Sweeny: Can Andy Pettitte Still Pitch?
By Sweeny Murti
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Sometimes the body isn't willing to do what the mind wants. The Yankees hope that isn't the case with Andy Pettitte.
Pettitte returns to the Yankees 17 months removed from his last game, and only 3 months until his 40th birthday. He hasn't pitched a full season since 2009. A groin injury sent Pettitte to the DL in 2010 and limited him to 21 regular season starts. In fact, Pettitte has not earned a regular season W since July 8, 2010…about 20 months ago.
Pettitte wanted to retire last year to go back and be a dad, the desire to prepare for the season no longer there. Well, Pettitte has enjoyed being a dad, but he certainly had an itch that just needed to be scratched:
Podcast
Pettitte's desire intrigued the Yankees, so here they are trying to rekindle the magic. Brian Cashman entered the spring very excited about his overflowing rotation. He insists that hasn't changed. Cashman explained why he doesn't have any long-term concerns about Michael Pineda, Phil Hughes, or anyone else. This was just about taking a chance on the third winningest pitcher in Yankee history who just might have something left in the tank:
Podcast
I won't lie to you…it'll be a lot of fun having Pettitte back around. He's a fun guy to talk to, and he was always incredibly fun to watch pitch. But there's a part of me that just thinks Pettitte's mind is asking his body to do something it might not be able to. I hope I'm wrong.
Sweeny Murti
Yankees@wfan.com
www.twitter.com/YankeesWFAN
