Andy Pettite (Photo credit: Keith Allison)
MLB’s all-time post-season winningest pitcher (19 victories) has decided to un-retire. Andy Pettite’s comeback negotiations with the Yankees, which first began back in December, were never smooth. However, while he was serving as a special instructor in this year’s spring training camp and working out in Tampa he made the decision to give it another go, signing a one-year, $2.5M minor league contract. I thought he was done……..beginning the (minimum) 5-year wait for his possible call to the Hall of Fame. Obviously, I’m NOT thinking like Andy Pettite!
His stellar 16-year career includes 240 wins, a 3.88 ERA, 2,251 strikeouts, and 99 pickoffs. The 6’-5” lefty did finish last season very well (11-3, 3.28 ERA over 129 innings), had two decent post-season starts, and was selected to his third All-Star team. He’s been on seven AL pennant-winning Yankee teams and one NL pennant-winning Astro team (2005), was a two-time 20-game winner, and has a World Series ring for each finger on his hand. In addition to the most post-season wins, Pettite also has the most post-season starts and innings pitched in MLB history. There’s not much left for him to accomplish. Did he really miss the Bronx that much?
As a Yankee, Andy Pettite is second all-time in strikeouts (133 behind Ford) and games started (42 behind Ford). He’s third in Yankee wins (33 behind Ford and 28 behind Ruffing), and fourth in all-time innings pitched for the Bronx Bombers. He may be going for that all-time Yankee strikeout record, but anything else is definitely out of reach. He says “I’m embarrassed to be coming back”…….you should be, Andy!
Pettite has admitted taking HGH at least twice in the past to “recover from injuries quicker”. Expecting to be called as a witness for the prosecution in the drug trial of his former buddy Roger Clemens, he momentarily got off the hook when that case quickly ended in a mistrial the first time. But now it’s back on, and sometime next month Federal prosecutors are expected to be calling for Pettite to testify about his use of HGH…..adding more to his strained relationship with Roger. Still, I would think that he would just sit back and enjoy the good life with his childhood sweetheart wife and four kids (18, 14, 11 and 7). Maybe he’s “misremembered” that he’ll be 40 in June?
For the time being, all I can assume is that the Yankees front office has lost faith in their starting rotation. What’s so bad going with Sabathia, Kuroda, Pineda, Nova, and Hughes or Garcia? Throw in Adam Warren, David Phelps, Manny Banuelos, and Dellin Betances too. That staff is pretty damn solid now that Cashman has unloaded under-achiever and post-game pie-in-the-face prankster A.J. Burnett to the Pirates. Why in the hell would you want a retired 40-year old?? I can’t believe Andy Pettite would agree to work out of the bullpen, so which starter is he going to replace when he comes up from the minors in May? I got it….the “Core Four” is making a comeback! Posada will be returning as a third DH, and Jeter and Mo are re-signing for three more years! Yeah, and maybe Girardi will catch a few games this September too? Reggie…..you’re on deck! Yogi……wake up!
Related articles
Looks like Andy has NOT “misremembered”! Pettite testified yesterday against his buddy Clemens, and he continues on the stand today. They won’t be exchanging Christmas cards anymore either.
Unfortunately, the day before, Andy was the one that got rocked (in his comeback attempt) giving up 6 runs and 10 hits over 5-2/3 innings in an extended spring training game.
Moment of truth for Pettite comes this Sunday in the Bronx versus Seattle. He’s been 0-2, 3.71 ERA against A and AAA bats….which is fairly comparable to the Mariners! I really think Girardi should put on the gear and get behind the plate for this one too.
Just under 42,000 came out on Mother’s Day to see what Pettite still has in the tank. He doesn’t have much…..6.1 IP, 7 hits, 4 ER (two, 2-run homers), 3 walks and 2 strikeouts in a 6-2 loss against Mariners. To make room for Andy, Freddy Garcia was demoted to bullpen (as expected) and Mo was moved to 60-day DL with RHP Cody Eppley optioned to AAA. Yanks fall to 19-15.
Pettite went 7.1 innings last night at Yankee Stadium to beat the Rays. He had 10Ks, 2 walks, gave up no runs, and surrendered only two hits! He’s now 3-2, with a 2.78 ERA. HGH is wonderful! Where can I get me some?