TAMPA – How sticky Andy Pettitte’s summer of discontent becomes likely will decide if the Yankees make it into October.
With Congress asking the Department of Justice to investigate Roger Clemens for not telling the truth to the House Oversight and Government Reform committee about his use of human growth hormone and steroids, it’s likely the probe will drag Pettitte back into the toxic battle.
Pettitte could be forced to testify against his long-time friend in court. If that happens during the season, Pettitte may have to miss time to meet with lawyers and perhaps have to skip starts to travel to Washington. Plus, the mental stress of the situation drained Pettitte this offseason, so it’s safe to assume another round will do the same.
Pettitte’s deposition on Feb. 4 was mentioned as one of the reasons Congress is asking the Justice Department to investigate. According to Pettitte’s deposition, he and Clemens discussed Clemens’ HGH use in 1999 or 2000. In front of Congress, Clemens said Pettitte “misremembered” the subject matter.
One day after Hank Steinbrenner told The Post, “I will not be pleased if they put Andy through the ringer again,” Steinbrenner didn’t immediately return calls yesterday and GM Brian Cashman refused comment when asked if he believed the on-going saga will sabotage Pettitte’s summer. Pettitte, who threw a bullpen session yesterday morning, split Legends Field during an intrasquad game before yesterday’s news broke. Through a club spokesman Pettitte declined to comment.
“It’s unfortunate. My hope is that it will go on in the offseason and he will be able to concentrate on his work,” Joe Girardi said. “Obviously, we consider baseball very important. I would hope they would do it in the offseason if he is going to be subpoenaed or has to testify.”
What has to be considered is that Pettitte, no matter his involvement, is in a new arena. According to Girardi, that makes it very difficult to predict how it will affect the Yankees’ No. 2 starter, who was given a one-year, $16 million deal to lend experience and victories to a starting rotation that is swimming in question marks.
“I don’t know, I have never been through it and Andy has never been through it,” Girardi said. “So I don’t know how you prepare for something you have never been through.”
Mike Mussina spoke for the clubhouse when he said he wasn’t surprised to hear about the possibility of Pettitte’s season being fractured.
“I think we knew that. When camp opened for us and he wasn’t in for the first three or four days, I was asked this before, I think it’s going to be part of it,” Mussina said. “Every city we go to it’s going to be asked again. And I am sure if they do in depth investigations they are going to come up with more and more things and have more and more questions. I am just hoping he can deal with it and do what he has to on the mound.”
If Pettitte needs a wise ear, Mussina is offering.
“He may need somebody to ask questions to, talk about it or get an opinion,” Mussina said. “If he wants to talk about it, I will talk about it. Not that I have any great answers or suggestions.”