NEW YORK -- Andy Pettitte has never thought of himself as a Hall of Fame pitcher. Now that hes announced his plans to retire after this season, an interesting debate will begin. The New York Yankees left-hander is 255-152 with a 3.86 ERA in 18 major league seasons. That makes him one of 26 pitchers -- the only one still active -- with a record at least 100 games over .500. Eighteen of those pitchers are in the Hall of Fame, and five who arent have not been retired long enough to appear on the ballot. According to STATS, the only exceptions are Bob Caruthers, who went 217-98 from 1884-1893, and Roger Clemens, a 354-game winner tainted by steroids allegations. Pettitte admitted using human growth hormone years ago, saying he tried the banned substance in an effort to recover faster from an injury. "I dont think about the Hall of Fame unless someone asks me," he said Friday, adding hes grateful just to be mentioned in that conversation with other stars such as Yankees teammates Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter. "Ive had the success that Ive had because of so many great players that have been around me." Players must wait five years after their final game before they are eligible to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot sent to voters who are 10-year members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. "Do I feel like Ive dominated this sport as a pitcher? No," Pettitte said, smiling. "Every outing for me, I feel like has been an absolute grind, to tell you the truth. I mean, when I look at lineups and teams that Im facing, it seems like every hitter is hitting .300 off of me. So for people to bring that up and for me to know that theres even a chance at that, its just an honour and its a blessing to me. And Im not worried about that." Pettitte holds major league records for post-season wins (19) and starts (44). A three-time All-Star, he has helped New York to seven AL pennants and five World Series championships during 15 seasons in pinstripes. He was the MVP of the 2001 AL championship series and is the franchise leader in career strikeouts with 2,009. Those numbers probably are the best argument for Pettittes induction. His career ERA is higher than that of any pitcher in the Hall of Fame. "Thats nothing Ive ever even considered. If that was something that I really desired, I would have never retired," Pettitte said. "I would just continue to pitch, if thats what it was all about." Pettitte is 19-11 with a 3.81 ERA in the post-season, giving him more post-season wins than eight major league teams. He also ranks first in post-season innings (276 2-3) and is second in strikeouts (183). In 2009 with the Yankees, he became the first pitcher to start and win the clinching game of all three series in one post-season. "Andys a professional. He expects a lot out of himself. He beats himself up a lot. We laugh at him because hes always by himself, talking to himself," Jeter said. "Its fun watching him beat himself up, because he expects to be perfect. Nobodys perfect, but he has those expectations and thats the reason why hes had so much success." Nike MLB Jerseys . -- Novak Djokovic benefited from an erroneous call and claimed he didnt realize he had broken the rules. Jermaine Marrow Jersey .com) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and four-time Australian Open titlist Roger Federer were among Mondays fourth-round winners at Melbourne Park. https://www.cheapmlbjerseysjustwholesale.com/.C. - The Panthers will be without starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei for Saturday nights NFC divisional playoff game against Seattle after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his foot. Nike Baseball Jerseys . The Austrian ski federation said Morgenstern was "conscious and well responsive" and his condition would be monitored in the intensive care unit of a Salzburg hospital for the next 72 hours. The federation said it was "way too early" to judge Morgensterns chances of competing in Sochi, and that an update on his condition was not expected before Monday. MLB Jerseys 2020 . Mission accomplished. Now the Royals will take the field on Saturday with a World Series lead for the first time in team history when they play Game 4 of the Fall Classic against the Giants at AT&T Park.SAN ANTONIO -- About an hour after the season ended, Chris Bosh was standing near the bus ramp from where the Miami Heat would soon depart for the airport and the off-season. Miamis two-year reign was over. And Bosh almost sounded relieved. The Heat got rolled in the NBA Finals by San Antonio, losing in five games, the last three of them lopsided, and for the first time since 2011 there would be no championship parade in Miami. The same team that the Heat wore down in the 2013 finals had all the answers, ushering in a summer for Miami that will be filled with questions about the futures of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Bosh. "I dont think anybody really enjoyed this season like in years past," Bosh told The Associated Press. "There was no, like, genuine joy all the time. It seemed like work. It was a job the whole year. Winning was just a relief. Losing was a cloud over us sometimes and then wed break out of it -- and then go right back. But we got here. We had a chance. They were just better." That being said, and while hardly committing to a fifth season of the "Big 3" era in Miami, Bosh made it clear: The group wants to remain intact. Whether or not personal choices and financial realities of a salary-capped, luxury-taxed world will allow that to happen remain unclear. "We want to stay together, man," Bosh said. "Ill say that. Its a great organization, great team and great city. And to have a chance, thats all you can ask for." James insisted he hasnt thought about what decisions he has to make this summer. Wade has often expressed interest in remaining with the Heat. Bosh has said repeatedly that he wants to stay. But all can become free agents in the next couple weeks, and the Heat might be rooting for that to happen. By opting out, they could get new deals with the Heat and create financial flexibility for team president Pat Riley to lure new pieces into a locker room that will need new faces. "The whole league continues to get better every single year," James said. "Obviously we would need to get better from every facet, every position. Its just how the league works." For as well as he played in Game 5 -- 31 points and 10 rebounds in what would be the final game of Miamis run as cchampion -- James best display of defence came afterward, when pressed repeatedly about his future.dddddddddddd "I will deal with my summer when I get to that point," James said. "Me and my team will sit down and deal with it. I love Miami. My family loves it. But obviously right now thats not even what Im thinking about. You guys are trying to find answers. Im not going to give you one." The Heat arent expected to hold exit interviews until later this week. James and Wade shared the postgame podium Sunday, possibly for the last time. Wade seemed to be labouring in the last two games of the finals, shooting just 28 per cent from the floor and 50 per cent from the foul line. "It wasnt just Dwyane," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said when asked about Wades struggles. "It was pretty much everybody except for LeBron." Wades knees and health have been a concern all year, never more than in the finals. "Im all right," Wade said. "Cant win them all. You try to, but you cant win them all." The Heat have known for four years that this summer of decisions and possible changes was looming, and have planned accordingly. Besides the "Big 3," the locker room is filled with free-agents-in-waiting. Chris Andersen, who excelled for little money the last two seasons, will be getting a raise from someone. Mario Chalmers can leave, Ray Allen isnt sure if hell play in Miami or anywhere else, Shane Battier is retiring and Udonis Haslem -- who has been with the Heat for 11 seasons, just like Wade -- also has an uncertain future. "It wasnt a distraction," Haslem said. " We got here. And if someone had told me when I signed on the dotted line that Id go to four straight finals, Id take it." The Spurs dont see the Heat going anywhere. "Theyre a class act and theyll be back next year for sure," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I dont think anybody would really doubt that." Bosh can only hope hes right. "I see why people were saying three-peating is hard. I get it now," Bosh said. "I get it. Theres just so many other things you have to fight. The human psyche, the human condition. Were all human. And it was a long, tough season." ' ' '