Andy Pettitte didn’t make the AL All-Star team, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be on the field at Angels Stadium next Tuesday night.
Although six of his Yankees teammates were selected, Pettitte surprisingly was snubbed yesterday, despite a stellar first half (10-2, 2.82 ERA). But thanks to CC Sabathia’s schedule and Yankees manager Joe Girardi’s maneuvering, the veteran lefty is likely to be named to the team.
Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano earned starting nods, and Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera received the players’ vote. Girardi, who will manage the AL team, also selected Alex Rodriguez and Sabathia.
Because Sabathia is slated to start for the Yankees on Sunday, he will be ineligible by new MLB rules to be on the All-Star roster and Girardi will have to pick a replacement. He hinted it will be Pettitte.
“The one thing about being the manager and knowing your rotation is you know who is throwing on Sunday and you know a lot of other guys who are throwing on Sunday,” Girardi said. “I thought CC was very deserving as well as Andy. Andy is very deserving. I would hate the fact that one guy wouldn’t make it because he was pitching on Sunday. In this case we could have a couple of lefties.”
Asked if that means he already has decided on naming Pettitte, Girardi said: “No. That is a move that will possibly be made at the end of the week when one pitch is thrown on Sunday.”
Pettitte said he had no problem with being snubbed for now, as he understands Girardi’s work will allow seven Yankees to be at the Midsummer Classic, even if only six are active.
“Hopefully it works out where I can get to go,” Pettitte said. “It’s fine. This is a way where we can do it and we can get guys on our team there.”
Nick Swisher could also join his teammates at the game, because he is competing with Paul Konerko, Kevin Youkilis, Delmon Young and Michael Young for the fans’ vote for the final AL roster spot on MLB.com. The Yankees promoted Swisher yesterday with a “Send Swish” campaign, and he was part of a video ad as well.
“I want to go too,” Swisher said. “And I think it would mean so much extra now just because it’s up to the fans.”
Hughes, a California native, earned his first nod.
“It’s really cool to be on the team and have the game in my backyard,” he said.
Rodriguez is having a sub-par season (.276, 12 homers, 62 RBIs), but Girardi defended the pick.
“I think a lot of times people look at Alex as a home run hitter and the fact that he has 12 home runs people think that he’s having a down year,” Girardi said. “With only 12 home runs he’s third in the league in RBIs and everyone that’s surrounding him is going to the All-Star Game. . . . So I thought he was deserving.”
