Rested Pettitte gets on the mound
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc, Podcast on Feb 23, 2010 
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Andy Pettitte’s elbow is back to 100 percent, his shoulder feels perfectly healthy and he planned to go about his offseason just like every other year. Then he got a call from Joe Girardi, who asked him to start throwing a little later than usual.
Instead of playing catch on January 1, Pettitte started January 16.
“They wanted me to do that and I told them I would do it,” Pettitte said. “You’re kind of not crazy about it because I’m kind of a creature of habit, but other than that, everything was just normal.”
As you might expect, this was all part of the Yankees plan to very slightly cut down on their starting pitchers’ workload this spring. Although his routine was slightly altered, Pettitte said he trusted Girardi and Dave Eiland when they told him the plan for a tweaked offseason. He threw 30 pitches this morning, becoming the last of the Yankees’ four confirmed starters to get into the bullpen.
“I threw a couple of times before I got down here,” Pettitte said. “It’s been a couple of weeks since I got on there, so it was good. It was good to get on there and get going. I felt good. Arm feels good. Same old story, just part of the process.”
Here’s the audio. Pettitte was on his way out the door to play golf, which explains the early jokes about a tee time.
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Good decision by Girardi/management here, especially since the Yanks played hard into November(!) and Pettitte gave them everything he had in that Series-clinching performance.
Maybe this wont be andy’s last year. He seems to be the leader of the pitching staff. He was out 2 hours before practice running with Javy Vazquez. Hopefully Joba, Hughes, Brackman and the other young guys are taking notes.
Just keep him healthy for the playoffs.
I feel another gold medal coming.Anyone wanne bet?
In last-ditch try to get something for $46M #Yankees plan to have Kei Igawa work exclusively as LH reliever in camp and probably minors
14 minutes ago via web
#2 Igawa is making a run for #1 Pavano in the Worst Yankee Signings of the Last 10 Years category
There was a reasonable basis for signing Pavano.
Andy Pettitte’s career is such a success story for the Yankees. A 22nd rounder who’s pitched in 8 different World Series!
It’s such a shame he pitched for the Astros those 3 seasons.
But let’s all remember when comparing him to our current homegrown starters of the future those minor all-important league innings.
Hughes has 330 innings
Joba has 88
Andy had something like 570 before he took the mound in the Bronx.
Off topic (repost):
It’s been mentioned that the Yankees do not want to take away Cano’s aggressiveness at the plate. It is at the same his strength and his weakness.
It’s his strength because he seems to do better when he swings early in the count (I think) in terms of BA.
It’s his weakness because it doesn’t allow him to hit situationally. To do that you must look for a certain pitch to drive in a particular way, and it may not come early in the count(i.e. patience).
For me, Matsui was a master of this. He would seem to tailor his hitting approach to the situation at hand. I thought he was remarkably good at it.
To be a better hitter with men on base I personally think that’s a part of what it will take for Cano.
Do I think it will happen ?
No.
Cano’s pure athleticism makes it possible for him to make contact at a very high rate but it doesn’t seem to allow him to come to the plate with a specific situational hitting plan which may require patience, and therein lies the paradox for me.
How do you balance Cano’s aggressiveness with a perceived need to hit situationally in order to drive in more runs ?
Or is what am saying a false “dichotomy”, worse yet not even a valid POV ?
It might hurt the SP early in the season, but I believe the Yankees have the right idea.
Tom, thanks for the great pic of AJ!
Erin, here’s the pic:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....ano+Rivera
randyl
Are you around?
Is it common for a catcher to wear a glove (like a batting glove) under his mitt and what might be the reason for it?
Bronx Jeers February 23rd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Andy Pettitte’s career is such a success story for the Yankees. A 22nd rounder who’s pitched in 8 different World Series!
It’s such a shame he pitched for the Astros those 3 seasons.
But let’s all remember when comparing him to our current homegrown starters of the future those minor all-important league innings.
Hughes has 330 innings
Joba has 88
Andy had something like 570 before he took the mound in the Bronx.
———————————————————–
Every time I see those numbers for Joba I am staggered. How can they expect a dude like that to pitch with all his pitches when he had so little time to perfect them all for professional players.
I know he did ok last year, but if we ever want him to be more than ok as a starter, get him down to the minors for some more innings working on those pitches.
pat
Catchers have also used sponges. It provides more padding.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/01Tu9xI2r2eVC
Jete and Rod
Glad to hear Andy’s feeling good
Betsy-thanks for the link! That’s a great picture
Bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
“…but gotta admit, Randy l vs. the Sabre Kids was probably the funniest stuff I’ve ever read on here.”
