With Freddy unsteady, Yanks ponder options

With Freddy unsteady, Yanks ponder options

Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News

Freddy Garcia could find himself out of Yankee rotation with many more performances like the one he had Saturday.

BOSTON In a mostly giddy clubhouse after the Yankees wild comeback victory over Boston, Freddy Garcia was the only unhappy man in the room.

Sure, Garcia was pleased that Yankee bats bailed him out of a horrid start. But he also knows that his rotation clock is ticking and he cant possibly pitch like this and stay a starter with Andy Pettitte likely returning in only a few weeks.

No excuses, man, Garcia said after matching the second-shortest start of his career by allowing five runs and seven hits in 12/3 innings. I just (couldnt) get anybody out. I made some pitches, but I think everything I threw was hit.

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I need to step up and pitch the way I know how to pitch. I play for the Yankees, I dont play for somebody else. Youve got to do your job and Im not doing it.

Garcia (0-1, 9.75 ERA) got a no-decision, but his outing was the shortest by a Yankee starter at Fenway since the immortal Tim Redding went one inning on July 15, 2005. Garcia hadnt been knocked out this quickly since lasting only 12/3 innings in a loss to Boston at Yankee Stadium on June 7, 2011.

Garcias struggles have largely been overshadowed by the handwringing over Phil Hughes poor start. One or the other seems destined for the bullpen when Pettitte comes back.

But its not like the rotation is pitching well in general, either. The Yanks bullpen entered Saturdays game with the best relief ERA (1.71), although it soared to 2.14 after the relievers allowed four runs in 71/3 innings. The starters ERA is 5.84.

Obviously, the starters need to pick up the pace and pitch us some innings, pitching coach Larry Rothschild said.

Because they have an off-day on Thursday, the Yankees could skip Garcias spot in the rotation, although Rothschild said unless its going to help him get on track, we probably wouldnt do that. Joe (Girardi) and I will talk about what we want to do wit h the off-day.

Saturday, Garcia did not have the arm speed he normally does, Rothschild said, and the Yankees clocked his fastball at between 83 and 85 mph in the first inning. Ideally, Garcias fastball should be 87-90 mph to lend crisp movement to his slider and splitter, and those pitches sat over the middle of the plate and were punished by the Red Sox.

Girardi asked Garcia if he was hurt and the righty told the manager the same thing he told reporters: Hes fine. Hes not thinking about what Pettittes return might mean for his role, only about pitching better.

I have no control over that, man, Garcia said of the Yankees upcoming rotation decision. I have to worry about myself. If I dont pitch the way I have to pitch, thats my problem.

Im not thinking about whos coming back or who they bring back. Its not my job to worry about it. My job is to worry about pitching good. Thats all.