Cc Sabathia is still full steam ahead for his return on Friday.
After yesterday making it through his first bullpen session without any discomfort since a sore left elbow sent him to the disabled list following hisstart on Aug. 8, the Yankees ace reiterated his vow to take the mound the first day he is eligible.
“I’m pitching on Friday,” Sabathia said following his 20-25 pitch pen session.
When asked if he thought he needed to convince Joe Girardi to let him pitch then, Sabathia repeated, “I’m pitching on Friday.”
Girardi wasn’t ready to make the same guarantee.
“I have to put his name in the lineup,” the manager said. “Our hope is he pitches Friday. I want to give him some leeway.”
David Phelps will prepare to stay in Sabathia’s spot after pitching well again in yesterday’s 4-1 loss to Boston.
Sabathia had played catch the previous two days, but yesterday was the first time he used his entire repertoire and the results were good. He expects to go through a full bullpen session Tuesday and be on the mound in Cleveland.
“I just have to get that wind to make and throw all my pitches, to make sure I’m hitting both sides of the plate,” Sabathia said of his upcoming 35-40 pitch session.
The next test will come today, when Sabathia finds out if the bullpen session causes any stiffness to return.
“That’s the biggest thing,” Sabathia said. “Making sure nothing comes back.”
He also admitted in hindsight the team’s decision to shelve him for 15 days was the right one.
“Looking back now, yeah,” Sabathia said. “It was the same thing with the groin [earlier this season]. I probably wouldn’t have said anything.”
But his lack of range of motion was too much to bear.
“I woke up that morning when I couldn’t move my arm or touch my shoulder,” Sabathia said. “Looking back, I pleaded my case to not go on the DL, but after throwing the past couple of days and the way I felt, it seems like that was the best way to go.”
Even without their top starter, the Yankees have motored along, thanks in no small part to the pitchers who have filled in for Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, who also played catch yesterday.
“As long I don’t have any setbacks or swelling, I should be ready to go and I haven’t had any of that the past couple of days,” said Sabathia, who had no previous experience with arm trouble. “It feels good to be able to go out and play catch and spin some pitches and not feel that back there. I’m excited.”