Kuzul

There is no greater tribute an athlete can have bestowed upon them by the franchise they played for then to have their uniform number retired, cementing their legacy and ties to the franchise forever.

These ceremonies are always emotional—the player’s family joins him on the field, former teammates come back for the celebration, and the fans get to express their gratitude and say goodbye one more time.

With the illustrious history of the New York Yankees, one would think that sooner or later, they will run out of numbers as more and more great players and managers take their rightful place on the wall in Monument Park.

“Louisiana Lightning” Ron Guidry was the last Yankee to have his number retired, back in 2003.

Five others have or do wear the pinstripes with pride, dignity and class, and their accomplishments on the field are overdue in being celebrated.

(Note: Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are OBVIOUS, so I am not including them in this. It’s a foregone conclusion that upon their retirements, both will get their number retired and monuments erected in their honor. )

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Quick, check your calender. OK it’s still 2011. Yes, that was the theme of this offseason for your usual big spending, aggressive New York Yankees. I’m not sure if Hank and Hal Steinbrenner know what year it is, because they sure as hell don’t know how to construct a team. If I didn’t know any better I would of thought Tommy Boy was running this organization.

After being shunned by Cliff Lee, the Yankees looked elsewhere for help. They would take the time machine back to the early 2000s to reload for this up coming season

Acquisitions such as, Bartolo Colon, Mark Prior (still pitches apparently,) Eric Chavez, Rafael Soriano, Russell Martin, Andruw Jones, and David Cone (OK, kidding)  would headline the key signings of this year’s offseason class for a team that is generally noted for signing the best free agents that become available.

Against Brian Cashman’s wishes, Hal Steinbrenner signed Rafael Soriano to a three-year, $35 million contract, while surrendering the teams first-round pick in this June’s amateur draft. Mixed feelings on this because even though the Yankees signed one of the best closers in the game, and presumably will be the heir apparent to the great Mariano Rivera, he’s going to be their set-up man for at least the next two years.

First-round pick vs set-up man? I’m not so sure I’m sold on this. The Yanks will undoubtedly have the best bullpen in the league. I also like the move in the form of weakening your divisional opponent that has an abundance of youth and talent, to go along with successful seasons the last few years including a World Series trip in 2008.

It’s hard not to think that a couple of 22-year-old basement dwellers playing MLB “The Show” 2011, couldn’t do a better job then Hank and Hal putting together a team. I’m not sure if it’s good for baseball having a couple of knuckleheads in charge of arguably the most popular organization in all of sports.

In fact George Steinbrenner choose his son-in-law to run the organization over Hank and Hal. I can’t help but picture Hank and Hal being thrust into the role of Commodus in the movie Gladiator when George told them the news about how they will not be taking over as owners of the New York Yankees:

George: Hank and Hal,are you ready for your duty of the Yankees?

Hank/Hal: Yes, father.

George: You will not be owners of the New York Yankees.

Hank/Hal: Who will take our place?

George: Stephen Swindal (Son-in-law)

Hank/Hal: You wrote to me once, listing the four chief virtues: wisdom, justice, fortitude and temperance. As I read the list, I knew I had none of them.

I’m not ruling out some kind of botched divorce case between Hank and Hal’s sister Jennifer and Stephen Swindal, so they could take over the reigns! In all seriousness though, what state are the Yankees in moving forward with this duo at the helm?

I’d like to think the Yankees will be in the thick of things come the trade deadline and nab a pitcher another team is willing to dump for prospects, but I have a feeling that that pitcher will be in the mold of a Kevin Millwood type. Point is this, don’t rule out anything.

The Yankees will be in the wild card race due to their offensive prowess, but unless they can trade for a legit pitcher come the trade deadline their ceiling isn’t that high. The loss of Andy Pettitte will sting as well. Best case scenario is Pettitte comes back later in the season, and the Yanks trade for a legit number two starting pitcher.

