Lots of people like Andy Pettitte

Newspapers normally write headlines they consider news, here the New York Times says "Pettitte Still Admired by Houston Fans." Followed by a story harkening to the day in a grand ballroom with tv cameras beaming around the world. Fans in Houston and New York must not have it all wrong. Even the Boston Red Sox liked Andy enough in 2003 to offer him $52 million over 4 years. Which he declined, no doubt politely. Source: New York Times column by Dave Anderson, 12/12/03, "A Different End of the Red Sox Were Involved."

• (Mr. Anderson): "The Yankees' final offer of $39 million for three years was higher than the three-year, $31.5 million deal that Pettitte accepted to play near his home in the Houston suburb of Deer Park, Tex.

But if the Yankees had thought that Pettitte was seriously considering Boston's early offer of $52 million for four years, Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner, would surely have raised the ante,

• as he did when center fielder Bernie Williams was about to sign with the Red Sox after the 1998 season. Steinbrenner suddenly offered $87.5 million over seven years, and Williams has stayed to bat cleanup ever since....

In all of Cashman's topspin and dropspin in trying to explain Pettitte's departure during a conference call with reporters yesterday in the principal owner's conspicuous absence, the general manager's most telling words were: ''I'm glad he's in the National League. I'm glad he's not in Boston.''

• Not that Pettitte would have even considered signing with the rival Red Sox. In his conference call with reporters, he said he could not have done that to his Yankee teammates, especially the four he matured with -- shortstop Derek Jeter, closer Mariano Rivera, catcher Jorge Posada and Williams."....

There will never be another select feast of "names" as there was on 12/13/07, "unless discipline is imposed." This item was in an AP report by Ronald Blum in the Albany Times-Union, 4/11/08, "Players, Union Reach Drug Agreement." The link goes to the paper, but says the story is no longer there. (I copied it). There is a link to the AP report mentioning this item at the International Herald Tribune. Some versions of the AP or other organizations' reports on the new agreement do not mention this interesting item.

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