Baseball Blog

Archive for February, 2008

Andy Pettitte made his much anticipated Spring Training debut on Monday and apologized for having used human growth hormones in the past. He said that the decision to use hormones was stupid and desperate and added that he had contemplated retirement recently. 

The left hander addressed a huge gathering of reporters outside Legends Field saying that the time in the wake of the Mitchell Report had been a very difficult time both for him as well as his family. This is the first time Pettitte has commented publicly since his testimony played a huge part in the showdown between Roger Clemens- Brian McNamara last week.

Pettitte was lauded for his honesty by the Congress and said that he would attempt to be as forthcoming in the future as well. 

“I want to apologize to the New York Yankees and to the Houston Astros organizations and to their fans and to all of my teammates and to all of baseball’s fans for the embarrassment I have caused them,” Pettitte said. “I also want to tell anyone that is an Andy Pettitte fan that I’m sorry, especially any kids who might look up to me.

“Since graduating high school, I have spent my life working with young kids at my church and in my community. I never want a young person to do what I did.”  

HE admitted that he had used HGH twice in 2002 and also once in 2004 when he was recovering from an injury. He admitted the first two occasions soon after the Mitchell Report on 13^th December but he didn’t reveal the third until he signed an affidavit on the 8^th of February provided for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in lieu of an in-person appearance to testify

Pettitte said that he hoped this would not change the way he was perceived. He has a career 201 game winner and has been a member of the Yankees’ last four World Series Championship rosters.

Albert Pujols seems to be back in business. The slogger arrived at the Cardinals camp on Friday and spoke to reporters about his injured elbow among other things. He has been struggling with a ligament injury in the elbow since 2003 but it reached its worst in the 2007 season.

Pujols had been considering getting his elbow operated upon but then decided against it. He said that he will try to manage with it like he has for the past 5 seasons until something goes wrong. He said that he intends to go about his work as usual until an operation become necessary.

Over the off season several options were made available to Pujols including a significant surgical procedure that would sideline him for several months, a minor surgery which wouldn’t really address the root problem and continuing the ongoing course of rest, rehab and management.  He said that if he got to a point where he needed surgery he would get treated.

Pujols who was voted as the 2005 National League Most Valuable Player became quite a cause of worry to manager Tony La Russa who believes that the injury lowered Pujols’ performance in the last season when his power dipped. Pujols scored a career low in home runs and his average of .568 in the slugging category was 52 points below his career average.

Once he arrived at the camp Pujols took to the field and went on with his normal workout. Pujols is now entering his 8^th season with the club and has made the team more seasons in a row than any other Cardinal.  He said that he was remarkably blessed to be with the Cardinals and hoped that he could stay forever.  So for now looks one of the league’s best hitter is back.