Yankee fans, get ready for an interesting year. Hank and Hal haven’t had to push the panic button yet and it may be scary when they are pushed into the situation. Somewhere George is turning in his grave.

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For the first time in 17 years Andy Pettitte won’t be putting on pinstripes (he even wore pinstripes during his Houston stint).

Pettitte suited up for the Bronx Bombers in 13 of his 16 seasons in the big leagues. In his career he amassed 240 wins and 138 losses (Yankee record: 203-112). Pettitte is third all time in career wins in the Yankees organization.

Think about that for a minute. Andy Pettitte is third all time in wins for an organization that’s done nothing but win since they won their first World Series way back in 1923.

So is he get the call to Cooperstown? It’s not an easy question to answer.

Why he is a Hall a Famer:

Andy Pettitte joined the Yankees back in ’95. In ’96 he went 21-8 and the Yankees won their first World Series since 1978. He played 11 more seasons in New York after that, and was the one constant in the Yankees rotation during their five championships. 

Pettitte is one of four Yankees (Jeter, Posada, Rivera) that has been apart of all five championship teams since ’96. I believe the other three guys will all be in the Hall one day.

His 240 career wins are more than the likes of Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and John Smoltz. Pettitte won over 20 games twice in his career, and won 15 or more games eight different times. He finished in the top five of the Cy Young in four different seasons. 

Pettitte’s Hall of Fame case will come down to more than what the back of his baseball card reads. His role in the Yankees championship runs should carry a lot of weight on whether or not he gets in the Hall of Fame. Try and name another starting pitcher who has won five World Series championships over the last 20 years.

That’s what I thought.

Why he won’t get the call the Cooperstown

Pettitte wasn’t always the Yankees ace when they were winning championships (though he definitely was in ’96). The Yankees had  Mike Mussina, David Wells, Roger Clemens, and David Cone during their championship runs. In many of those years Pettitte was the third guy in the rotation (behind Clemens and Mussina). I personally don’t think that should be knock on him, but there will be voters that will hold that against him.

Pettitte’s numbers are good, they’re really good, but they aren’t great. In this day and age a pitcher needs to win 300 games or have been the most dominant pitcher in the game for a part of his career if he’s going to get in the Hall of Fame (see Pedro Martinez http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martipe02.shtml). Pettitte doesn’t have either on his resume.

The biggest mark against Pettitte is his admission of HGH use. He was one of the first players to come out and actually admit to using performance enhancing substances. Pettitte was sincere in his apology and actually earned a lot of respect for coming clean. But that doesn’t change the fact that he used PED’s.

The Hall of Fame hasn’t been kind to players who’ve used PED’s; Mark McGwire only recieved 19.8 percent of the votes on last years ballot. So Pettitte’s odds don’t look very good in that respect.

However, over time the steroid issue will begin to die down, and some of the players from that particular era will eventually get in. There will be new baseball writers that get a Hall of Fame vote in the future; many of them will have grown up during the height of the steroid era. Will these new voters keep out all of their childhood heroes? Only time will tell.

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Baseball is, for the most part, an exact science.

That is why we can compare Tony Gwynn and Tris Speaker, even though 75 years passed between their respective debuts. We know that Speaker’s .345 average is still very comparable to Gwynn’s .338.

Of course the game has changed slightly. Speaker averaged 25 stolen bases a season, four more than Gwynn. But 25 steals was less impressive in the 1910s than 21 was 80 years later.

For the most part, however, the numbers have remained fairly constant, especially since the dead ball era came to an end in 1920.

Yet it is this exactness and consistency, which gives birth to the most inexact part of the sport: the Hall of Fame.

People will argue to their dying day that player X should make it and player Y should not. That is why it took Bert Blyleven and Jim Rice so long, and why people still fight for Luis Tiant. (In all seriousness, how is Catfish Hunter in Cooperstown when Tiant is not?)

HoF voting is painted in many shades of grey and there will never be a right answer. Bear in mind, there were people who did not vote for Willie Mays in 1979.