Not everyone who has sought to understand the latest baseball research is a kid.
But I agree, people who are unwilling to learn new things can be funny.
Derek and Alex:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
Pat,
Its used as a shock absorber to provide extra padding/protection for the hand.
Carl
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:21 pm
http://www.daylife.com/photo/01Tu9xI2r2eVC
Jete and Rod
********
Sorry, Carl-I should have looked before I posted the same link!
Andy was actually a Draft and Follow. Under the old rules, teams could control a player’s rights till the next year and often teams would hold off on signing them until they had pitched another year. Andy got drafted, went to a JuCo, blew the Yanks away and signed what was at the time a record breaking deal for a D+F, I think it was 1.3M but I may be remembering the number wrong.
Yeah Joba’s definitely been baptized by fire.
And probably on the majority of MLB teams his spot in the rotation for this season would be a lock.
Maybe if the Yanks were in an easier division his spot would be a lock.
Jeter and Alex’s fates will be linked forever…and will probably include about three or four more WS.
MTU-
If you take about a half an hour on baseball reference to study Cano’s splits over his career, I believe you will discover something very curious.
It has become a fairly commonplace observance that Cano has hit worse over his career with RISP than with the bases empty.
What you will also see when you look at Cano’s splits is that he hits worse with runners on than with the bases empty.
What’s curious is that you can’t really tell whether he hits worse with RISP, or with runners on. So his poor hitting with RISP may be nothing more than a reflection of his problems hitting with runners on.
In which case it could be a problem as simple as not picking up the ball as well when the pitcher pitches from the stretch. It may have nothing to do with aggressiveness at all.
Or maybe both “problems” are a mere statistical fluke and aren’t really problems at all, just a real unlucky streak.
Erin
Np!
http://www.daylife.com/photo/02h26N96DLaCH
look at Tex and his haircut
SJ,
Congrats on Tony making the BA top 100! Quite a reversal from BA following their draft coverage from last year.
It’s particularly impressive for him to make the Top 100 prospects list given the unbelievable crop of catching prospects in the minors right now. This is as good a group of catchers in the minors as I can remember. Montero, Posey, Santana, etc.
Of the BA Top 100, I believe 10 were catchers (that’s by my quick count). That has to be one of the higher totals they’ve every had.
Often times with catcher you get the sense that they have to struggle to find guys to make the Top 100 list. Not this year.
Also nice piece with him on BP about his first spring training.
Rich in NJ
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Jeter and Alex’s fates will be linked forever…and will probably include about three or four more WS.
***********
We can only hope!
Everything always seems to be better when the Yankees are winning!
Why wait for Wednesday? Highlights from Jeter Speaks to the media:
1)It was a short off season, but that’s a good thing!
2)We’ll miss the guys who are gone, but baseball is a business.
3)We’re real excited by the off season additions to the roster and we look forward to them contributing this year.
4)Contract?? What contract? I’m just concerned with winning another ring.
Any questions?
Wave Your Hat
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Or maybe both “problems” are a mere statistical fluke and aren’t really problems at all, just a real unlucky streak.
*********
That 0-26 w/RISP streak he had going on during 2009 was sure real unlucky!
Jeter has prepackaged media responses tailored to every situation. Not that it’s a bad thing.
Betsy/Erin/Carl thanks for the pix
Rich and SJ
Thanks. I’ve seen guys use a sponge but never thought a batting glove would provide much cushion unless what I’m seeing isn’t a batting glove.
http://twitpic.com/14xppk
Posada and Girardi
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
And look at Chan Ho looking like a Korean Johnny Damon.
(Sorry Erica)
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
Thanks CB,
The veteran pitchers in Pirates camp have been very complimentary of him. They like the way he sets up and catches the ball and have told their manager he’s a “quick study”.
So far, he’s making a very good impression in camp. I think that put him in the Top 100 more than anything because BA is usually slow to admit their misses on propsect evaluation.
Its a strange list this year, IMO. There are about a dozen kids on that list that haven’t done anything as pros except get drafted high. Hard for me to understand how that makes them a ” top prospect”.
I would think you would have to show something as a pro in order to make the list. But, that’s just me. Clearly, BA has a different way of evalauating players.
The biggest change these kids will experience is just how much baseball you play over the course of a season. More than they have ever played in their lives.
That’s a big adjustment. Especially for catchers.
