ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was one inning, three batters and 13 pitches — which hardly provided a lot of information to judge how CC Sabathia will do out of the bullpen when the Yankees’ postseason opens on Oct. 4.
Judging by what it looked like to two decision makers, the veteran lefty was impressive. So much so that Aaron Boone, before the Yankees’ 4-0 loss to the Rays on Wednesday, said it’s possible the 39-year-old could provide back-to-back outings in relief after a string of 560 regular-season starts was ended Tuesday evening.
“We will see. It’s something we would consider,’’ Boone said of Sabathia, who worked a perfect fourth inning in Tuesday night’s 2-1, 12-inning loss to Tampa Bay. “In talking to him [Wednesday] the first thing was ‘How are you doing today? He said, ‘Great, I could pitch [Wednesday]. That was his answer. It seems like physically he bounced back.’’
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild had a positive spin on Sabathia’s second career relief outing (he worked out of the bullpen in the 2011 ALDS against the Tigers).
“For the first time it was good, a different situation,’’ Rothschild said. “The next time we will know more. It won’t be as scripted.’’
Rothschild said Sabathia would “probably’’ come out of the pen Saturday against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas.