Monday was the first day of Spring Training for
Andy Pettitte, but he had more than throwing and conditioning drills to worry about.
Pettitte addressed the media for the first time since the Roger Clemens vs. Brian McNamee congressional hearing last week and expressed remorse for using HGH in 2002 and 2004.
"I want to apologize to the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros
organizations, and to their fans, and to all my teammates and to all baseball
fans for the embarrassment I have caused them,'' Pettitte said.
Pettitte was flanked by general manager Brian Cashman and new manger Joe Girardi at his table and teammates Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada were also in attendance.
The 35-year-old lefty didn't directly answer any questions regarding Clemens, but at one point said, "Roger's having to do what he feels is the right thing to do."
If you didn't catch or hear the press conference, Pettitte came across as a sympathetic figure. He said that his actions were "stupid" and that he was desperate to get back from injuries in 2002 and 2004. Pettitte's easy going demeanor and otherwise "clean" record will probably help him bounce back from his HGH use, but there will always be those who will never believe that he used HGH only twice. That's just they way it's going to be.
Do I believe Pettitte? Again, I
would like to, and it seemed like going before Congress under oath scared the crap out of him and forced him to put everything he knew out there, but would I be surprised if something else surfaced about his involvement with HGH? No, not really. And that's the worst part of this whole mess -- will anyone ever be shocked when a player is linked to HGH or steroids? I don't think so.
Like many of you, I'm sick to death of the Mitchell Report, HGH, steroids and congressional committees. I'm tired of watching and reading about it. I just want it to go away. But then again, the whole reason baseball is in this situation is because everyone turned a blind eye to what was happening right under their noses. I think the Mitchell Report was incomplete and that the hearing on Clemens was a colossal waste of time, but maybe those situations will help clean up the game. It should, at the very least, give players who are still using or thinking about using some pause.
Hopefully, Pettitte can get beyond this and concentrate on pitching for the Yankees this season. They're going to need him.
Position players are scheduled to report on Tuesday for the Bombers.
Maybe we can hear and read about on the field situations from now on.
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I like the picture. Is a tax cheat any different then a born again liar??