Yankees pitcher Pettitte calls it a day
Source: Agencies |
February 6, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
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ANDY Pettitte announced his retirement on Friday, settling his own future while putting a large question mark besides that of the New York Yankees pitching staff.
Pettitte said he reached decision when spending some time on his Texas ranch.
"When I digged deep down in and I did some soul-searching, I don't even know how to explain," Pettitte said. "It wasn't there. It wasn't there like I wanted it to be there."
On Tuesday, he called Brian Cashman to give the general manager the verdict: One of the most accomplished pitching careers in Yankees history was over. Pettitte was retiring after 16 major league seasons, 13 in pinstripes and five of those ending with World Series titles.
Pettitte said he felt a "tremendous obligation" to return after New York failed in its pursuit of ace pitcher Cliff Lee.
Pettitte knows his retirement leaves New York with only three starting pitchers pencilled in for next season: C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.
However the fire to compete from April through October had vanished, a realization that grew on him during the two months he spent on the disabled list with a leg injury last summer.
"I'm ready to go pitch in spring training right now if I had to. My arm feels great. My body feels great.
"Been working out extremely hard for about the last 3-1/2 weeks, and I know that my body would get to where it needs to be," he said.
"But my heart's not where it needs to be."
He almost retired after 2008 but wanted to pitch in the new Yankee Stadium. He almost retired after 2009 but wanted to defend the World Series title. There was no such lure after 2010.
"I just feel like that my heart is not fully, completely sold out to do this again, and to do what I feel like I need to do as a player on the New York Yankees," he said.
"It just didn't feel right for me anymore, didn't have the hunger, the drive that I felt like I needed."
Pettitte didn't completely rule out a 2012 return but said he couldn't envision that happening.
Pettitte said he reached decision when spending some time on his Texas ranch.
"When I digged deep down in and I did some soul-searching, I don't even know how to explain," Pettitte said. "It wasn't there. It wasn't there like I wanted it to be there."
On Tuesday, he called Brian Cashman to give the general manager the verdict: One of the most accomplished pitching careers in Yankees history was over. Pettitte was retiring after 16 major league seasons, 13 in pinstripes and five of those ending with World Series titles.
Pettitte said he felt a "tremendous obligation" to return after New York failed in its pursuit of ace pitcher Cliff Lee.
Pettitte knows his retirement leaves New York with only three starting pitchers pencilled in for next season: C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.
However the fire to compete from April through October had vanished, a realization that grew on him during the two months he spent on the disabled list with a leg injury last summer.
"I'm ready to go pitch in spring training right now if I had to. My arm feels great. My body feels great.
"Been working out extremely hard for about the last 3-1/2 weeks, and I know that my body would get to where it needs to be," he said.
"But my heart's not where it needs to be."
He almost retired after 2008 but wanted to pitch in the new Yankee Stadium. He almost retired after 2009 but wanted to defend the World Series title. There was no such lure after 2010.
"I just feel like that my heart is not fully, completely sold out to do this again, and to do what I feel like I need to do as a player on the New York Yankees," he said.
"It just didn't feel right for me anymore, didn't have the hunger, the drive that I felt like I needed."
Pettitte didn't completely rule out a 2012 return but said he couldn't envision that happening.
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