Pettitte believes he's ready to join Yankees
Andy Pettitte throws against the Mets during a spring training game. (April 4, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte's stat line Monday afternoon suggests he got rocked.
His command, velocity and heart suggest otherwise. "If it's up to me, I would be heading back [to the big-league club]," he said.
The fifth minor-league start of Pettitte's comeback attempt spanned 96 pitches (71 strikes) in six innings on a warm, windy day at the Phillies' minor-league complex.
He allowed six runs (five earned) and 10 hits against an entirely righthanded-hitting lineup. The hardest shots came off the bats of Phillies farmhands slated for rookie-league assignments. But Pettitte, hit similarly hard in a Double-A start at Trenton last week, said the command and 88-mph fastball he displayed tell him he's ready to join the Yankees.
"I know I gave up probably more hits than I had given up, but as far as the quality of my pitches, I felt really good about what I was able to do today, that's for sure,'' he said. "I know [the velocity] was down a little bit in the later innings at Trenton, and they said I held it throughout today, so that's always a plus."
Pettitte allowed a run and three hits through the first three innings before getting tagged in the fourth. With two on and two outs, he threw an 80-mph changeup to Trey Ford, who homered to center.
"I threw a changeup before and [Ford] swung over it and looked really bad on it," Pettitte said. "Sometimes I get a little too aggressive down here as far as just trying to throw everything in the strike zone. I thought it was a pretty good pitch. It was down and he just barreled it."
Asked about a timetable for Pettitte, manager Joe Girardi said Monday night, "I think it's something that we have to talk about, see how he feels tomorrow and the next day, and decide what's next."
General manager Brian Cashman said after the Trenton appearance that Pettitte would make at least two more starts in the minors before a promotion is considered.
"I'm trying to be a good pupil here and do what they tell me to. If it was up to me, I'd love to be back up," Pettitte said. "They want me to be healthy for the long haul, so I understand that."
With Mark Herrmann
