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TAMPA, Fla. -- When you consider how turbulent Andy Pettitte's past several weeks have been, a little rain is the last thing that could throw the Yankees left-hander off.
Even though showers washed out the on-field portion of the club's workouts on Saturday at Legends Field, Pettitte was still able to get in a good day's work.
Firing about 55 pitches to catcher Jorge Posada in an indoor cage, Pettitte said that, compared to his flights to and from Washington, D.C., and coping with a frightening family situation, adjusting his life to accommodate the weather barely raised a wrinkle.
"Everything else was such an un-normal lifestyle for me," Pettitte said. "This is extremely good to be doing this, no doubt. Everybody's just made me feel so comfortable -- the team, the organization, the guys. It's been great to be back.
"Especially for me, when you're a pitcher stepping on the mound, it's so different. Everything goes away. I'm just kind of thinking about how you're going to get everyone out this season and trying to get your stuff ready."
Pettitte was granted an extension to report late to camp, arriving on Monday after what he has called "a bad offseason all around."
Not only was Pettitte named in the Mitchell Report and called to Capitol Hill to testify in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, but his 13-year-old son was badly injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident in December, requiring about 50 stitches.
Though Pettitte said he would need extra time to get his legs in game shape, pitching coach Dave Eiland said that the 35-year-old left-hander isn't far behind the rest of the group.
"He looks good," Eiland said. "He appears to be right on schedule. He's throwing all of his pitches; he commands the ball pretty well. He's been coming in early to do some extra work, so [his legs] are starting to catch up. They're almost where they need to be at this time this year."
In this case, time is on Pettitte's side. The target date in his mind needs, more than anything else, to be April 2 against the Blue Jays, assuming manager Joe Girardi's projected pitching rotation holds true and Chien-Ming Wang starts on Opening Day.
"When you get here and you're not quite in the shape you want to be in, you panic a little bit, but it's such a long spring," Pettitte said.
Rain, rain go away: Everything about Saturday's practice was a little bit off. The Yankees began workouts 36 minutes late because of threatening weather, and they were able to spend only about 10 minutes on the field due to a downpour that canceled all outdoor activities.
Instead, New York spent the day in the batting cages and weight room. Girardi said the only scheduled exercise his Yankees couldn't complete was the daily team fundamental, this time a rundown of first-and-third situational defense. The most difficult task was probably that of bench coach Rob Thomson, who was forced to make four workout schedules throughout the morning as the weather evolved.
"Sometimes you might think it comes at a good time," Girardi said. "They've been working really hard, and it gives them a little blow off their feet. They still get in all of their work and all of their physical conditioning in the weight room."
Rotation, rotation: Mike Mussina and Jeff Karstens will each throw about two innings during starts for Wednesday's intrasquad game, Girardi announced. Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain will then do the honors in Friday's scrimmage against South Florida.
Wang will get the ball at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday to kick off the Yankees' official exhibition season, taking on the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla.
Odd man out: Fans won't see Mariano Rivera throw any batting practice this spring, something Girardi said the Yankees' closer doesn't normally do anyway.
Rivera has spent 13 seasons with the Yankees, compiling 443 saves along the way. In doing so, he has earned the right to have a bit longer of a leash than some of the younger players, according to Girardi.
"He's on his schedule," Girardi said. "We don't try to reinvent a thing. He paces himself, and he knows he needs to be ready by March 31."
Bombers bits: Minor League outfielder Austin Jackson took cuts in the cage on Saturday, two days after leaving workouts with back spasms. Girardi said the team will take all the necessary precautions, but he doesn't expect it to be a problem. ... The Yankees' skipper will wait until Hideki Matsui's right knee is fully conditioned before the two sit down to discuss Matsui's future in the regular designated-hitter role. ... More than a few players were caught outside in the bullpen when the clouds opened up, yet only two -- veteran Mussina and the 27-year-old Wang -- had fleet enough feet to find shelter and stay dry. The two took cover beneath an overpass, throwing about 90 feet apart while waiting out the storm.
