TAMPA -- Andy Pettitte threw a shortened bullpen session yesterday and was awaiting word about what is next in his comeback program.
“I know he has a simulated game coming up in the next few days,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I am not sure he is going to [Miami] with us. I think he is going to stay back [at George M. Steinbrenner Field].’’
The Yankees open a two-game series with the Marlins on Sunday night.
Pettitte said it’s not necessary to pitch in a big-league exhibition game before spring training is done, but there is a chance the 39-year-old left-hander could face the Mets on Wednesday in the finale.
COMEBACK TRAIL: Andy Pettitte may face the Mets in the Yankees’ exhibition finale on Wednesday, but said he does not feel he has to pitch in a spring-training game.
“We will see. We have to see how he feels at the time,’’ Girardi said of Pettitte, who breezed through a batting practice session Tuesday.
Pettitte has impressed everybody thus far.
“In BP the other day I thought he located his pitches well,” Girardi said. “I have been happy with what I have seen.’’
The general date for Pettitte’s return to the big leagues after sitting out the 2011 season has been May 1, but Girardi isn’t committing to that more than a month in advance.
“You have to see after his starts, see how his body responds,’’ Girardi said. “I expect it will be sometime in May, but I can’t tell you exactly when.’’
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Nick Swisher went 2-for-5 in minor league games Thursday. If his groin doesn’t act up, Girardi has options for his switch-hitting right fielder.
”We will see how he feels [Friday],” said Girardi, who could play Swisher in a big-league game or a minor-league game. “We could put him in the outfield but if we have to wait a day we will,’’
Because a player only can be back-dated to March 26 for DL purposes, it might be wiser for the Yankees to play Swisher in a minor-league game today because that doesn’t count toward the backdating process because admission isn’t charged.
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Curtis Granderson was back in the lineup Thursday night after missing the previous two with right elbow soreness. Granderson, who was the DH against the Orioles, went 1-for-4 in a 4-3 loss at GMS Field.
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Raul Ibanez hit his second homer and is seeing signs of coming out of a spring-long slump in time for Opening Day.
“I have been feeling better the last four or five days,’’ the DH against right-handers said. “I am trying to build momentum. [My timing] is getting better, and I am trying to stay on top of it.’’
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Girardi said right-handers D.J. Mitchell, David Phelps and Adam Warren are in the mix for a possible long reliever spot.
Mitchell was scheduled to start against the Orioles but was replaced by Phelps. The plan was for Mitchell to work Thursday night in relief and again Saturday, but that was scratched after the game.
The Yankees want Mitchell built up to 90 pitches for either a long relief role in the big leagues or at Triple-A.
Girardi is going to carry a dozen hurlers and is undecided if a long reliever would be in addition to a second lefty in the pen.
“Either one,’’ Girardi said. “Because there is no guarantee the sixth starter goes to the bullpen.
Andy Pettitte, Yankees manager Joe Girardi, George M. Steinbrenner Field, The Yankees, the Yankees
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