Who would have expected fans would still accept Petitte after the steroids controversy? However, in New York, nobody cares as long as Petitte wins. A player with 229 regular-season wins and a record 16 in the playoffs will surely be forgiven.

Last Sunday night, 50,173 fans cheered as the New York Yankees won over Los Angeles. Thanks to Petitte’s pitchings.

The Mitchell report, baseball’s internal investigation on steroids, linked Andy Petitte in the controversy. Former Yankees teammate Jason Grimsley revealed Petitte as a performance-enhancing drug user. After that, he confessed to using human growth hormone (HGH), which he claimed was for a faster recovery of his elbow injury.

Petitte was smart enough to admit his deed on the first day of spring training two years ago. Because of this, he was celebrated for his wisdom.

Petitte surely belongs to the kind of cheaters, the ones on anyone’s favorite team, who are forgiven when they perform well. The other kind of cheater is the one unfortunate enough to be called a “creep who ruined baseball”.

The Yankees will open the World Series on Wednesday. They will play against the Philadelphia Phillies, just like their familiar role for the first time since 2003.

From Chicago Tribune:

NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte on the mound, Derek Jeter everywhere,Mariano Rivera at closing time, the Bronx rocking as the clock struck midnight. The first Turn Back the Clock Night at Yankee Stadium.