Andy Pettitte threw a ceremonial, first-pitch strike Tuesday, but despite that, he won’t be suiting up to reinforce the Yankees’ rotation.
But in bringing within the 51-year-old franchise legend, the Yankees have added a baseball lifer who played the sport at a high level to assist their players — just as they did earlier this month by adding Sean Casey as hitting coach.
Pettitte said he doesn’t know a ton concerning the advanced analytics which have change into the language for much of the sport.
A five-time World Series champion in pinstripes, Pettitte speaks throwback baseball.
“I hope I may very well be a great sounding board for some guys,” said Pettitte, speaking publicly for the primary time because the Yankees appointed him as an adviser. “I’ve been through all this. Walked through it. I do know a number of times, for me, after I just think of getting anyone to simply shoot some stuff off.
“Possibly a unique perspective.”
The face of the Yankees’ successful pitching factory is pitching coach Matt Blake, who didn’t pitch within the majors and who represents the trendy game, through which the art of pitching has somewhat change into a science. Pettitte, who never threw too hard during his excellent, 18-year profession, was an artist on the mound.
The Yankees have long wanted Pettitte to work for them, however the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the method. Originally, the club wanted the lefty to speak and work with minor leaguers, but general manager Brian Cashman called recently, asking Pettitte to assist out the big-league club.
Pettitte had been coaching his sons in highschool in Texas. His youngest, Luke, just graduated and can play at Dallas Baptist. So, the timing was right.
“He’s just so good within the room and has relationships with a number of these guys already,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees‘ 9-3 loss to the Mets in The Bronx.
Luis Severino called Pettitte “an amazing person to have around.” Pettitte watched Gerrit Cole, whom he helped recruit to Recent York when Cole was a free agent, throw a bullpen session and talked pitch grips with the ace.
Pettitte will work behind the scenes. He won’t be in uniform within the dugout, but can be across the club “as much as I can,” he said. The reunion happened quickly, and he had arranged various plans over the subsequent few months before signing. His deal extends through next season, when he intends to be across the team more.
Despite serving because the pitching coach for Team USA within the World Baseball Classic, Pettitte said he doesn’t envision becoming a pitching coach in the longer term.
For now, he just desires to talk baseball with Yankees players and empathize, particularly with a pitching staff that has been doing “an amazing job.”
“I feel everybody that’s played here knows — it’s just a little bit different. The pinstripes are just a little different,” said Pettitte, who retired in 2013. “Whenever you come here, it is best to know that and it is best to expect that and you have got to form of embrace that.”