Andy Pettitte’s wife knew — maybe even before he did — the left-hander needed to be back in a Yankees uniform.
Before Game 2 of last year’s American League Division Series between the Yankees and Tigers, Pettitte — who retired following the 2010 season — threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
“You need to be out there,” Laura Pettitte told her husband when he had finished that ceremonial task.
Pettitte un-retired this year and is back with the Yankees in the postseason. Because he fractured his fibula when hit by a line drive on his left shin, Pettitte has made only three starts since June 27 and has logged a miniscule total of 16 ²/₃ innings during that span. He has yet to go past six innings or 94 pitches in any of those turns, and has faced the Twins, who finished 66-96, once and the Blue Jays (73-89) twice.
His upcoming start against the Orioles in the ALDS — either Game 2 on Monday or Game 3 on Wednesday — involves many questions:
What can Pettitte deliver against a playoff lineup? How stable is his health and his stamina? And, with retirement once again a possibility, could this be the last start of Pettitte’s career?
The 40-year-old is unsure whether he’ll pitch in 2013.
“I really don’t [know],” Pettitte said Friday. “Now that I’ve been through this so much, I can’t even weigh my feelings until I get home and really start thinking about stuff.”
As for his health, Pettitte revealed he has “been getting a little tired when Joe [Girardi] has taken me out of a game.” He also said he’s not sure about his potential to handle a three-digit pitch count, and he will be operating on unusually long rest because his most recent outing was last Saturday. If Pettitte pitches Game 2 on Monday, he’ll be on eight days’ rest.
“All I know is I’m ready,” he said.
Indeed, Pettitte is one of the sport’s most accomplished postseason pitchers. He ranks first all-time in career playoff starts (40) and wins (18) and first all-time in career playoff starts for the Yankees specifically (36) and wins (17).
“It’s exciting to come back and obviously to have another chance,” Pettitte said.
For the second time, it might be his final one.