The brittle Yankees are still a long way from being whole, but they are getting closer.
Both Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez received positive news after recent X-rays. Mariano Rivera, though, remains out for the year.
Pettitte, who was discouraged after a previous exam showed his fractured left ankle hadn’t improved as much as doctors had hoped, had another X-ray yesterday that showed more improvement.
“Slow but sure,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “Is it healing? Yes. Is it healed? Not yet.”
Pettitte has backed off his rehab to avoid more problems and has stuck with swimming, riding a stationary bike, throwing in the cage and long-tossing.
“It was frustrating for me and I was kind of scared,” Pettitte said of the X-ray in Seattle. “I’m waiting for the doctors to tell me I’m strong enough to get on the mound. When the doc is comfortable I can do that, it will give me comfort.”
Pettitte and Girardi still believe the lefty will return next month.
“I think I’ll be back in September,” said Pettitte, scheduled to be examined every week. “But I have no idea how it’ll feel when I lift up, load and come down on the mound.”
Rodriguez had an X-ray on his fractured left hand Thursday and said it was healing properly.
“Everything looked A-OK,” said Rodriguez, injured when he was hit by a Felix Hernandez pitch on July 24. “It feels good. I’m just waiting. There’s nothing I can do.”
While Cashman has said repeatedly Rivera is done for the season with his torn right ACL, Girardi didn’t quite slam the door yesterday: “Nothing is ever 100 percent in life, but he’s 99.9 percent [not to return this year].”
When asked again via text if there were any way for Rivera to get back in 2012, Cashman said, “No.”
Rivera was on the field with the rest of the team before yesterday’s game, greeting season ticket holders and said: “I want to come back as soon as possible, but I’ve got to be smart.”
* Girardi would consider using Brett Gardner (right elbow surgery) as a pinch runner when the rosters expand next month.
“If there’s a way he can help us, I would definitely use him if it doesn’t jeopardize him getting back next year,” Girardi said.
* Ivan Nova starts tonight in Detroit after his nine-run disaster in his previous start, when he coughed up a 5-0 lead after the first inning.
“I have to be more consistent,” Nova said. “You have to stay focused. I always say I make more mental mistakes than physical. I don’t think it’s a big deal, what I have to do to get better.”