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February 20, 2008

Torre says he still keeps in touch with Pettitte

VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - While Joe Torre no longer wears the Yankee pinstripes, he remains in touch with Andy Pettitte.

Torre telephoned Pettitte on Monday shortly before the Yankees pitcher spent nearly an hour apologizing for using human growth hormone and answering questions about Roger Clemens at a news conference in Tampa.

"I've talked to him a couple times," Torre said during the Los Angeles Dodgers' first full-squad workout of spring training. "I just wanted to let him know I was thinking about him. Every time I've talked to him on the phone, he's apologized."

Torre, who managed the Yankees for 12 years before turning down an offer last fall to return, signed a three-year contract two weeks later to manage the Dodgers.

While Torre said he wasn't defending Pettitte's use of HGH, he spoke of respecting the pitcher's competitive nature and sense of responsibility.

Pettitte told reporters Tuesday that Torre called about 30 minutes before the news conference to say he was proud of him.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:41 PM | Permalink

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