Even though showers washed out the on-field portion of the club's workouts on Saturday at Legends Field, Pettitte was still able to get in a good day's work.
Firing about 55 pitches to catcher Jorge Posada in an indoor cage, Pettitte said that, compared to his flights to and from Washington, D.C., and coping with a frightening family situation, adjusting his life to accommodate the weather barely raised a wrinkle.
"Everything else was such an un-normal lifestyle for me," Pettitte said. "This is extremely good to be doing this, no doubt. Everybody's just made me feel so comfortable -- the team, the organization, the guys. It's been great to be back.
"Especially for me, when you're a pitcher stepping on the mound, it's so different. Everything goes away. I'm just kind of thinking about how you're going to get everyone out this season and trying to get your stuff ready."
Pettitte was granted an extension to report late to camp, arriving on Monday after what he has called "a bad offseason all around."
Not only was Pettitte named in the Mitchell Report and called to Capitol Hill to testify in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, but his 13-year-old son was badly injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident in December, requiring about 50 stitches.
Though Pettitte said he would need extra time to get his legs in game shape, pitching coach Dave Eiland said that the 35-year-old left-hander isn't far behind the rest of the group.
"He looks good," Eiland said. "He appears to be right on schedule. He's throwing all of his pitches; he commands the ball pretty well. He's been coming in early to do some extra work, so [his legs] are starting to catch up. They're almost where they need to be at this time this year."
In this case, time is on Pettitte's side. The target date in his mind needs, more than anything else, to be April 2 against the Blue Jays, assuming manager Joe Girardi's projected pitching rotation holds true and Chien-Ming Wang starts on Opening Day.
"When you get here and you're not quite in the shape you want to be in, you panic a little bit, but it's such a long spring," Pettitte said.
Rain, rain go away: Everything about Saturday's practice was a little bit off. The Yankees began workouts 36 minutes late because of threatening weather, and they were able to spend only about 10 minutes on the field due to a downpour that canceled all outdoor activities.
Instead, New York spent the day in the batting cages and weight room. Girardi said the only scheduled exercise his Yankees couldn't complete was the daily team fundamental, this time a rundown of first-and-third situational defense. The most difficult task was probably that of bench coach Rob Thomson, who was forced to make four workout schedules throughout the morning as the weather evolved.
"Sometimes you might think it comes at a good time," Girardi said. "They've been working really hard, and it gives them a little blow off their feet. They still get in all of their work and all of their physical conditioning in the weight room."
Rotation, rotation: Mike Mussina and Jeff Karstens will each throw about two innings during starts for Wednesday's intrasquad game, Girardi announced. Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain will then do the honors in Friday's scrimmage against South Florida.
Wang will get the ball at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday to kick off the Yankees' official exhibition season, taking on the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla.
Odd man out: Fans won't see Mariano Rivera throw any batting practice this spring, something Girardi said the Yankees' closer doesn't normally do anyway.
Rivera has spent 13 seasons with the Yankees, compiling 443 saves along the way. In doing so, he has earned the right to have a bit longer of a leash than some of the younger players, according to Girardi.
"He's on his schedule," Girardi said. "We don't try to reinvent a thing. He paces himself, and he knows he needs to be ready by March 31."
Bombers bits: Minor League outfielder Austin Jackson took cuts in the cage on Saturday, two days after leaving workouts with back spasms. Girardi said the team will take all the necessary precautions, but he doesn't expect it to be a problem. ... The Yankees' skipper will wait until Hideki Matsui's right knee is fully conditioned before the two sit down to discuss Matsui's future in the regular designated-hitter role. ... More than a few players were caught outside in the bullpen when the clouds opened up, yet only two -- veteran Mussina and the 27-year-old Wang -- had fleet enough feet to find shelter and stay dry. The two took cover beneath an overpass, throwing about 90 feet apart while waiting out the storm.
