New York Yankees: Andy Pettitte Targeting May 1 to Be Ready for Rotation
March 20, 2012 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Last week, we all learned the exciting news of New York Yankees starter Andy Pettitte coming out of retirement to pitch for the Yankees in 2012.
It’s caused a buzz in New York and down in Tampa, Fla., where the Yankees are in the middle of spring training, preparing for the upcoming season.
We all have wondered who might get bumped from the rotation when the season gets going on April 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Will it be Freddy Garcia? Maybe Phil Hughes? Or maybe Michael Pineda begins the season in the minor leagues?
Or maybe, just maybe, the Yankees won’t have to bump anyone for the first month of the season.
According to Andrew Marchand of ESPN, Pettitte said on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN New York 1050 that he is targeting a May 1 date to be ready to come up to the majors and pitch for the Yankees.
Pettitte is aware of his age and knows he has to go through extended spring training to get himself into baseball shape before he’ll don the pinstripes. However, Pettitte knowing he likely won’t be ready until May 1 gives the Yankees time to figure out the roster. It gives them time to decide what to do with Hughes and Garcia and if they want to trade Garcia, which was the theme surrounding the Yankees over the past 24 hours.
If they traded Garcia, it would not shock me one bit, and it might be best for the team. Garcia sounds mad that the Yankees are bringing back Pettitte and wants to continue being a starter and not a long reliever.
So for Garcia to be a starter, he might have to do it not pitching in the Bronx. If it came down to choosing between Hughes and Garcia, the Yankees will choose Hughes because they will see him as a long-term solution and investment than the older Garcia.
For now, the Yankees rotation heading into the first month will likely be CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova, Pineda and either Hughes or Garcia, and I think it should go to Hughes.
In the month of April, that rotation should be just fine to get through the first month, letting Pettitte work out the rust and kinks down in Tampa, Trenton, N.J., and/or Scranton, Pa., and get fully prepared for 2012.
The only question: Will Pettitte be ready by May 1 and pitching for the Yankees?
Only time will tell.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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