Pettitte Is Ready to Return to Rotation for Yankees

Andy Pettitte appears ready to rejoin the New York Yankees, and hopes to pitch Saturday at Detroit.

The left-hander, on the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his elbow, struck out eight in five shutout innings in a Class A game Monday night at Sarasota, Fla.

“My recommendation would be he is ready,” Yankee director of player personnel Billy Connors said.

Pitching for the Tampa Yankees against the Sarasota Red Sox in the Florida State League, Pettitte gave up four hits and walked two. He threw 81 pitches, 53 for strikes.

“I do feel like I’m ready,” Pettitte said. “I felt good with everything tonight and that was really want I was looking for. Everything was real sharp.”

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After a lot of talk about moving, the New York Yankees might be staying in the Bronx for a while.

With the team’s lease expiring in 2002, principal owner George Steinbrenner said Monday that he might exercise an option and remain at Yankee Stadium.

“We have some options on that lease.

“We can extend it at least five years,” Steinbrenner said.

Steinbrenner has repeatedly delayed a decision on whether the World Series champions would remain at their hallowed ballpark, move to the West Side of Manhattan or to New Jersey.

However, he has no deal from New Jersey and would face considerable opposition if he wanted to go forward with the West Side plan.

Steinbrenner also said he would be more likely to stay if the politicians agree to upgrade the area around Yankee Stadium.

“If they want to improve the schools, improve the living conditions for the people, then I may want to stay there and help,” Steinbrenner said.

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The Cleveland Indians put left-handed reliever Ricardo Rincon on the 15-day disabled list because of a swollen left elbow and purchased the contract of Mark Langston.

The Indians signed Langston to a minor-league deal on April 4.

Manager Mike Hargrove said he plans to use the 38-year-old as both a long reliever and in late-game, setup situations.

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Demonstrators at Jacobs Field burned a wooden sculpture of Chief Wahoo in a coffin, demanding that the Cleveland Indians get rid of their mascot.

About 40 people protested before the home opener against Kansas City to denounce the mascot as a racist caricature of American Indians.

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The Boston Red Sox gave Manager Jimy Williams a contract extension through the 2000 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.