Out 4-5 weeks, Pettitte looks forward to World Series
Andy Pettitte pitches in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Sunday. (April 18, 2010) Credit: Kathy Kmonicek
Andy Pettitte's first reaction to the time frame was somewhere between disbelief and disappointment.
"When I heard four to five [weeks], I'm thinking, oh gosh," said Pettitte, put on the disabled list Tuesday with the strained left groin he suffered Sunday. "I hope it's not that long. I hope I heal up quick. I hope it's not that long; I don't know if that's realistic. We'll see."
Pettitte said the groin "feels a lot better today than it did two days ago." He is prohibited from physical activity for at least a week.
"I know I can't reinjure this thing, so I have to take the time to rest it right now," he said.
Pettitte, who is 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA, said the "only silver lining" is that when he comes back, "I know I'm going to be strong" for the Yankees' stretch run, which he hopes will include a World Series title.
"I'm going to make sure I take care of myself and have it fully healthy before I come back because I can't have a problem," he said. "I'm here to try and help us win the World Series, and if I hurt it again I'm probably not going to be doing that."
Albaladejo up
Righthander Jonathan Albaladejo, who had a dreadful spring - 16 hits and 10 earned runs in 22/3 innings for a 33.75 ERA - but has been lights out for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, was called up as the corresponding roster move to Pettitte going to the DL. He went 12/3 innings last night, allowed one run, two hits and a walk and struck out one.
The 6-5, 260-pound Albaladejo is 2-1 with a 0.96 ERA with 31 saves in Pennsylvania, striking out 61 and walking 12. He said the positive that came from his poor spring was he started throwing a four-seam fastball.
"I couldn't get an out and hitter after hitter was hit, hit, hit," he said. "I said, I can't keep doing this, so I started throwing the four-seamer and . . . it's been working for me."
Another roster move will come later in the week when Sergio Mitre, who will replace Pettitte in the rotation Saturday against the Royals, is activated.
