TAMPA Â — Andy Pettitte was seated in the players’ lounge this morning when Kevin Youkilis joined him and tossed a copy of Friday’s Post on the table.
As Youkilis looked at a picture of himself and a headline that said the new Yankees third baseman’s heart remained in Boston, Pettitte chuckled.
“He threw the paper on the table and I said, ‘Welcome to New York,’ ” Pettitte said.
Youkilis stopped in the George M. Steinbrenner clubhouse to pick up protective cups on the way to a workout at the nearby minor league clubhouse.
Kevin Youkilis yesterday. (Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)
And with The Post spread throughout the facility, Youkilis’ new teammates were very aware of his comments.
“The back page was right there and I was getting ragged on pretty good,” said Youkilis, who explained the young players in the room left him alone but the veterans fired on him in a good-natured way.
Youkilis decided he needed to speak for a second straight day to clarify that his heart belongs to the Yankees.
“The whole meaning about what I was trying to say was that when you play in Boston the back of your baseball card, that’s how it is. After this year I will be a Yankee for life,” Youkilis said. “Trust me, there was no way that was meant to say my heart is in Boston or anything like that. My heart is here with the Yankees.”
Having played in Boston, Youkilis understands the media scrutiny and admitted him saying “I will always be a Red Sock” wasn’t good.
“The one comment was bad, let’s be honest. By itself it was terrible,” Youkilis said. “That wasn’t what it was meant to be. It wasn’t mean to be my heart is in Boston. My heart is in New York and I am excited to be living in the city. I have moved on and I am excited to play against (Red Sox) on Opening Day. Trust me, if you know my personality, I want to beat everyone. I want to beat the Red Sox and start off with a win at Yankee Stadium.”
Youkilis’ first taste of sports most bitter rivalry in pinstripes is April 1 and he won’t turn into a church mouse.
“I will be yelling at Dustin Pedroia across the way. He will be at second and I will be screaming at him,” Youkilis said. “
Pettitte knows how it works in New York and laughed off Youkilis’ comments.
“He doesn’t have to convince me that he wants to play here. I know what his mentality is,” Pettitte said.”I was reaching out, trying to get him to come here.”