Andy Pettitte: Yankees Will Call Star Pitcher Up to Active Roster on Sunday

The New York Yankees, who are desperate for starting pitching help right now, are bringing Andy Pettitte up from Triple-A, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. 

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Yankees calling up pettitte sunday, cashman announces

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"— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) May 8, 2012"

Given that the Yankees starters rank 26th in ERA at 5.54, bringing Pettitte up does not come as a complete surprise. The trio of Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia have given up 59 earned runs in 76.2 innings pitched. 

However, the returns on Pettitte in the minors so far have not been promising. He has given up 19 hits and 10 runs (seven earned) in three starts. 

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports wrote on Monday that a scout who saw Pettitte's most recent start on Sunday that he "does not look close to ready."

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The scout said that Pettitte threw 86 to 88 mph, but that his stuff lacked crispness and that he likely will need several more starts at Triple A before he is ready to pitch in the majors.

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Never one to let facts get in the way of an early-season funk, the Yankees have no qualms about putting Pettitte in the rotation well before he is ready. 

It is too soon in the season to be making panic moves.

Putting Pettitte in the rotation before he is ready could result in him getting battered around a few times before he comes close to finding his groove or possibly some kind of injury. 

Don't forget, Pettitte is 39 years old and hasn't pitched since 2010. To expect him to be the pitcher he once was—especially in that division—so soon is asking a lot more than he is physically capable of. 

Of course, Pettitte will be helped out by the fact that the Yankees are playing Seattle and that inept offense on Sunday.

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