WELCOME HOME ANDY PETTITTE

Andy Pettitte finally came home. The fans, including myself, have been waiting for Andy's return to Yankee Stadium since he announced he was coming out retirement in March. We waited as he made his way through his minor league starts. With every minor league game, we knew he was getting closer and closer to coming back. Yesterday, on a beautiful Mother's Day Sunday afternoon, Yankee fans finally got what they were waiting for. Andy didn't disappoint.

Now some reading Andy's final line of 6.1 innings, 7 hits and 4 runs would say he struggled. I would agree, if this wasn't Andy's first start in 19 months. That can be an enternity for a any major league pitcher, especially one who is one month shy of his 40th birthday. Yesterday under the warm sunshine in the Bronx, It looked as if he had never left. He not only impressed me, he inspired me.

I knew Andy would do well. Pettitte said numerous times over these couple months, if he couldn't do this at the level he needed to, he would be back home in Texas. He is a competitor, a "warrior" (no disrespect to Paul O'Neill) and has the heart of a champion. Being 19 months away doesn't change that.

Unfortunately, Andy got the loss yesterday. Honestly, to me it didn't matter. Yesterday, I was rooting for Andy Pettitte, the man and the player. He did not disappoint. He was the antidote Yankee fans needed to losing Mariano Rivera for the season. I can't wait for his next start and those that follow.

WELCOME HOME ANDY PETTITTE!