With pitching struggles continuing and CC back on the DL for a short stint most Yankee fans including myself are chomping at the bit for the return of Andy Pettite. The Yankees however are being very “cautious” with the return of their aging ace, especially after Pettite had a set back in the recovery of his ankle while doing stair climbs in rehab.
The Yankees are a cautious team when it comes to injuries because from the outset of the season they include October automatically in their baseball plans. Anymore set backs for Andy would mean the possibility of missing playoff baseball, if the pitcher with the most wins in playoff history can’t throw in October, then Pettite’s return from retirement would be pointless to say the least.
“I know now that if I have another setback, that we’ve got serious problems and my season’s probably over,” Pettitte told the New York Times on Tuesday. “Now we’re probably going to be overcautious and try to figure out what we can do, just to make sure I’m back, and what I need to get ready.”
With Hughes and Nova struggling, getting Pettite and CC back is what the Yankees need in order to be ready for playoff baseball. Pettite is in week 7 of the 6-8 week projection for his return, however mid September is now looking like a more likely time line for Andy to get back on the mound.
