Andy Pettitte said on Friday that his body was willing but his heart was just not in it for a run at a sixth World Series title with the New York Yankees.
“My arm feels great. My body feels great,” Pettitte, 38, told a standing-room only news conference at Yankee Stadium to announce the end of his 16-year Major League Baseball career.
“I know my body would get to where it needs to be, but my heart’s not where it needs to be,” he said.
Pettitte, not blessed with an overpowering fastball or trick pitch, won five World Series rings with the Yankees and amassed a major league record 19 post-season wins on the strength of his poise, determination and heart.
The broad-shouldered left-hander pitched big games with an unshaven stubble, cap pulled down just over large dark eyes to stare down batters with his glove held high against his face.
Grit and guts helped the soft-spoken Texan by way of Louisiana compile a career record of 240-138, including three seasons with his hometown Houston Astros.
Last year he was 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA despite spending two months on the disabled list with a groin injury.
Pettitte, with his wife, Laura, at his side, said he had contemplated retirement the last two years but stayed on.
He said he believed it was time to quit after the Yankees were eliminated in the playoffs by the Texas Rangers last year, one step away from another World Series. The Yankees, hoping he might reconsider, told him to take his time before deciding.
When New York failed to sign free agent Cliff Lee, who accepted an offer from the Philadelphia Phillies, Pettitte said he felt “tremendous [personal] pressure” to return and started working to see if he still had the urge to compete.
“When they didn’t get him [Lee] I felt a huge obligation,” Pettitte said. “I felt like I owed it to the team. I knew they would probably need me.”
He said he reached a final decision early last week.
“The thought of packing my bags again and leaving just didn’t feel right in my stomach,” said Pettitte, whose immediate plans revolve around spending time with his family.
Pettitte denied speculation his decision was affected by the burden of expectations he will be called as a witness this summer in the trial of former teammate Roger Clemens, charged with lying to a congressional committee when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
“That has not had any effect, zero,” Pettitte said about his retirement. “I would never let that interfere with a life decision I was going to make for me and my family.”
Pettitte has admitted using human growth hormone to help him overcome injury and said Clemens told him he had used HGH.
Despite his admission, Pettitte said he was always treated well by fans across baseball.
“I’ve tried to handle things the way I thought that I should. I try to be genuine,” he said.
OFFENSE SHINES: First baseman Pan Chie-kai hit a solo homer in the fifth inning as all 10 batters Taiwan used contributed at least one hit toward their team total of 14 One day after their first shutout loss at the WBSC Premier12, Taiwan yesterday bounced back with a commanding 8-2 victory over the US, keeping their hopes for a spot in tomorrow’s final alive. The win in the Super Round marked Taiwan’s first triumph over the US at a top-tier international baseball tournament since 2003. Their previous win over the US was at the 2003 Baseball World Cup, with only one win in the previous 10 matchups since 1999. Yesterday’s game was tightly contested through the first six innings, with the margin never exceeding two runs. However, the tide turned in the top of
“Please love us. Please cheer us on. We have been working hard. Do not give up on us.” Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien’s heartfelt plea echoed across the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 tournament after a historic victory. Rather than boasting, Chen was making an earnest appeal after leading Taiwan to a 4-0 victory over Japan to claim their first major international baseball title at the senior level. Chen’s decisive three-run homer in the fifth inning and his Premier12 leading .632 batting average secured him the Premier12’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) title. He was also named one of the tournament’s outstanding defensive players
WELL-AGED: Although the youngest team in the tournament, Taiwan featured several veteran stars, including Sunday’s home-run hero Chen Chieh-hsien “I will never forget today,” veteran Taiwanese pitcher Chen Kuan-yu said after Taiwan on Sunday night blanked Japan to secure their first ever gold in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 championship. Chen, who at 34 is the oldest member on the team, said Taiwan “made every difficult step to come to today’s victory. I will never forget today.” Taiwan made history when they won their first gold medal of the Premier12 tournament, beating Japan in a 4-0 shutout victory in the final at the Tokyo Dome. It was a jaw-dropping victory for many baseball commentators who went into the game with
Nikola Jokic on Saturday scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to spark the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Lakers 127-102, continuing their dominance of the NBA rivalry, while Scotty Pippen Jr scored a career-best 30 points to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the Chicago Bulls, 142-131. The Nuggets won for the 13th time in the past 14 contests against the Lakers, including ousting the Lakers in the playoffs the past two seasons. Serbian star Jokic failed to achieve his sixth consecutive triple-double, managing only eight assists, but his effort was plenty as Michael Porter Jr added 24 points and 11
RSS