ANAHEIM, Calif. – Ian Kennedy packed a lot of common sense into the luggage that accompanied him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday.
Kennedy, one of the pitchers the Yankees refused to trade as part of the Johan Santana deal and who was handed the No. 5 starting spot in spring training, was optioned for the third time this year. Lefty reliever Billy Traber was recalled from SWB.
At no time was a demotion more deserving than yesterday’s. Not only did Kennedy get rocked Friday night, but also his postgame “I am not too upset about it” comments annoyed teammates.
Kennedy, who gave up five runs and nine hits in two-plus innings, said a talk with Andy Pettitte made him realize the words didn’t sound good.
“It came out wrong. I was very disappointed with myself. I always want to do well,” Kennedy said. “I had seven innings to think about it. I hate losing but I wasn’t going to let it ruin what I had done recently (at Triple-A).”
Pettitte was among those who took Kennedy aside.
“It wasn’t so much as to clarify it, but how to say it the right way,” Kennedy said.
According to Kennedy, Joe Girardi told him to work on his sinking fastball and off-speed stuff and that the manager wanted him back Sept. 1 when the roster expands.
The 2006 first-round pick takes a 0-4 record and an 8.17 ERA to SWB, where he will start Wednesday. There are suspicions that Kennedy’s strong September a year ago was a mirage and that his stuff isn’t good enough to get big league hitters out.
Girardi didn’t announce his starter for Wednesday against the Twins but it likely be will Darrell Rasner, who was recently bumped from the rotation for Dan Giese. Girardi said Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano aren’t candidates because they need at least one more minor league outing. Tomorrow night, Pavano will pitch for Double-A Trenton and Hughes will go for SWB.
According to Girardi, Joba Chamberlain will start a throwing program Friday at Yankee Stadium. Chamberlain is on the disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis and hasn’t thrown since last Monday night in Texas.
Johnny Damon went 2-for-4 in the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Angels yesterday, raising his AL-leading batting average to .322, but he’s not focusing on winning his first batting title.
“I haven’t thought about it,” Damon said. “Batting averages don’t win you games.”