Only a number of days into his new advisory position with the Yankees, Andy Pettitte is already speaking store.
The former southpaw, who spent 15 years with the Yankees over a number of stints, spent a part of his Tuesday afternoon watching Gerrit Cole throw a bullpen at Yankee Stadium. The two proceeded to have a dialog about grips earlier than Pettitte reintroduced himself to reporters and threw out the ceremonial first pitch earlier than the Yankees’ loss to the Mets.
“I hope I could be just a good sounding board for some guys,” Pettitte stated. “I’ve been through all this, walked through it. I know a lot of times, for me, when I think of just having somebody to just shoot some stuff off of, right? And just maybe a different perspective.”
Pettitte’s perspective consists of 5 World Series rings, three All-Star choices and an ALCS MVP award over a profession that spanned 18 years. The Yankees drafted Pettitte within the twenty second spherical in 1990, and he started his profession in New York 5 years later. Pettitte remained within the Bronx util 2004, when the Texas resident joined the Astros.
Pettitte spent three seasons in Houston earlier than returning to the Yankees in 2007. He completed his profession in New York after the 2013 season.
“He walks in with a lot of credibility and credentials, but also the humility that he’s just easy to approach,” Aaron Boone stated. “The staff loves him, players love him, and he has a lot to offer. More than just being this great player that’s around. He’s obviously that, but he’s really good at impacting people.”
Pettitte beforehand suggested the Yankees in a touring minor league position previous to the COVID-19 pandemic. Boone stated that he by no means wished Pettitte to depart, however the latter stated that obligations again residence, resembling teaching his sons, saved him from serving the Yankees in an official capability.
Pettitte’s youngest son, Luke, not too long ago graduated from highschool, making this the right time for the 51-year-old to return again after sustaining contact with Boone and Brian Cashman.
“I guess they like to have me around,” Pettitte stated, “and I’m excited to be around.”
Pettitte, who received’t be in uniform throughout video games, didn’t define particular job duties when requested what he’ll be doing. He stated that his main duties are “just to be here” as a lot as potential and to “mingle with the guys.” Some preexisting plans will preserve him from being a day by day presence, however he plans on touring with the workforce and being in New York at any time when he may be.
“Right now, I would just say I’m trying to get to know a lot of the guys,” Pettitte stated. “It’s a brand new membership to me as a result of I simply haven’t been round shortly, particularly up right here with the large league guys. I’ve been involved with a number of them, however not all of them. And so for me, this primary week has simply been attempting to get comfy with everyone, and it’s been superior.
“Whenever I can be here, they want me here. That’s what they told me.”
Pettitte, who served as Team USA’s pitching coach throughout the World Baseball Classic however doesn’t see himself working that job for an MLB workforce, additionally famous that he doesn’t have a lot expertise with analytics. The Yankees haven’t informed Pettitte that he must be taught that facet of the fashionable recreation, however he stated he’d prefer to because it’s such an enormous a part of how groups function.
Pettitte has loads of time to be taught, as his deal will preserve him round subsequent yr as nicely. He’ll be capable to plan his 2024 availability higher, he stated, after his contract got here collectively shortly over the previous few weeks.
In the meantime, he’s easing again into life with the Yankees.
“I won’t lie to y’all,” Pettitte stated. “I’ve been retired and I have been coaching baseball and been fully involved in that, so trying to catch up on watching video of everybody, watching their games. I wasn’t locked into the games like I will be now, obviously, and stuff like that. So just kind of filtering through all that.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com