But whilst debating the merits of one player can be at once entertaining and infuriating, comparing two similar players can be even more so.

Enter Andy Pettitte. The longtime Yankee announced his retirement earlier this month and instantly sparked debate about his Cooperstown credentials. Even his most ardent supporter will admit that his regular season numbers are not good enough and that you have to look at the postseason to see his true value. The same argument is made for Curt Schilling.

The two have had quite similar careers. Although an incredibly inexact measurement, Baseball Reference’s “similar pitchers” section lists Pettitte as being most like David Wells, Kevin Brown and Bob Welch. It has Schilling as being most similar to Brown, Welch and Orel Hershiser. It is an awful tool for comparison, of course, but it is interesting, at least.

So let’s compare. Do either deserve a spot? (Incidentally, although Schilling retired in 2008, his last game was in ’07, so he will be eligible in 2013, three years before Pettitte.)

Invariably, the first stat everyone looks to is wins.

In 16 seasons, Pettitte went 240-138 for a .635 winning percentage.

In 20 seasons, Schilling was 216-146, a .597 winning percentage.

There will be those who will cry that neither is close to 300 wins, so neither deserves to make the Hall. The answer to their argument? Sandy Koufax. Yes, injury curtailed his career at just 12 seasons, but he only won 165 games. Anyone want to argue that he is not one of the greatest pitchers of all time?

Wins are a poor statistic. A pitcher has to rely too heavily on his teammates helping him out. If they cannot, his win-loss record will suffer, something known now as the Felix Hernandez Deficiency.

Curt Schilling played on some terrible Philadelphia teams in the ’90s. The Phillies had a winning record just once in his time with the franchise. Andy Pettitte on the other hand, was on a New York side about to become a dynasty. He debuted in 1995. The Yankees won the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000, and won the AL pennant in 2001 and 2003.

Simply put, he got more help than Schilling ever did.

That is not to take anything away from Pettitte; he was a good pitcher, but he was never great. Look at his ERA.

Schilling had a sub-3.30 ERA nine times. Pettitte managed it four times. In seasons with at least 160 IP, Schilling accomplished it eight times to Pettitte’s two.

Over the course of their careers, it is closer, but Schilling still wins it 3.46 to 3.88.

In any case, neither player probably deserves a place in Cooperstown based on their regular season records. But then you look at the postseason. It was only after the calendar flipped to October that each made a name for himself.

Five-time champion Andy Pettitte won 19 games in the playoffs, more than any other pitcher in history. However, as has been established, wins are a poor indicator of a pitcher’s ability by themselves. Remember, Pettitte has pitched in a staggering 42 playoff games. His record of 19-10 is very good, but it is not incredible. Neither is his 3.83 postseason ERA.

Curt Schilling—who has three rings—is another matter. In 19 playoff starts, he went 11-2 with a 2.23 earned run average and a WHIP below one. Just give the man a plaque.

Both are borderline cases, but in almost every category, Schilling is closer to being HoF-worthy.

He deserves to be in the Hall. Pettitte just falls short. And then we reach the question of performance-enhancing drugs.

Andy Pettitte has admitted taking them and in the eyes of some, his honesty has exonerated him from the same blame and hatred that has befallen Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, et al. There will be others, though, who will never vote for him.

The issue might be moot, anyway. Although Pettitte is retired, there is a strong feeling that he will pull a Roger Clemens and return midseason.

Somebody warn Suzyn Waldman.

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Unless you have been living under a rock you already know the deal.

The New York Yankees main focus in this past offseason was to acquire starting pitching. Brian Cashman’s genius plan was to put the teams hopes, dreams and eggs all in one basket named Cliff Lee.

Cashman, ever the fool, believed that the Yankees could wave their bank account under the nose of Cliff Lee, sprinkle it with the pride, power and prestige of the Yankee pinstripe tradition and he would become giddy like some 14-year-old boy getting his first real kiss…and sign on the dotted line while trying not to drool.

