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December 03, 2007
Pettitte Returns
From ESPN.com -
Andy Pettitte, who had considered retirement after the 2007 season ended, will return in 2008 to pitch for the New York Yankees, the Houston Chronicle reported on Monday.
According to the report, his agent, Randy Hendricks, said he has advised the Yankees that Pettitte will come back."Many teammates have called urging Andy to return as well as manager Joe Girardi," Hendricks said, according to the report. "It's well known that the Yankees have publicly stated that they were ready for Andy when Andy was ready."
The Chronicle reported that it earlier learned from friends, former Houston Astros teammates and some current Yankees teammates that the left-hander would return.
This is 33 starts and 215 quality innings that the Yankees can now put in the bank for 2008. Great news for those in Yankeeland. I'm very happy to see Andy return for another season.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at December 3, 2007 09:11 AM
Comments
You should take some credit for this, Steve.
I think your strategy worked!
Posted by: yanksrule ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 3, 2007 09:21 AM
yanksrule - I'm not sure. If people mailed their letters around 11/23, they probably got to Andy's agent around 11/26 - and then probably not forwarded to Andy until around 11/30. It's very close.
It is interesting 'tho that so many, like Posada, who talked to him every week, said that he was going to retire - - and, now, this.
Even Andy's dad said the other day that he thought he was leaning towards retiring.
Something changed his mind, for sure.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at December 3, 2007 09:27 AM
My guess is that Hank heard this news yesterday, and that's why he set a deadline with the Twins. What he should do is to take Hughes out of the offer.
Anyway, great news.
Posted by: Rich at December 3, 2007 09:33 AM
Excellent news, this is great. I think the Santana stuff had something to do with it, Pettitte probably decided to make his move before the Yankees got even more desperate.
Posted by: JeremyM at December 3, 2007 09:52 AM
How in the world did the NY media get scooped on this? Did someone at the Houston Chronicle have breakfast with Hendricks or something?
Posted by: mehmattski at December 3, 2007 10:14 AM
I'm taking credit for this one. I slipped a $5 bill in with my P46 card, just like grandma used to do!
To say I'm ecstatic for his return would be an understatement!
Posted by: MJ at December 3, 2007 11:03 AM
Woo!
Plus Andy doesn't even need to be "amazing" this season. All we're really asking for is 6-7 IP and as few runs as possible right?
Posted by: Straylightrise at December 3, 2007 11:19 AM
I have to wonder if Hank got tired of waiting on the Twins and told Andy that he could have the "family plan" that Clemens got....
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at December 3, 2007 11:23 AM
From Tyler Kepner of the Times:
“Calls and requests for him to return from Brian Cashman, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Joe Girardi, among others, influenced him, as did an outpouring of requests from Yankees fans,” Randy Hendricks said, after the news was first reported by the Houston Chronicle.
It's not just that Project P46 worked that is such a good feeling, but that Andy Pettitte is a guy would would honestly appreciate the effort of P46. It makes it a lot more fun when soembody you root for is a tremendous guy to boot.
The New York Yankees are made a better organization because of people like Andy Pettitte.
Posted by: Joba_the_Great at December 3, 2007 11:45 AM
~~~as did an outpouring of requests from Yankees fans~~~
Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at December 3, 2007 12:36 PM