The Sommer Frieze

I have a holiday today (unpaid) and do plan to watch the televised Andy Pettitte press conference this afternoon. More later. It appears like it will be one heck of a circus.

One thing I don’t like is seeing various sources using Pettitte’s admissions of HGH usage as an excuse to mock Pettitte’s faith and religious convictions. This, I feel, is out of bounds no matter what faith the individual happens to profess. This was an individual choice (and a bad one) that Pettitte and others made, and does nothing to reflect on one’s Christianity, Judaism, secularism, or whatever faith a certain player believes in. Unfortunately, attacking one’s faith seems to be the last acceptable prejudice in today’s society. 

I’ll be the first to criticize someone who was a long-time user who used it to get an edge. Someone like Bonds or perhaps Clemens, McGwire, Palmeiro, I will come down on hard. Someone like Pettitte, if what he said is true (and I believe him) I am more likely to give a pass, especially if he apologizes, like Pettitte did.

One thing we don’t know is how we would act if in the same situation. We can say one thing, but we aren’t in that situation, so we’ll never know, will we? The sanctimony of some is amazing–as if some individuals can’t do wrong. Have you ever did anything wrong? Drive over the speed limit? Drink while underage? Maybe even drive when you shouldn’t have, when you may have had too much? Maybe you tried something one time (and actually inhaled). C’mon, ‘fess up. None of us is perfect. We’ve all probably done something in our past (and may be doing something in our present) that we have or are regretting, and we may unfortunately do something in our futures that we’ll regret. The question is, how egregious were the mistakes, how long did it go on, and for what reason(s)?

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THE PRESS CONFERENCE

After throwing 35 pitches in his workout, Andy Pettitte conducted a press conference down in Tampa. To his credit, he didn’t do an Eric Gagne and basically refuse to answer questions. He also didn’t do what Paul Lo Duca did, which was to emulate Jason Giambi in apologizing for something but not say what he was apologizing for (although we can all figure it out).

Pettitte did say that he didn’t consider himself a cheater. His statement dealt with the fact that he was desperate and took HGH because he thought that it would help him heal—not to gain any kind of edge. Of course some won’t believe that or anything he says, but Pettitte can’t control one’s thoughts or opinions. He sounded contrite and was honest in his answers. You can’t ask for more than that. He mentioned the support we was receiving from ownership (he talked to George, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner), the manager, coaches and teammates. He apologized to the Yankees, the Astros, his teammates and his fans. He knew that he was to be in the Mitchell Report but didn’t remember who tipped him off a few days beforehand. He thinks it was McNamee. At the same time, he doesn’t feel as if he misled the Yanks when he signed his contract for 2008. In mentioning the Yanks, he stated that if at any time he felt as if the Yanks didn’t want him, that he would just shut it down—that he had enough money and would just retire. He mentioned the toll on his family, which to him comes second, after God. He stated how his faith has helped him through this. He stated that McNamee had said that HGH could help him but also stated that McNamee advised against him taking it. Pettitte had no regrets about taking it at the time, but developed those regrets soon afterward. As for 2004, he realized in his first start for the Astros that he needed surgery. (Did the Yanks know something after 2003?) He didn’t mention his 2004 use originally because he wanted to keep his father left out of it. Apparently Mr. Pettitte was using it because of various physical ailments and only after his father urged Andy to be forthright did Andy explain his father’s connection with the HGH.

He stated that he’s happy to be back with the Yanks and will give all he has to give and hopes to put this behind him—that all he concentrates on during the game is Posada (or whoever may be catching him that day). He said all the right things about someone who will try to concentrate on pitching. Yankee fans hope that will indeed be the case, but the realization and expectation is that it will be difficult. He said that he hasn’t heard from MLB and doesn’t expect to be suspended.

He did tell Cashman and Girardi that he doesn’t think he’s been able to work out with the intensity he usually does but says that his arm feels great. His legs may be a bit behind schedule, so his workouts this spring will probably deal with a lot of running and legwork.

Pettitte does have one remarkable record. He has never had a losing season. In the history of baseball, only one pitcher has recorded decisions in at least ten different seasons and has had a winning record in each of them. It’s Babe Ruth. If Pettitte retired tomorrow, Andy would join him.

The press conference in general wasn’t adversarial, but Andy and the press seemed very respectful of each other, and the press seemed to be more conversational and information-gathering than accusatory. I guess they, like we all, just want to know the truth—something that seemed and seems to be lacking from the McNamee-Clemens duel. We’ll see how the papers and magazines read tomorrow and this week regarding this press conference today. Pettitte did say that he hadn’t spoken to Clemens and remarked upon the awkward situation he felt he was in because he considered both Clemens and McNamee as his friends. He also stated that he didn’t watch the hearing and wouldn’t comment on Roger’s remark of “misremembering.” He just mentioned that he testified under oath and wouldn’t elaborate further on that. As for his deposition, he stated that he didn’t feel pressured, but just was being honest.

Andy seems quite contrite and doesn’t want kids doing this. At the same time he admitted that he was a man and could make his own decisions, right or wrong. I feel as if he is a good man who just made a mistake.

Having said that, I’ll add something else. Without getting too personal, I’ve had to deal with people who have had alcohol and drug problems (no, not myself). Andy wasn’t, if you believe him, a long-time user. Now as for the people who may have been on steroids for a long time, I can tell you this. One of the first things a user learns to do well is to lie. They lie to themselves about their alcohol or drug problems as to how bad it is. They convince themselves that they have it under control. They lie to their family and friends about their usage. They hide evidence of the usage—be it bottles, syringes, joints, spoons, what have you. They learn to lie and lie well. You’ve seen this behavior from a Strawberry, Gooden, Howe and many others that were on cocaine. You will see it from steroids users also. It’s in the nature of alcoholics and drug abusers (and steroids abusers ARE drug abusers) to lie. Andy, to his credit, doesn’t seem to be lying.

Pettitte said, “if you saw what I’ve been through and Roger went through, you’d clean yourself up pretty good.” A forewarning if you ever heard one.

Earlier in the day, Girardi mentioned that he had no concerns about Pettitte, and that after today it was up to Andy to determine how he wanted to handle this.

Hopefully, as far as Pettitte’s concerned, he can close the book. Meanwhile, the Clemens case drags on.

In other news, Bret Boone signed a minor league deal with Washington.