CC Sabathia has made his final start of the regular season.
The Yankees left-hander will pitch a simulated game Sunday to get ready for Game 1 of the ALDS on Friday.
“It’s easier to control the environment when you don’t get into a long inning,” manager Joe Girardi said of the decision not to pitch Sabathia against the Red Sox this weekend or the .
“Then you have to use the whole bullpen again. We’re trying to keep him in a similar routine [as the rest of the year].”
Sabathia said he was fine with his season ending with 19 wins.
“Maybe looking back when I’m done playing I’ll say I wish I had a chance to win [20],” said Sabathia, who expects to throw about 45 pitches. “Right now, I don’t really care.”
Girardi also said he’s considering using a three-man rotation for the first round.
“It’s possible,” Girardi said. “Only one guy would guy have to pitch on short rest, the first guy.”
That would be Sabathia, who has done well in the past on short rest.
“I’ve got no problem with that,” Sabathia said.
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Phil Hughes said he hopes to throw a bullpen session over the weekend, and Girardi plans on getting him another start next week at Tampa Bay as the right-hander comes back from a back injury.
“We want to see that he can go through a bullpen session pain-free and wake up the next day pain free,” Girardi said of Hughes, who has only played catch.
Hughes aggravated a herniated disk that he suffered in 2004, but said he is confident he will be fine for the playoffs. He suffered a similar injury while in the minors in 2008, but this time it took longer to go away.
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Robinson Cano said he believes he should be AL MVP.
“MVP is tough right now,” Cano said in an appearance at the MLB Fan Cave in Manhattan. “You’ve got a lot of guys, but I would give my vote to myself. You can see the numbers. I’m batting fifth in the lineup. I’ve been there the whole year and why not me? My numbers are there and you guys got to decide that.”
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Derek Jeter did an interview with Cal Ripken for TBS’ postseason coverage, and Ripken asked him about Jeter’s homer in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS against the Orioles that was caught by Jeffrey Maier in the right field stands over Tony Tarasco‘s glove.
Jeter told Ripken the Yankees got a break on the play.
“What I said was Tony should have jumped,” Jeter said of Tarasco. “Every time a team wins it gets breaks. When you win you catch breaks. You need luck and certain calls.”
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Prospects LHP Manny Banuelos, RHP Adam Warren and RHP David Phelps will join the Yankees tonight and will participate in all non-game activities. They will not be able to be in uniform or in the clubhouse.
— Additional reporting
by George A. King III