Iwakuma 00740314

02/19/2008 8:00 PM ET
Giambi relates to Pettitte's spot
Slugger came under fire for substance use three years ago
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com









TAMPA, Fla. -- The most difficult part is behind Andy Pettitte. Take it from someone who knows.
Jason Giambi wasn't exactly as forthcoming three years ago when discussing his alleged steroid use, apologizing at length for a transgression that he would not specify.

But when Giambi viewed some of Pettitte's press conference on television, he saw a completely familiar scene, and was impressed.

"I think that's the best you could do," Giambi said. "Trust me, I don't want to keep reliving this. It seems that everything that comes out, it keeps going. You don't really want to be one that paves the way, but you go out there and you get it done, and handle it like a man."

When Giambi was ensnared in the BALCO steroids scandal, he -- like Pettitte -- faced a difficult situation, one foreign to the day-to-day life of a ballplayer. Testifying before a grand jury, Giambi said in December 2003 that he injected himself with human growth hormone and used steroids for at least three seasons.

The ordeal prompted the Yankees to schedule a February press conference in the Bronx, where Giambi sat alongside his manager and general manager at Yankee Stadium, feeling as though he let down the fans, media and the organization.

As Giambi said Tuesday, "It's not always the best to be the first."

For Giambi, the main concern in 2005 was bringing his personal problems down to Spring Training and having it consume the clubhouse. Pettitte alluded to that, planning to address his teammates and apologize for making them answer questions about him.

"No doubt I was embarrassed when the Mitchell Report happened," Pettitte said. "I'm 100 times more sorry now, the way things have turned out. I just think it's been horrible for baseball, the way things have turned out with the hearings. You just hate to see people's lives be put through what they're put through right now. It's been a bad deal."

The gesture of thanking teammates for deflecting some of the media's heat may be a thoughtful one, but not necessarily final. There remains a possibility that Pettitte's season could be interrupted by related issues, since he represents an important witness in the ongoing legal matter between Roger Clemens and former trainer Brian McNamee.

"I don't know what's going to happen from here on out, but hopefully he's done with it," Giambi said. "I think he did a great job. He came in and said, 'Hey, I'm a human being, I made a mistake,' and I think he got that point across. All he can do now is work hard and try to win everybody back, one by one."

Pettitte shouldn't have too many relationships to repair in the clubhouse. Nor should he struggle with the great majority of the fan base, who soundly embraced him with cheers and supportive cries as the left-hander rejoined his Yankees teammates for workouts on Tuesday.

"They were great," Pettitte said. "They were cheering for me and yelling for me. Those are my New York fans. I was glad with the response they gave me. It was wonderful."

For now, Pettitte said that the most important thing he needs is to get his legs under him and feel strong. Giambi pointed out that the best tonic to remedy the situation is simply to have a good season -- it worked in '05, when Giambi hit 32 homers and won the Comeback Player of the Year award.

If Pettitte replicates his 15 victories from last season and is able to stabilize the Yankees' rotation while the younger pitchers develop, a job assignment that was worth $16 million to the organization, some pressures may be relaxed.

"I think my [issue] got easier because I played well," Giambi said. "Of course, that always helps take care of situations. And then, it just gets easier and easier.

"All the years I've played with him, Andy has always been very determined and very focused. As long as he stays in that frame of mind. It's going to be tough, but he's actually beyond the hardest part. It's not impossible."

Manager Joe Girardi said that Pettitte will throw another bullpen session on Wednesday and is in good shape, though there is a difference between that and physical shape. But six weeks of on-field activities should make conditioning the least of Pettitte's concerns.

Giambi knows the distractions that await. He's willing to lend some assistance if Pettitte needs it.

"I can be whatever he wants," Giambi said. "It's a personal thing now. The hard part's over for him, and the only thing I can offer advice about is I was one of the first.

"I've had experiences, and if he wants to draw off of them, he can. I'm sure he has enough people in his ear right now, telling him this, telling him that, and I don't want to be a hamper to him. I want to help."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.