Baseball fans consider Andy Pettitte one of the best Yankees pitchers ever. In his new role with the Yankees, he wants to bring a different perspective contrary to the analytical approach taking over the modern game. However, his sole aim is to be a ‘sounding board’ for Yankees players.
Andy Pettitte won five World Series championships with the team and holds several club records. Because of his outstanding contributions, it’s only natural that the organization would want him to be part of their activities, and they found a perfect way to involve him.
When explaining his role, Andy Pettitte admitted to being unaware of too much modern analytics and mentioned that his presence is mainly about being around the guys.
“I hope I could be a good sounding board for some guys,” said Andy Pettitte. “I’ve been through all this. Walked through it. I know a lot of times, for me, when I just think of having somebody to just shoot some stuff off.
“Maybe a different perspective.”
Coaching his sons in high school in Texas, Andy Pettitte had devoted time to his family, with his youngest son, Luke, now graduating and heading to play at Dallas Baptist. As the stars aligned, the timing was perfect for Pettitte to embrace his new role with the Yankees.
Andy Pettitte explains his Yankees advisory role
Yankees fans expect the 51-year-old to share his baseball wisdom and knowledge with the players. He’ll be offering guidance and talking about the game he loves to help the team excel. While speaking to reporters at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, in his first such meet after returning to the Yankees, he expressed his hope to serve as a good sounding board for the players, mentioning that he had been through similar experiences before. Having someone to bounce ideas off of or gain a different perspective was valuable for Andy Pettitte in the past, and he believed the current players were doing an excellent job. He felt excited to be around them and felt that they appreciated his presence.
In 2019, Andy Pettitte had an advisory role for the Yankees’ general manager, Brian Cashman. Back then, he spent much of his time traveling with the team’s minor league system. Now, Cashman wants him to be part of the major league club, which is a bigger deal.
Andy Pettitte mentioned that they have been talking about this role for a while now, but it’s unlikely that he’ll be with the club on a full-time basis, especially not for this season. The reason is that he already has some commitments; after all, he is retired. However, he intends to be with the team as much as he can this time and has plans to be around more next year.
According to Andy Pettitte, whenever he can be there, the Yankees want him to be present.
The emphasis on personal contacts
Andy Pettitte emphasized that his role primarily involves talking and “mingling” with both the pitchers and hitters. While the Yankees legend admitted that he’s new to the world of analytics, he still aims to share the knowledge he gained throughout his 18-year career as a pitcher.
The five-time World Series winner mentioned that his presence would be mainly about being around the guys. As the Yankees aim to secure a spot in the playoffs, their starting rotation will play a crucial role, especially with the team facing recent offensive challenges due to Aaron Judge’s absence. However, Andy Pettitte expressed that he is impressed with New York’s pitching staff and likes what he sees from them.
Andy Pettitte mentioned that he sees a really good staff. He noted that Nestor Cortes is on his way back, and Carlos Rodon is known for his abilities once he gets back in form. The former Yankees rotation star acknowledged that Rodon had three starts already and was working hard to get back on track. He also commented positively on Luis Severino, Clarke Schmidt, and the team’s collection of great arms. Andy Pettitte emphasized the importance of getting everyone healthy and expressed his belief that having Nestor back will be a valuable addition to the team.
The pitching legend has lots of admiration for Gerrit Cole, the Yankees ace pitcher. He is currently having an outstanding season, performing at a level worthy of consideration for the Cy Young Award. In 21 starts, the 32-year-old has an impressive record of 9 wins and 2 losses, with a 2.78 ERA and an impressive 144 strikeouts in 129.1 innings pitched.
Andy Pettitte thinks that having Cole as their top pitcher puts the team in a favorable position. According to him, the pitcher has consistently been the best in the league and having someone like that leading the staff puts the team in a good position.
In a league dominated by advanced analytics, Andy Pettitte remains rooted in the throwback era of baseball. His expertise reflects the art of pitching rather than the modern science it has become. While the Yankees’ pitching factory is now led by the data-driven approach of Matt Blake, a non-major league pitcher, Pettitte’s exceptional 18-year career was defined by his artistry on the mound, not overwhelming velocity.
Despite his experience as the pitching coach for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Andy Pettitte stated that he doesn’t envision becoming a pitching coach in the future. For now, his main focus is to engage in baseball conversations with Yankees players and offer empathy, especially with the pitching staff that has been doing an excellent job.
“I think everybody that’s played here knows — it’s a little bit different. The pinstripes are a little different,” he said. “When you come here, you should know that and you should expect that and you have to kind of embrace that.”
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