Proctor, naturally, is ready to pitch

BOSTON -- Jesus Montero got the most attention of the six players the Yankees added to the roster Thursday. But a familiar face also was present in the tiny visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park.

Scott Proctor, who pitched -- and pitched and pitched -- for the Yankees from 2004-07, also was added to the roster. The 34-year-old righthander was a surprise call-up after he was signed as a minor-league free agent Aug. 13.

Proctor is best known for (possibly, probably) being overused by Joe Torre, especially in 2006, when he appeared in a major league-leading 83 games and threw 1021/3 innings out of the bullpen.

Proctor had Tommy John elbow surgery in 2009 and hasn't had an ERA under 6.00 since 2007. He was released by Atlanta on Aug. 10 after going 2-3 with a 6.44 ERA.

But after signing with the Yankees, he excelled for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Proctor had a 1.50 ERA and three saves in 20 appearances and struck out 32 in 24 innings.

"I'm throwing good," he said. "Had a little rough patch there before the All-Star break in Atlanta. Just trying to do too much."

Proctor has always maintained that he never blamed Torre for (possibly, probably) overusing him. He wants the ball every day if he can get it. Still.

"When the phone rings, get up and pitch," he said. "That's all I'm going to do. Whenever it is. Whether it's taking stress off the guys, getting in there in the thick of stuff, picking up innings whenever I get 'em."

He got a lot of them when he was with the Yankees before getting traded to the Dodgers on July 31, 2007, for Wilson Betemit.

He saw some familiar faces upon his return Thursday -- Mariano Rivera gave him a big hug -- but "not many," he said.

"Coaching staff, players, everybody's changed a lot," Proctor said. "A lot of these guys I've played against throughout the years."

Jorge Posada said the Yankees saw Proctor with Atlanta during spring training "and he was throwing hard, he was throwing good. Obviously, he's got a powerful arm.''

Even though Posada knew the Yankees had signed Proctor, "it was a surprise to see him today," he said. "I'm happy that he's back."

It was special for Proctor because his first call-up to the big leagues also took place at Fenway in 2004. The Yankees acquired him a year earlier from the Dodgers along with Bubba Crosby for Robin Ventura.

"We used him a lot," Posada said. "He was a guy who came in and played every day, never complained, never said anything, and he was very successful when we used him. I know he's been through some injuries and stuff, but he's been able to come back."

Said Proctor: "It's nice. You always would love to come back with the team you kind of broke in the league with. To be able to do it this time of year in this series -- it's kind of neat. It's come full circle. It's been a long road."