Ponson in a happy place

The Yankees have won all four of Sidney Ponson's starts this season. Overall, he's 6-1 with a 4.02 ERA on the year. (Julie Jacobson/Associated Press)

During Sidney Ponson's first stint with the Yankees in 2006, the pitcher's elbow was so sore at times that on days after he pitched, he "couldn't straighten it out."

"I tried to pitch and mask [the pain] with pills and stuff," Ponson said yesterday at Fenway Park.

Though painkillers dulled the pain, he wasn't able to throw the way he wanted. Ponson struggled in five games with a 10.47 ERA and was released. He played with Minnesota last season and was with Texas before the Rangers released him June 6 because of reported conflicts with the team.

The Yankees signed him July 19 and the team has won each of his four starts leading into tonight's game against the Red Sox. Ponson is 6-1 with a 4.02 ERA.

The difference between his poor stint with the team in 2006 and his hot start now is his health. Ponson's road to good health started Oct. 9, 2006, when he had bone chips removed from his right elbow. It was a surgery that helped permanently mask his pain.

"I had less pain coming out of surgery than what I had [going] in," Ponson said. "It was like a new arm when I came out of surgery."

He acknowledged trying to get back to the major leagues too quickly and it hurt him when he pitched for Minnesota last year.

"I tried to come back too soon," Ponson said. "I wasn't 100 percent in Minnesota. After Minnesota let me go I just went home and chilled, rehabbed even further. And then I went to the Dominican to play ball and Texas gave me a chance to play and here I am."

Ponson didn't pitch poorly in Texas. He was 4-1 in nine starts with a 3.88 ERA.

"It's not like he had a seven ERA when we got him and all of the sudden we caught lightning in a bottle," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "Sidney has had success over his career for a long time. He's just doing what he's capable of doing."

And what is he doing?

"He's throwing strikes down in the zone," said Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland. "He's pitching a little more now than he did back a few years ago. He's staying down in the zone, he's moving the ball in and out, and he's changing speeds."

In the Yankees' clubhouse before yesterday's game, Ponson sat on the black leather couch, one leg propped on the table while resting that "new arm" on his head. He was watching "Blue Streak."

The title seemed fitting considering his recent run with the blue-and-white Yankees.

But according to Eiland, Ponson doesn't look like he ever had any arm issues.

"He's free and easy, the ball is coming out of his hand good," Eiland said. "He's not a guy that looks like he's coming off some type of surgery."

Ponson is not looking back or ahead. He's just enjoying a healthy season.

"So far so good," Ponson said.