It's Pettitte, on short rest, with long history

Decade after '98 Fall Classic, lefty can clinch another Series

Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- The conversation went something like this: Joe Girardi, manager of the Yankees, approached Andy Pettitte on Tuesday and asked, "How do you feel?"

"And he said he felt great," Girardi said. "It doesn't take more than that."

So it came to be that Pettitte will start Wednesday's World Series Game 6 for the Yankees, pitching on short rest for the first time in more than two years.

"Man, I don't even remember the last time I went on three days' rest," Pettitte said.

It was back on Sept. 30, 2006, when Pettitte, then with the Astros, struck out seven to temporarily preserve his team's playoff hopes. And the Yankees hope his Wednesday start will look something like that.

Though Pettitte has had some success starting on three days' rest throughout his career, going 4-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 14 career starts on three days' rest, and 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA on short rest in the playoffs, he has not pitched on any sort of limited rest over the past two seasons.

Lately, he has done quite the opposite, starting eight straight games on extra rest, including all four of his playoff assignments -- in part a recognition of the fact that he is now 37 years old.

Whether that extra rest will help him stay strong on Wednesday, or hurt him by stunting his routine, remains to be seen. All the Yankees know is that they will be proceeding with one of the most successful postseason performers of all-time.

"Physically, for me, it obviously is a little concern, just seeing how my body is going to feel on that short rest," Pettitte said. "But again, you prepare for this. I've been resting the last few days, and I feel like I've had the time off that I need, and mentally I'll be able to get in the place I need to. I mean, I'm hoping for that."

This postseason, Pettitte is 3-0, and his 17 postseason wins are more than any other pitcher in Major League history.