Andy got drafted, went to a JuCo, blew the Yanks away and signed what was at the time a record breaking deal for a D+F, I think it was 1.3M but I may be remembering the number wrong.
$80K signing bonus in 1991. Made $109K in 1995, his first in the bigs. No clue what he made in 4 years of minor league ball, but I’d assume it’s less than $109K.
From the DUH File….
BobKlap Yankees say Damon has admitted, through back-channels, that he made a mistake not taking their 2-yr, $14 mil offer. #toolatenow
2 minutes ago via TweetDeck
WYH,
“In which case it could be a problem as simple as not picking up the ball as well when the pitcher pitches from the stretch. It may have nothing to do with aggressiveness at all.”
You know, I don’t think I had ever heard that observation…very interesting. At this point I think it is very likely there is actually some meaningful difference in Cano’s ABs with the bases empty and with runners on. I wonder if an opponent would pitch to Cano out of the stretch with the bases empty in an attempt to exploit this potential area of weakness?
Chad, this is spring training; we’re stuck in the snow. We need hourly updates even if it’s about Juan Miranda
Arod looks very slim in that pic. Looks like he lost some bulk (which is probably a good thing as he gets older).
Nick Johnson.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....rk+Yankees
I look at this whole Cano thing differently. I think the fact that he’s “aware” of the problem, and that he wants to fix it, is a bad sign that it could get worse. The last thing you want him doing is thinking about it when he’s at the plate. Hopefully he gets off to a good start this year with risp and he can forget about it.
SJ, One of the first things that I rememnered noticing when I went to camp for the first time, was how so many of the players are grown men with wives and jids….I always played up for my age as far back as Little League….I was varsity as a Frosh, so I thought along those lines…Until I see ballplayers that I’ve watched since I was a kid…..Wonder if Tony has shared that segment of ST with you yet ??????
CHAD WE NEED MORE UPDATES MAN! PETE WOULD SPOIL US!
Erin, you’re welcome!
Carl, nice pic – thanks! I’m so glad that we don’t have to deal with the Jeter/Alex soap opera that seemed to drag on forever. Derek looked really happy for Alex at the end of game 6……..
You would have to have your head in the sand if you were Cano not to notice it.
KLong worked with him over the winter on letting the ball travel more (ie: staying back on it) before swinging in those situations.
They looked at a lot of video from those situations last year and saw that he was too jumpy at the plate.
He would get out in front of pitches and by not letting it travel further to him, failed to hit with solid contact.
Its a combo of mental and mechanics.
He’s too good a hitter to be poor in those situations.
Personally, I’m glad he’s working on it.
Similar to last year, when he realized he has to amp up the effort level, it seems the harder he works at something, the better he becomes.
Carl, that’s awful… someone needs to comb Tex’s hair, please.
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day February 23rd, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Erin, you’re welcome!
Carl, nice pic – thanks! I’m so glad that we don’t have to deal with the Jeter/Alex soap opera that seemed to drag on forever. Derek looked really happy for Alex at the end of game 6……..
I agree. It was also nice to not hear about how we should trade A-Rod this off season.
Kate, you’re welcome! Tom, thanks for posting – ah, it’s nice to see Nick back in pinstripes. I can’t wait to see him with his uniform on as I love the way he wears his socks so high.
Daylife couldn’t get one picture of Cano today???
Well, i realize that he’s aware of it. But making a big deal out of it is not a good approach IMO. He’s been bad in that situation for most of his career. it’s not like last yr came out of nowhere. I think he tenses up in those situations and making a big deal out of it could just make him tense up more.
But since they are working on it, I sure hope I’m wrong.
Pat M,
Its interesting you say that.
He is usually on the field by 8:30 in the morning.
By 1, he’s done.
When you are in college, even last year in the minors, you get together with some of the guys, mostly around your own age, and go out, workout, or do something.
Now, guys just go their separate ways. They have families, family obligations, etc.
I think that is when he realized he’s a pro now. Its a different type of thing than it was in high school, college and even last year in West Virginia because that team was extremely close.
Its good for him though. Its good he gets this kind of taste of what it will take to be in the big leagues.
It will help him when he has his bad streaks in A Ball this season.
Carl,
Don’t worry, if Arod goes 0-4 in the season opener, we will have posters here call him a choke artist, whine about his contract, call for Cashman’s firing, and demand a trade for Joe Crede.
Arod haters never go away. They just wait for a bad game to re-appear.
