MLB

Pettitte visits Yankees camp as special instructor

TAMPA — It wasn’t that long ago Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry and Goose Gossage were to Andy Pettitte what Pettitte was to Ivan Nova, Dellin Betances and Manuel Banuelos yesterday.

With a break from coaching his children in Houston, Pettitte accepted general manager Brian Cashman’s offer to be a guest instructor in Yankees camp.

So, Pettitte was at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday and observed Phil Hughes, Hiroki Kuroda, Banuelos and Betances throw batting practice from behind the screen.

“It’s kind of strange, especially now sitting in [the coaches room] with Gator talking about being a full-time dad and being home all the time with your kids,’’ said Pettitte, who retired following the 2010 season, though many believed he had more pitching left. “Having a 17-year-old son and talking about wanting to strangle him sometimes. Talking all that stuff in the coaches’ room is kind of entertaining.’’

Pettitte, who was 240-138 in 16 seasons and is 55th on the all-time Major League Baseball wins list, will be in camp for a few days and hopes to return when the schedule allows it.

A year ago he said it wasn’t the time to drop in. Now was the time, but putting on the Yankees uniform did tug at him a bit.

“I’d say yes to a certain degree,’’ Pettitte said. “Then you take a step back and evaluate where you are at and what you have been doing. I retired to spend time with the family and things are good and I am loving life. But no doubt you get close to it and you are 39-years old and you look at [Mariano Rivera] and he is 42. But it’s good to be here.’’

Rivera and Pettitte talked and like Derek Jeter, Pettitte wasn’t touching the topic of whether Rivera told his buddy this would be his final year.

“Let Mo share that,’’ Pettitte said.

Pettitte, who threw out the first pitch of Game 2 against the Tigers in last year’s ALDS, said he will be free with advice if pitchers seek it but he won’t be out front with ideas.

“I am not looking to coach or anything, but if the guys want to ask me questions I will obviously be more than happy to talk to guys,’’ Pettitte said.’’

Pettitte informed manager Joe Girardi that since he has been working with his sons he is ready to throw batting practice today if needed.

“I throw more now than when I played,’’ Pettitte said.

While Jeter insists Pettitte won’t take the mound for batting practice, Girardi is hoping his former battery mate does.

“No chance,’’ Jeter said. “That would be a waste of both our time.’’

“I am OK with it,’’ Girardi said.

Jeter, who will be 38 in June, didn’t feel older seeing Pettitte emerge from the coaches’ room and go to the field.

“I am the same age whether he is here or not,’’ Jeter said. “I was always the youngest of all of them [Pettitte, Rivera and Jorge Posada] and I will always be younger.’’

Like Pettitte did with Guidry, Gossage and Ford, Girardi is hoping his young arms pick Pettitte’s brain.

“There is a lot of wisdom inside there, how to pitch and how to pitch in New York,’’ Girardi said. “You think about a lot of the young guys in camp, they have seen Andy pitch. Not to say it in a negative way but maybe they didn’t see Gator or Goose pitch. So they might be able to relate to him a little easier. I want these young kids to pick all these guys’ brains.’’