When you look at the pitchers that the N.Y. Yankees
have on their roster (C.C. Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda,
Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia, Michae Pineda,
etc.), it's fair to say that if Any Pettitte makes
this roster after a full year away from the game,
it may be just as good as telling their opponents:
"We don't trust our pitching staff".
If I were the Yankees I'm not sure I would turn him
down either, what have I got to lose? It's a great
feel good story, and if I look around the league
it's clear to see that he isn't even forty yet,
when there are plenty of pitchers over 40 pitching.
Jamie Moyer is 47, and he might make the Rockies
pitching staff, but the Yankees aren't the Rockies,
are they? They Yankees only measure success with
World Series Championships, not how many feel good
stories they can ring up. Pettitte walked away a
year ago because he wanted to spend more time with
his family, this is also known as a lack of desire,
or drive to want to do it anymore. Why should we
believe that his is just going to be able to turn
it on just like that. The body isn't as responsive
at 39 as it is at 19, and heck even 29 can be a bit
of a struggle sometimes for a professional athlete.
Pettitte is going to start the year in the minors,
what does that tell you? Roger Clemens didn't do
so bad when he joined late, did a couple of minor
league starts, and was clearly past his prime age
wise, but he had a little "help". Since Andy says
that he would never use that type of help again,
the Yankees can only hope. Andy Pettitte has always
been Mr. Clutch for the Yankees, so I guess they can
hope that he rides out the full season, and hits his
stride come playoff time, assuming they are in the
playoffs, and why wouldn't we?
I still think that invariably this is a sign that
neither Brian Cashman, nor Joe Girardi believe that
their pitching staff is strong enough to win it all,
or has enough clutch individuals on it to be counted
on. Now they just have to hope, Andy Pettite can be
close to the man that left in 2010.
Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis
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