Steve Karsay finally made it back to the Yankees last night.
“I definitely had doubts I would get here,” said Karsay, who missed nearly the last two seasons after undergoing shoulder surgery. “But I’m confident I can still get batters out.”
Karsay, who injured his shoulder during spring training in 2003, was activated yesterday.
The Yankees could certainly use the help. The formerly reliable Paul Quantrill has faltered of late, leaving only Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera as dependable relievers in the bullpen. Karsay has a month to show that he still belongs out there.
“I had to really fight to get back here,” said Karsay, who still needs some extra pitches to get ready in the bullpen. “It’s going to be hard to control my emotions, but I know I can still be effective.”
If Karsay pitches well, a postseason roster spot may open for him. He is doing his best not to give that much thought.
“I’m just going to let the chips fall where they may,” the right-hander said before the Yankees looked to rebound from Tuesday’s embarrassing 22-0 loss to Cleveland at the Stadium. “Hopefully, I will pitch well enough in the month of September to stick around. If that’s not good enough for them to keep me around in October, so be it.”
Karsay is doing his best to keep his expectations realistic. The former flamethrower has already adjusted his pitching since previously suffering an elbow injury and knows how difficult it can be to come back.
“I can’t expect too much here,” Karsay said. “I’m going to try and stay within myself and not be overanxious. It’s not like I’m going to go out there and try to get hit.”
Which is what the Yankees’ pitchers looked as if they were doing Tuesday in the drubbing by Cleveland, the worst loss in team history. Karsay sat in the dugout, wanting to do something.
“I felt bad for the guys,” Karsay said. “It’s frustrating to sit on the side and just watch that happen.”
But still not as difficult as the arduous rehab Karsay has undergone since last pitching in a major-league game at the end of 2002.
“Coming back from a shoulder injury is tougher than I or anyone else could imagine,” Karsay said.
