Pettitte making big strides

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte's announced plan Tuesday was to "take it slow" and not rush his comeback.

After his first full day in camp, his body sent him a similar message. He felt like a 39-year-old. "I guess you could say I definitely [do],'' he said Thursday. "I can definitely tell."

But it was what Pettitte called "just good general soreness" caused by his day's work Wednesday, including his first round of pitchers' fielding practice since spring training 2010.

When Pettitte threw a bullpen session Tuesday afternoon, the Yankees, specifically pitching coach Larry Rothschild, liked what they saw so much that they're having him pitch a live batting practice session Friday morning.

"To tell you the truth, I didn't think that's where they would have me at because I know how conservative they usually are," Pettitte said. "But I definitely feel good about doing it . . . I'm looking forward to it. Definitely feel like I'm ready to do that."

Pettitte said he hopes to be able to appear in a game before the Yankees break camp, possibly one of their last two contests. "I think that's realistic," Joe Girardi said.

Still, the general timetable the Yankees have given for Pettitte to be rotation-ready -- May 1 -- hasn't changed, and he reiterated what he said Tuesday, that he has to force himself to take things slow.

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Speaking on the field here before Thursday night's 4-4 tie with the Red Sox, general manager Brian Cashman said that conversation with Pettitte was "not the easy one to have" but that the lefthander, not known for his patience, was on board.

"I've seen his comments so I think he's bought into it, believes it, understands it," Cashman said. "We had to walk him through it, but I'm not worried about it at all."

Assuming Pettitte progresses and stays healthy, he will bump someone from the rotation. The feeling in the clubhouse regarding Pettitte's return was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, though Freddy Garcia -- about whom Cashman received calls from pitching-deprived clubs even before Pettitte came back -- was an exception. But Pettitte said that wasn't his read.

"I was in the weight room that first day and he came down and sat by me and we talked. He's been great," Pettitte said. "They know that I'm pulling for them. There's nothing in me that's rooting against anybody at all. I want everybody to do great and I think it's going to be a great year. We're going to need all the pitching we can get, that's for sure."

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Notes & quotes: David Phelps, scheduled to start Thursday night, flew home to be with his wife for the birth of their child. Adam Warren started instead and allowed no runs and two hits in four innings, striking out three . . . Cashman said he is not concerned about Raul Ibañez, who went 0-for-3 Thursday nightto drop to 2-for-37 (.054). "I think he's running out of hits," Cashman said of the 39-year-old, "but I still think he's got a lot of hits left in him to help us out. Veterans like him I'm not going to make any judgments on." . . . Cashman also had high praise for Phil Hughes, who has enjoyed a standout spring training, though the GM wouldn't handicap the race. "It would be inappropriate for me to say," Cashman said coyly. "But it's very appropriate for you to ask." . . . Derek Jeter, out with a strained calf, is expected back in the lineup Friday . . . Girardi said Nick Swisher (groin) "said he feels pretty decent" and possibly could play Saturday or Sunday . . . Garcia, hit in the right hand by a comebacker March 14, is scheduled to start Saturday's game in Lakeland against the Tigers.