, to tell you the truth,” the Yankees’ veteran left-hander said yesterday. “I will be ready, and there’s no excuses.”
Pettitte’s spring totals are almost staggering, because he’s perfectly healthy yet has only five innings of action — mainly because of the weather.
Facing the Tigers yesterday, Pettitte pitched only one inning before the game was rained out in the bottom of the fourth with the Yanks up 8-0. He also had a start rained out March 12, pitched just four innings March 17 and appeared in an intrasquad game last Monday.
Pettitte did throw a five-inning simulated game yesterday after the rainout, eventually throwing 100 pitches for the day. At least he has one final spring start.
“Hopefully the sun shines on Friday,” he said.
Pettitte was supposed to start yesterday, but the Yanks didn’t want him to start, then have to exit because of a rain delay. Instead, the teams got in the first three innings, so Pettitte came in for the fourth. But that was it.
“It was a messed-up day,” he said.
Pettitte did mock-pitch to the Red Sox’ lineup in his simulated game, but he admitted he’d like to have competition so he has a changeup feel and also an idea of how his pitches are cutting to righty batters. He also admits the lack of action hurts the mental prep of, say, working with runners on base.
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When Johnny Damon came to bat in the first inning, the new Tiger received a loud ovation from Yankee fans. Damon waved and doffed his helmet.
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Tigers manager Jim Leyland was barking at the umpires because the game was being played despite the conditions, saying later, “This is too close to the season and I probably overreacted a bit. But I was scared to death.”
Added Leyland, “I apologized to the umpires for yelling and they apologized for yelling, too.”