The arrogance and short sightedness of Cashman is truly astounding. The colossal mistake the Yankees have made and continue to make has nothing to do with Cliff Lee. It has everything to do with Joba Chamberlain.

(If only the Yankees had a farm system like the other teams where they could develop their own talent…What? They do? Hmmm…)

The Yankees need for Lee was obvious as their rotation coming into the 2011 season was anchored by the ever steady C.C Sabathia, an as yet to be fully tested Phil Hughes (one season of 18 wins coming off another season in which he was banished to the pen does not instill massive confidence in a repeat performance), a disappointing A.J Burnett (Well, I am not sure Burnett was really disappointing more than he was just slightly off what he usually delivers…he is a career .500 pitcher, it’s not like he is Cy young material) and an unproven rookie named Ivan Nova.

They needed Lee, or any pitcher. It would be nice if they had someone in the fold that could step up.

(Joba Chamberlain is available…oh wait, never mind. The Yankees are pissed that he has not delivered on his talent even though their management of him is the real problem. It’s easier to blame the kid.)

Then of course, at the time, there was the Andy Pettitte “will he or won’t he” dance that has become annoyingly familiar in New York.

To make matters worse, the Yankee pen was full of holes.

If they lost out on Lee and Pettitte retired, the Yankees were seriously looking at a third or fourth place finish…no joke.

(Joba Chamberlain can start…but won’t because Brian Cashman is not qualified for the role he currently fills in New York. He is, in every sense of the word, unqualified.)

Lee ended up in Philly most likely due to the fact that A:) He knew he could not handle the pressure of New York B:)The treatment of Derek Jeter told him what to expect C:) He did not like the way his wife was treated by the Yankees fans in the Post Season D:) He looked at the Philly rotation with him in it and well, the man is not stupid.

I do not care what Lee has said, nor what people believe…I believe that those are the reasons, and all played a role, in why Lee chose to take the job in Philly. I look at Lee as a coward that did not want the pressure cooker of New York. He is a very smart, well paid coward though.

(Joba Chamberlain is in New York…under contract…in pinstripes…he can start…hello?)

Pettitte finally manned up and made a decision to retire most likely due to the fact that A:) The Roger Clemens trial would be a distraction for him and the team. Pettitte is a creature of habit and does not like his routines to be messed with. B:) Without Lee in the mix Pettitte would have a ton of pressure upon him to perform…Pettitte is a big game pitcher but he is most comfortable as the middle of the rotation guy, not the savior C:) He honestly wants to spend more time with his family.

I do not care what Pettitte has said, nor what people believe, I believe that those are the reasons, and all played a role, in why Andy has chosen to ride the recliner in Deer Park and not don the pinstripes in 2011.

(Joba Chamberlain was seen getting a ticket heading to Tampa to report to spring training as a reliever when the Yankees need starting pitching. Cashman is a genius, not.)

So the Yankees, in fear of facing a third or fourth place finish go out and bolster their bullpen by landing Pedro Feliciano and Alphonso Soriano (In what will go down as the biggest contract joke ever in the history of baseball…I mean seriously, Cashman is a fool. I have no doubt Soriano will deliver, but 35 million dollars with an option for him to opt out at anytime? Are you kidding me?) giving the Yankees arguably, on paper, the best bullpen in the game right now with or without without Chamberlain who figures to play a very minor role this season because, due to his past performance, he cannot be trusted.

(Of course the Yankees and their management of him plays no part…no, of course not. The boy failed on his own in a team sport, imagine that.)

However, they need starters. The market is thin. What is a team to do?

(Joba Chamberlain as a starter has an ERA in the low 3’s…I think he is on the Yankees Roster. Does Cashman know he is there? Someone should email Brian and let him know that Joba has started before. Let’s not forget he is still young and a serious investment into his talent and ability could pay off for a decade or more…but hey, it’s easier to just toss him into the pen where he can do minimal damage, right Brian?)

