MOOSIC, Pa. – Sidney Ponson can be big trouble for opposing hitters and an even bigger pain in the backside for his own team.
That is the unofficial scouting report on the 31-year-old right-hander as he prepares to join the Yankees for maybe the biggest start of his career, against the Mets in Friday’s split doubleheader.
Ponson says he hasn’t been told which game he’ll pitch, but is thankful for at least one more major league opportunity after a messy divorce from the Rangers.
“I’m just going to be low key,” Ponson told The Post yesterday after a workout with the Yankees’ Triple-A team at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. “I told [general manager] Brian Cashman that he doesn’t have to worry about me. He’s not going to hear nothing about me. I’ll be a ghost if possible.”
Ponson, who pitched briefly for the Yankees in 2006, has a rap sheet that includes two DUI busts and an arrest – and 11 days in jail – for assaulting a judge in Aruba.
The Rangers didn’t believe he was worth the trouble. Despite a 4-1 record with a 3.88 ERA this season, he was released earlier this month. Team management cited his “disruptive” presence and “disrespecting” of teammates.
A published report also said Ponson created a disturbance in a hotel bar last month after drinking too much. Ponson, who pitched the following day and got hammered by the Rays, disputes the notion that he was guilty of wrongdoing.
“My girlfriend was there – nothing happened,” Ponson said. “Whatever [the Rangers] said about me, they had a reason why they said it. I know I didn’t do anything wrong.
“If I did something wrong, why did they let me pitch? Release me on the spot if I was on that short of a leash.”
Does Ponson agree with the assessment that he was “disruptive” and “disrespecting” in Texas?
“They probably thought that,” Ponson said. “I don’t agree with it, but whatever happened in Texas is in the past. I’m not worried about what they have to say. You get a hundred teammates of mine that I’ve played with in the past. I’ve never disrespected nobody.”
Another report indicated Ponson challenged the Rangers to release him because he was unhappy with his pitching schedule.
Ponson said he was given specific reasons for his release, but it’s not a subject he wants to broach. Cashman did his own research and was comfortable enough to last week give Ponson a minor-league deal. Ponson pitched four innings for SWB on Saturday and allowed one earned run.
“Each circumstance is different and I suspect and hope [Ponson] will come and perform at a high level for us,” Cashman said. “We’re giving him an opportunity and hopefully he’ll take advantage of it.”
Hank Steinbrenner called Ponson a “no-risk” addition.
“He had problems with the manager in Texas,” Steinbrenner said, referring to Ron Washington. “[Ponson] was never a problem when he was here with us.”
Ponson doesn’t deny his relationship with Washington was an issue.
“He barely talked to me when I was there,” Ponson said. “I don’t know if he liked me or disliked me. I pitched for my teammates.”
Ponson said he enjoyed his last stint with the Yankees, even if his numbers were ugly: He appeared in five games and went 0-1 with a 10.47 ERA. After the season he had surgery on his right elbow and he appeared in seven games for Minnesota last year.
“The Yankees are a veteran team and I know a lot of guys on the team,” Ponson said. “I’m just looking forward to doing the job I was doing in Texas or even better.”
mpuma@nypost.com