Pirates 3
Yankees 2
BRADENTON – Add Andy Pettitte’s balky left elbow to the growing list of Yankee hurts involving high-profile names.
Twenty pitches into his warm-up yesterday for a start against the Pirates here, Pettitte turned to pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and said that something inside the hinge didn’t feel right. Pettitte was immediately scratched in favor of Mike Thurman and later returned to Tampa, where Dr. Allen Miller examined him.
Pettitte also was taken for precautionary X-rays and an MRI, results of which will be available today.
There was a chance Miller was going to recommend further tests, but according to GM Brian Cashman, if tests were done the club wouldn’t know the results until today.
It was the same discomfort Pettitte felt in his prior start (Sunday) but pitched through. Pettitte admitted he felt it throwing in the bullpen Tuesday but didn’t think it was a big deal.
“If I had to pitch, I could have pitched,” Pettitte said. “There is no way I am going to aggravate it. I didn’t want to make my start, going three innings and then aggravate it to the point where I couldn’t make my next start. I didn’t want to get too late in [spring] and they leave me here and put me on the DL.”
Pettitte went through that in 1999, when he left his first – and last – spring start with an elbow problem.
While Pettitte downplayed yesterday’s incident, it can’t be overlooked.
“Right now I am not very concerned unless the tests reveal a reason to be concerned,” Cashman said.
Of course, Pettitte is just the latest big-name pinstriper to be bit by the injury bug.
Jason Giambi hasn’t played since Monday due to a tight left hamstring. He is slated to be the DH today.
Derek Jeter hasn’t played since Saturday with a neck problem. He said he will return today.
Ramiro Mendoza hasn’t worked since March 1 due to a balky neck that was examined by Miller yesterday. And there was a chance Mendoza will have a bone scan. It’s not known when he will be healthy enough to pitch.
Jorge Posada will catch his first game today after taking it easy following off-season shoulder surgery.
Rondell White tested a pulled rib-cage muscle yesterday by doing twisting exercises with a broom handle.
Jim Leyritz has been slowed by a rib-cage problem.
Of course, something like yesterday – no matter how slight – only reinforces the Yankees’ belief that having six starters for five spots isn’t a problem. And it makes trading Orlando Hernandez very risky.
Stottlemyre predicted Pettitte would make his next start.
“We were cautious today,” Stottlemyre said.
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Yanks fell to 4-6 via a 3-2 loss to the Pirates on Adam Hyzdu’s two-out RBI single in the ninth off Steve Karsay. Yankees have dropped six of seven. Shane Spencer and Manny Alexander homered for the Yankees, who received four shutout innings from Thurman.
