PETTITTE TURNS BACK TIME

On Friday night Andy Pettitte looked as if he had turned back time (Cher song running through your head now). On a beautiful, warm May night, he pitched an eight inning shutout. He didn't just look like 2010 Andy, he looked like Andy from 2002.

Pettitte turns 40 next month. Many wondered how he would pitch after sitting out all of the 2011 season. After his first so-so start on Mother's Day (which he now admits we was a little over excited and nervous), Andy came out with a vengence on Friday. Although the radar gun only hit 90 mph twice, it didn't matter. He fooled the hitters with his curveball, cutter and fourseamer, striking Joey Votto out three times. He looked, and was, locked into every pitch. It was amazing to watch.

Now, I don't profess to know how the rest of Andy's (or the Yankees for that matter) season will go. What I do know is Andy Pettitte, as I have said before, has the heart of a champion and the mental and physical toughness of a warrior (again no offense to Paul O'Neill). Those who know Andy, fans and teammates alike, are not all that surprises at his comeback so far. Because if you know anything about Andy, he doesn't go in half hearted. He is either all-in or not at all. He has said that if he didn't think he could comeback and pitch at a major league level, he wouldn't have comeback at all. That's Andy and that's why we love and root for him - yesterday, today and always.