Pettitte believes he's a week ahead of schedule
Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte delivers in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. (July 18, 2010) Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Andy Pettitte feels "about a week" ahead of his rehab schedule and could be ready to throw a full bullpen session by Tuesday or Wednesday.
He ran in the outfield before yesterday's game, then threw 25 pitches off a half-mound without feeling the groin strain that landed him on the disabled list July 20.
"I felt good. Everything's feeling good," said Pettitte, who spent the week at the team's spring training complex in Tampa doing agility drills and throwing flat-ground sessions. "Arm feels great. Everything's good.''
Pettitte said he was told he would be able to throw off a half-mound 20 days after the injury; Sundaymarked 14 days. "I feel like I'm progressing along pretty quickly," he said.
Pettitte said he feels the injury only when he runs at a full sprint, not a major concern for a pitcher. "As far as moving side-to-side, lateral stuff . . . I don't feel anything at all," he said.
He figures he'll need a couple of bullpen sessions before he makes a rehab appearance, but he isn't putting a timetable on anything.
"I have my plans, but I'm trying to be submissive and listen to what they're going to say," he said with a smile.
Wood arrives
After arriving from Toronto - where the Indians were playing when he was traded - Kerry Wood made his Yankees debut. He threw one full inning, striking out three and walking two. He struck out Evan Longoria looking to end the seventh and left with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth. Chad Gaudin finished up, striking out Reid Brignac.
Before the game, Wood, 33, said he would be fine with pitching the eighth inning, seventh inning or whenever.
"Gotta go put up zeros regardless of what inning it is," he said.
Rest periods
Alex Rodriguez wasn't the only regular who wasn't in the starting lineup. The just-acquired Austin Kearns started in left in place of Brett Gardner, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout before A-Rod pinch hit for him in the seventh.
"I felt Gardy could use a day," Joe Girardi said.
Girardi also said he might give Robinson Cano his second day off of the season, perhaps Wednesday afternoon against the Blue Jays.