In desperation the Yankees go the low risk, hopefully huge return route of signing former starting studs Mark Prior, Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia to minor league deals. There is nothing else out there, unless you consider Chamberlain, which Cashman in his infinite wisdom won’t do.

(Didn’t the Yankees have a young kid that was a “phenom” a few years ago? No not Phil Hughes…the portly big boy whose father was always in the stands. I think his name was Joba. What? He is still on the Yankee roster? Wait, wasn’t he a starter once?)

So, where does that leave the Yankees for 2011?

A starting rotation of C.C Sabathia, Phil Hughes, A.J Burnett, Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia is the most likely scenario at this point for 2011. Garcia was 12-6 last season and seems to have rebounded from injury. All he has to do is out pitch Sergio Mitre, which should be possible for the veteran, and he is in.

Again, the Yankees bullpen is set with the likes of Rivera, Logan, Feliciano, Soriano, Robertson, Mitre, possibly Prior and some kid named Joba Chamberlain, who has a 1.54 ERA as a reliever. I think he used to start once upon a time but hey, why quibble over small details.

Bottom line folks…the Yankees don’t need Chamberlain in the pen, they need him in the starting rotation. Yes, the debate rages on but seriously…

As a reliever Chamberlain goes against his natural talent and thinks too much on the mound. When Joba thinks on the mound bad things happen. He is a machine…adding artificial intelligence only mucks up the mechanics.

I have watched this kid, and yes, he is a kid, pitch as a starter and a reliever.

If you have watched him as well you will agree with me that when he comes on as a reliever he thinks too much. He has a starter’s mentality. When a runner gets on base he gets unnerved. He pitches from the stretch which is something a reliever should never do. 

He tries to be too fine with his pitches. He gets rattled too easily because in his mind he knows he is only out there for a few batters, maybe one inning…but he approaches it like a starter that is rushed and thus gets rocked.

When Chamberlain was “lights out as a reliever” he came in, worked quickly, did not shake off the catcher and just threw smoke. Look back when he first came up…work quick, smoke, pump fist. Check.

When he gets rocked he takes his time, throws a lot of off speed stuff and tries to be too fine…just like a starter.

When he started and did well, he worked quickly, did not shake off the catcher and threw smoke with a nasty change mixed in. As a starter he gave up slightly over three runs per game over his career starts. That is better than every starter currently in place to pitch for the team this coming season.

The Yankees, in my opinion, are making a monumental mistake of keeping Chamberlain in the pen and not working with him during the offseason to build his stamina, get him on a serious diet, work on his mechanics and pitching with runners on.

Chamberlain, when working quickly and just trusting his stuff, is a better pitcher than Burnett, equal to Hughes, blows Mitre away and has better stuff than Garcia.

Chamberlain in the bullpen is yet another example of Brian Cashman’s lack of baseball knowledge…and arrogance and ego of not wanting to look bad by committing the Kid to start. The less he is seen the less chance he screws up, right Brian?

C.C Sabathia, Phil Hughes, A.J Burnett, Freddy Garcia and Joba Chamberlain…it’s the Yankees best option for the coming year barring some blockbuster trade that appears unlikely to happen.

Joba gets a lot of flack from fans and media alike but the Yankees management of this kid is the real problem…it’s a disgrace actually.

Let the kid pitch…

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It was the game that could turn things around for the 1996 New York Yankees in the World Series against the Atlanta Braves.

After losing the first two games at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees won the next two games in Atlanta thanks to a solid David Cone pitching performance in the third game, and an improbable home run by Jim Leyritz in the fourth game.

The Braves were primed for Game 5. John Smoltz, who finished his career with a 13-2 playoff record and a 2-2 World Series mark, was the Braves’ starter.

During the season, Smoltz went 24-8 with a 2.94 ERA and a WHIP of 1.001. He beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first playoff round, beat the St. Louis Cardinals twice in the second round, and won the World Series opener against the Yankees.

Andy Pettitte, whom Smoltz bested in the opener, was the Yankees’ starter. Pettitte had been less than excellent that game as the Yankees suffered an embarrassing 12-1 drubbing, giving up seven runs in only two and two-thirds innings.

