Pettitte upset about start being skipped
BOSTON - Andy Pettitte got to the ballpark Friday feeling "great," hoping he'd have a chance to show he could make his scheduled start Tuesday in Detroit. Instead, upon arrival, he found out that decision already had been made. "I'm not very happy at all," Pettitte said.
Joe Girardi, speaking before Pettitte (4-0, 2.08 ERA) talked to reporters, said Sergio Mitre will start in Pettitte's place. Mitre will start Monday and Javier Vazquez will pitch Tuesday. Girardi flip-flopped the two so Vazquez, who has experience hitting in the National League, will be in line to start the Subway Series opener at Citi Field May 21.
But Pettitte, diagnosed with inflammation in his left elbow Wednesday, thought none of that was necessary. "I woke up yesterday morning, I felt great," said Pettitte, who didn't try to hide his irritation.
The usually talkative Pettitte gave several terse answers in his meeting with reporters.
Asked about his schedule for the next few days, he said: "I don't know. You're going to have to ask them."
Did he tell them he was unhappy with the decision? "Yeah, I'm sure they know."
How hard did he plead his case? "I talked to everybody."
Said pitching coach Dave Eiland, "If he wasn't mad, I'd be a little concerned."
Girardi agreed, saying: "He wants to pitch. I wouldn't want him any other way.''
Eiland added: "We don't want it to turn into something. If you try to push it too far, what if you pull something, what if you strain something? That's what you have to guard against. We feel better to be safe than sorry. Better to miss one start in [May] than having him go through something and something goes wrong and now he's out until July."
Girardi said Mariano Rivera, out the past week with a stiff left side, was available Friday. Jorge Posada (calf) was out of the lineup but said he hopes to play Saturday. "Did a couple things," said Posada, who ran and took BP. "It feels pretty good."
With Anthony Rieber