By WFAN.com
Adam Ottavino is still trying to live down his claim that he "would strike out Babe Ruth every time."
The newly signed Yankees reliever made the comment in December on MLB.com's "Statcast Podcast" while trying to explain how much the game has evolved.
He concedes now that "it was a stupid thing to say." But it'll take a while before people purge that boastful remark from their memories.
In fact, WFAN's Joe Benigno kicked off an interview with Ottavino on Tuesday jokingly asking him if he could strike out Ted Williams.
"I'd like to think so, but who knows?" Ottavino answered.
Ottavino said he was surprised by the backlash he received over the comment.
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"I think if I would have used a different name than the one and only Babe Ruth, I think it would've went unnoticed, for sure," the Brooklyn native said.
The Yankees signed Ottavino in January to a three-year, $27 million contract. The right-hander had spent the previous seven seasons in Colorado.
He said he's excited to be part of a loaded bullpen that also includes Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, Zack Britton and Chad Green, adding that one of the main reasons he signed with the Yankees was because he wanted to "be a part of something special."
"And watching these guys up close is certainly that, and I'm just hoping to be another really good option for the manager," Ottavino said. "And hopefully we can hold the leads."
As for his role?
"I think the game plan is, with the depth of the pen, to make sure we're not overabusing anybody," Ottavino said. "We're going to keep picking each other up, making sure that guys aren't going too many days in a row so we can stay fresh for the long haul. And in addition, (manager Aaron Boone is) going to try to match me up against righties. That's been a big strength in my career and something that maybe the team lacked last year or the year before a little bit."
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