During the season, Pettitte had been 21-8 with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.362 WHIP in a league with the designated hitter.

After getting belted by the Braves in the Series opener, Pettitte wanted redemption.

“I’m just excited that I’ll have another shot. Obviously, I’m not very satisfied with the outing I had in my first start,” said Pettitte.

Pettitte had major problems in the 1996 playoffs. In the second game of the first playoff round against the Texas Rangers, he gave up four runs, two home runs, and six walks in six and one-third innings. The Yankees managed to win, 5-4 in 12 innings.

In his next start, this time against the Baltimore Orioles in the second playoff round’s opener, the Birds scored four runs in seven innings against Pettitte, who walked four and gave up seven hits. The Yankees won, 5-4 in 11 innings.

Manager Joe Torre and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre were quite concerned. They and the reporters who had covered the Yankees all season wondered if Pettitte had a bad case of nerves.

But none of them really knew Andy Pettitte.

With the Yankees leading, three games to one, Torre gave the ball to Pettitte. All Andy did was hurl eight solid innings, allowing only a pair of runs, three hits, and one walk to clinch the AL championship series.

Now it was Game 5 of the World Series. Pettitte has worked 60 more innings in 1996 than he had ever worked, but he claimed that it didn’t affect him.

A key to Andy Pettitte was that he emphasized his strengths, not his opponents’ weaknesses.

He told reporters that “I have to change speeds, locate my pitches, and maybe work a little more away.”

The Yankees’ big left-hander was confident despite his recent problems. He knew that Stottlemyre was right when he said that Andy would succeed if he made quality pitches.

And did Pettitte succeed. He pitched eight and one-third scoreless innings, giving up five hits and three walks.

And with the help of John Wettleland, who was saved by a great catch off a Luis Polonia line drive to deep right field by Paul O’Neill, won his first World Series game.

He would go on to win many more October games before he called it quits.

References:

Retrosheet

SMITH, Claire. “Pressure on Pettitte to Win an Edge.” New York Times (1923-Current file)1996: B16. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2006). Web. PROQUESTMS. 7 Feb. 2011 .

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Well, the Super Bowl is over, and that only means only thing: the countdown to Opening Day has just begun. There are 51 days left until then (as of Monday, February 7). That gives us just about a month and a half to prepare.

The Yankees have had an interesting offseason; and by interesting, I really mean disappointing. Highlighted by the failed signing of ace Cliff Lee, the Yankees also watched its two toughest division opponents go in opposite directions.

Before we look ahead to this season, let’s recap last year.

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Andy Pettitte, who announced his retirement from baseball on Friday, pitched 15 seasons in the major leagues for the New York Yankees and Houston Astros. With New York, in stints spread from 1995 to 2003 and 2007 to 2010, he won five World Series championships.

He has 19 postseason wins, most all-time. He finished with 240 regular season wins, averaging 32 stars per season. But despite his rings, clutch postseason play and overall durability, he didn’t win a Cy Young award, was an All-Star only three times and, most importantly, admitted to steroid use.

In 2007, Pettitte admitted to using Human Growth Hormone to recover from an elbow injury in 2002, during the heart of his prime. His admission, albeit five years after the fact, is to be applauded, considering Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds continue to deny usage when there is solid evidence against.

But how long did Pettitte really take steroids? We may never know, but going from what is known, it is difficult to put him in the Hall of Fame.

His postseason play, rings and steroid usage aside, Pettitte’s numbers warrant a good look from the voters but he is by no means a shoo-in statistically. His 240 wins are nice, but he posted an ERA over four eight times and has a career-mark of 3.88.

Still, he was always a pitcher who could be counted on. When he was on the hill in a big game, no matter if it took place deep into October or in the heart of summer, he tended to deliver. The 6’5″ lefthander, who covered his face with his glove as he looked in for the sign and who started his windup with a deceptive leg-kick, was good.

