MLB

Yankees’ Pettitte has rehab setback

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The news out of Tampa yesterday didn’t devastate the Yankees, but to say they have no concern about Andy Pettitte’s left groin area would be a lie.

Pettitte, 38, was scheduled to throw a simulated game at the minor league complex yesterday but one hour before the exercise was ready to start it was re-scheduled for today. The reason was Pettitte complained of stiffness in the hip flexor tendon in the same area of the left groin strain that has him on the DL.

“A little bit,” manager Joe Girardi said when asked if he was concerned. “He felt it [Wednesday]. He played catch [yesterday] and we didn’t want to push it. He felt pretty good. Hopefully he feels good [today], and he can do his simulated game.”

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Had Pettitte been able to throw yesterday and not experienced a setback, the plan was for him to make a rehab start Tuesday for Trenton (Double-A). Now, the earliest would be Wednesday if Pettitte can get through today.

Pettitte told Girardi that he felt the stiffness Wednesday when he got off a couch.

Girardi lauded Pettitte’s decision to back off.

“If it takes a couple of extra days it takes a couple of extra days,” Girardi said.

Since Pettitte has been out since July 18 with a groin problem in the same area, Girardi was asked if the problems are related.

“I can’t tell you it’s related or not related,” Girardi said. “It’s not in the groin. It’s up here [waist area].”

Considering Javier Vazquez’s dip in velocity, A.J. Burnett’s inconsistencies, Phil Hughes coming back to earth after a strong start and Dustin Moseley filling in for Pettitte, the Yankees are wise to take it slow with the veteran lefty. Pettitte was the second-best starter behind CC Sabathia, who picked up his 15th win in the Yankees’ 4-3 victory over the Royals last night at Kauffman Stadium.

“We would love to have him back as soon as possible but it is what it is and you have to deal with it,” Girardi said. “If you have to push it back a couple of days you push it back because the last thing you want is a real big setback because then you are talking another month, six weeks.”

Though he hasn’t pitched in three weeks, Pettitte’s 11 wins are third among Yankees starters and his 2.88 ERA was tops.

Two of Moseley’s three starts filling in for Pettitte have been solid, and he gets a fourth shot tonight against the Royals and right Kyle Davis.

Sure, the Yankees have the best record in baseball but their lead over the Rays in the AL East is a scant two games. And though the Rays are dealing with injury problems in their rotation, the Yankees not only need Pettitte back but pitching as he was before landing on the disabled list.

Vazquez’s velocity is down to 88 mph from 91 and in order to survive in the muscular American League, he is going to have to be able to hit a gnat in the butt with every pitch. Three of Burnett’s last four starts have been good, but he is 9-9 with a 4.87 ERA in 23 games.

So, it’s easy to see why the Yankees are being cautious with Pettitte, who could be the difference between the Yankees winning the AL East or not making the playoffs.

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Mark Teixeira never thought about not being with his wife Leigh for the birth of his third child, William Charles, Tuesday at New York’s Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

Of course, the Yankees’ hottest hitter understood the responsibility he had to the club that is involved in a tight pennant race. But family comes first.

“I wouldn’t’ have been able to live with myself if my child was born and anything happened,” said Teixeira, who missed two games against the Rangers and was back in the lineup at first and hitting third. “I talked to Joe [Girardi] and Cash [general manager Brian Cashman] and told them I might have to miss a couple of games and they were fine with it. I didn’t miss any games all year. To miss two was tough but absolutely necessary.”

Last night, Teixeira went 0-for-4 with an RBI sacrifice fly.

Teixeira had one eye on his team and the other on his wife and son, his third child.

What he saw was Marcus Thames go a combined a 5-for-10 with a homer, two RBIs and drive in the game-winning run in the ninth inning Wednesday night hitting in Teixeira’s No. 3 spot.

Based on his numbers against Royals starter Bruce Chen going into last night’s action, the switch-hitting Teixeira picked a perfect night to return. He was hitting .643 (9-for-14) with six homers and 12 RBIs against the left-handed Chen.

Thames started his fourth straight game last night as the DH and went 1-for-4.

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After not starting the previous two games in order to do intense work with hitting coach Kevin Long with the hope of quieting and shortening his swing, Curtis Granderson returned to the lineup last night against Chen and went 2-for-3.

“I felt good, I felt comfortable,” Granderson said. “I wasn’t contemplating where I was standing. It’s baby steps, it’s still a work in progress.”

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Even if Alfredo Aceves comes through a scheduled two-inning rehab stint tonight for Trenton (Double-A) OK, it’s probable that the valuable right-handed reliever will need a third minor league game before rejoining the Yankees’ bullpen.

“Two innings, that’s the plan. Whatever comes first,” Girardi said.

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Having caught three straight games, Jorge Posada was on the bench last night against Chen. Francisco Cervelli caught Sabathia and went 0-for-4.

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Derek Jeter hasn’t made an error in 49 straight games. That’s the longest stretch of his career.