Pettitte Pitched Injured, Wants to Return

Andy Pettitte said it makes him feel “sick” to know the Yankees will miss the playoffs. He also stepped up to take blame for the team’s failures, but Pettitte also admitted that he has been pitching with his left shoulder bothering him and he will be shut down rather than pitch Saturday.

“It’s given me a little bit of trouble,” Pettitte said of his shoulder.

Pettitte underwent an MRI during the last homestand, and it showed no structural damage. But he has thrown 204 innings, and there is no reason to push things now.

Pettitte, 36, is normally a strong second-half pitcher. This year, though, he went 10-7 with a 4.03 ERA in 20 starts before the All-Star break and 4-7 with a 5.35 ERA in 13 starts after.

When asked to evaluate what went wrong for this team, Pettitte said: “I just look at, the big thing was me personally. I just think I pitched terrible.”

Pettitte will be a free agent after the season and has not definitively said he will pitch next year. However, he certainly sounds as if he wants to return. He has talked about wanting to pitch at the new Yankee Stadium.

Source: Newsday