SJ, It’s the guys that absorb this expierence like a sponge tthat will enable then to mature and grow & advance in this career…..The next real eye opener is when the club kicks off their spring season, and you play everyday, get your assignments as to whether or not you’re busing it ( more often than not ) across the Stae of Florida in some cases……It’s a great time…..
“Arod looks very slim in that pic. Looks like he lost some bulk (which is probably a good thing as he gets older).”
“Side effect” of Yoga and Pilates for the hip.
SJ, my personal favorite was “the Yankees will never win a World Series while A-Rod is on the team” I’m kind of wondering what they’ll switch to this year.
Erin,
They will switch to, “The Yankees will never win 2 World Series with Arod on the team”.
One thing about Arod haters, they are predictable! lol
I hope its ‘The Yankees will never win two world series with A-rod on the team’
>:(
How about the people calling for the head of A-Rod when he started out the ALDS 0-2. Thankfully, he quieted them pretty quickly
I think this is pretty common knowledge by now, but I’ll post it anyway:
KenDavidoff Derek Jeter is speaking Wednesday at #Yankees camp, A-Rod Thursday. Each man will be given 5 minutes for rebuttal. 4 minutes ago
“KenDavidoff Derek Jeter is speaking Wednesday at #Yankees camp, A-Rod Thursday. Each man will be given 5 minutes for rebuttal. 4 minutes ago”
Played.
And Nick Johnson looks like he’s been talking to his M-14 rifle again.
ARod does look thinner.
Maybe that’s just the “Miami effect”.
Last time I was there I didn’t eat for 2 days.
Yay an Andy post! Saw some pics of him from Bryan Hoch on twitter, he looks good.
That picture of Jete and Alex was kinda freaky. Almost looks like a mirror shot of Alex! Plus, I’m suprised theyre talking, I thought they sat at the same table in Miami but ignored eachother all night?
“Its a strange list this year, IMO. There are about a dozen kids on that list that haven’t done anything as pros except get drafted high. Hard for me to understand how that makes them a ” top prospect”.”
SJ,
BA seems to really have loved the high school arms that came out in the draft last year.
Matzek, Turner, Wheeler, Miller – all made the top 100. That was interesting. The only one drafted high who didn’t make it was Hobgood.
Couple them with Strasburg and the unusual situations with Aron Crow and Tanner Scheppers and of course Chapman – that’s a lot of arms with no mlb related professional experience in the top 100.
A real Lohud highlight from last year was Pat M.’s scouting reports on Tyler Matzek. He was all over Matzek for a long time. Didn’t hear anyone speak as highly of Matzek as Pat M did for a long time.
Matzek is BA’s 23 ranked prospect and he’s 18, just drafted and never pitched a full professional season.
Well done Pat M.!
Erin, One thing is for certain about the 2010 season here at The LoHud, they segement of folks that feel this incredible need for baseball savy validation, will be rioting at the silghtest call to arms…..They’ll be in your face when one displays the sightest effort of resistanence…….Why such a need exsists, is beyond me…..Insecurities I suppose
Pat M.
“One thing is for certain about the 2010 season here at The LoHud, they segement of folks that feel this incredible need for baseball savy validation, will be rioting at the silghtest call to arms”
There are a lot of people here looking for validation. It’s pretty sad.
I saw Andy’s 1st bullpen session and he threw free and easy. He knows when it’s time to step up his routine.
Alex-haters haven’t stoppped hating, they are just now too intimidated to hate on him publicly because they know they’d look like stooges. Anyone who determines that a player is worthy to be liked or disliked based on the obtainment of a ring betrays his or lack of knowledge of sports. Should Alex be grateful to fans who no longer boo him? I hardly think so – I suppose they think they’re doing him a favor.
Alex and Jeter have been on friendly terms for quite awhile now……..
Rich in NJ, It’s so unneeded
New post
Betsy, Rodriguez will get no pardon from the governors….only a stay of execution.
Classic!
Buster_ESPN Best line of the spring so far: Andrew Jones showed up in great shape, about 25 pounds lighter than last year. And he proclaimed to others, “I am the best CFer you guys have in camp.” To which Joey Cora replied, “You should be. Only pitchers and catchers have reported.”
1 minutes ago via web
I agree with the others. Although I am 2 hours from Tampa, I still would like updates throughout the day. Chad’s doing great, but Pete is just spoiling us.
I guess you could compare it to your ex giving up the goods 4 times a day and only getting it twice with your new girlfriend
.
WOOOOO HOOOOOO Andy finally gets to pitch….I’m a happy girl……