Will layoff help Yankees' Vazquez get back on track?

DETROIT - When the Yankees decided early last week to bump Javier Vazquez from Friday's start in Boston and give him a chance to solve his problems during unusually intense bullpen sessions, Brian Cashman tried to downplay the expectations for his return.

"Do I expect that he's going to throw out a miraculous performance that's radically different from what we've got?'' the general manager asked, adding that he did not. "I hope we will see something that we can hang our hat on and [say], 'You know what? That was better.' "

Vazquez (1-3, 9.78), who last started May 1 against the White Sox, isn't making any guarantees for tonight's outing against the Tigers. When asked if the break has been beneficial, he said, "I'll tell you tomorrow after the game."

Joe Girardi made no grand pronouncements, either. "I hope so," he said. "That was the idea of giving him the time to slow things down and get back on track. You really never know until he goes back out there, but I've said all along I believe Javy's going to help us. He's gotten off to a slow start and he has a chance to turn that around tomorrow."

Vazquez said he threw two bullpen sessions in his break, with each session ratcheted up in intensity at the behest of pitching coach Dave Eiland.

"I tried to make it closer to game speed," Vazquez said. "Both of them were longer, too, than usual. Usually my bullpens are nice and easy. These were pushing me a little bit."

One of the biggest concerns with Vazquez has been the lack of velocity on his fastball, which barely crept into the low 90s during his first several outings. He allowed five runs and seven hits in three innings against the White Sox and was booed off the Stadium mound, but there was some encouragement in that he hit 94 mph.

"It's kind of tough because you don't have that radar to go by," Vazquez said of noticing a difference in his fastball in his recent bullpen sessions. "It's kind of tough until the game starts."

Which is really what it comes down to. In the absence of any physical problems - he repeated Monday that he's healthy - his confidence is going to return only if he pitches well in games.

It was suggested to Vazquez that starting at Comerica Park, friendlier confines than at home, might help him. He didn't bite. "I haven't been doing it [pitching well] on the road, either," he said. "So I just need to pitch well on the road or at home. It doesn't matter."

Overall, he feels ready to go.

"It feels like a month without throwing," he said. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully start getting in a groove."