Mo made late inning pitch for Pettitte return

Newsday, O'Brien: "Mariano Rivera felt so strongly that the Yankees needed Andy Pettitte back this year that Rivera made a personal appeal to ownership on Pettitte's behalf....

• So on the day Mark Teixeira was introduced as a Yankee - Jan. 6 - Rivera drove from his home in Westchester County to Yankee Stadium to speak with Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner.

Rivera explained why he felt Pettitte's return was critical...not only because he believed Pettitte could help the rotation...(he) also thought Pettitte could positively impact younger pitchers such as Joba Chamberlain and could help free agents CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett make the adjustment to pitching in the Bronx.

• Rivera described Pettitte's return as "very important, very, very important."

Word of Rivera's entreaty made it back to Pettitte, who said: "All the guys were just unbelievable. Mariano was unbelievable, but Jorgie [Posada] was constantly calling me, too, and Jeet [ Derek Jeter]."

• Only Rivera, though, is known to have personally reached out to Steinbrenner, who had the power to stretch the payroll a bit for Pettitte. Does Rivera think his chat had any influence?

• "Perhaps," Rivera said. "Perhaps. But in the end, it was his decision and the decision of the organization.""

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