But great? No.

The era in which he pitched is tainted. The only clean players worthy of being named to the Hall of Fame over the past 20 years are Chipper Jones, Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Ken Griffey Jr., Vladimir Guerrero and, I would argue, Curt Schilling.

That’s a solid list, but it could be a lot longer. Everyone else who would be enshrined based on statistical achievements have either admitted to steroid use or are under suspicion and deny resolving to the syringe.

There is so much surrounding Roger Clemens currently regarding his alleged steroid use that Pettitte’s can’t be overlooked. Just because he admitted using HGH doesn’t mean he should be forgiven.

He looked for an unfair advantage. He didn’t play the game the right way. He says he only took it for two days.

If this is the truth, that’s sad. But, even still, it attaches an asterisk next to accolades not good enough to get him in on their own merit.

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When Andy Pettitte’s name hits the ballot for the Hall of Fame in five years, the Baseball Writers of America Association (BBWAA) will have a very difficult decision on their hands.  His candidacy touches on so much of what has happened in the last 20 years in baseball. 

The case for Pettitte is built on one simple premise: He has been one of baseball’s biggest winners over his 16-year career. We are talking about five World Series titles in eight trips. We are talking about a career winning percentage of 63 percent and a playoff winning percentage of 65 percent. 

Pettitte retires as the winningest pitcher in postseason history (19 wins). During the period from 1995 to 2009, no major league pitcher accumulated more victories. His 148 wins from 2000 to 2009 were the most in the decade. Pettitte also possessed one of the best pick-off moves in the history of the game. 

Pettitte’s defining season was his sophomore campaign. In 1996, he lead the league in wins (21) was third in win-loss percentage (.724) and was eighth in the AL in ERA (3.87).  He made his first All-Star team and finished second in the AL Cy Young. 

His legacy as a winner was born, however, in the World Series. Game 6 of the World Series was the defining win of the recent Yankee dynasty and the signature victory of his career. Quite simply, the Yankees do not win three titles in four years without Andy Pettitte’s 1-0 victory of future Hall of Famer John Smoltz. 

His consistency can be measured by his 2009 performance. He finished with 14 wins against eight losses, with ERA and WHIP near career norms. More importantly, he was the second starting pitcher in history to win three series-clinching games (ALDS, ALCS and World Series) in the same postseason. In addition, Pettitte won the game where the Yankees clinched the division.

There are many who would dispute his Hall of Fame candidacy. I can see the arguments:

Human Growth Hormone

To those in the BBWAA who would dismiss his candidacy based on his admittance of HGH use, you are all hypocrites. The BBWAA is just as culpable in turning a blind eye towards the Steroid Era.

You cannot, on the one hand, wax poetic about how Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire’s home run chase brought the fans back to baseball after the strike and then take the moral high road and point to them as all that is wrong with the sport. Put them in the Hall of Fame and let their plaques explain the context of the day. It will be their Scarlet Letter.

Milestone Misses

Pettitte falls well short of the 300-win plateau that would bring “automatic” enshrinement. He is light on All-Star and Cy Young finishes. His ERA and WHIP would be near the bottom of pitchers in the Hall of Fame. 

The flip side to the argument is that he won when it mattered. He’s got five World Series rings in eight tries (mirroring his career winning percentage). He’s pitched nearly two full seasons in the playoffs and is the career playoff starts leader and second in World Series starts. 

The Greatness Test

Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com posted an interesting article articulating how Pettitte falls short. 

In response to Matthew’s article, I argue that Pettitte’s Hall of Fame candidacy will only grow as time goes by. Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte are the Core Four.

As distance grows on this recent Yankee dynasty, perspective will change on how instrumental Pettitte (and Posada) were to the Yankees’ championships. 

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Andy Pettitte announced his retirement this past week. Is he done for good

Only Andy knows but something tells me the answer is no. Pettitte is competitive and the draw of the game will pull at him during the course of the season.  I suspect in large part his decision to retire came about due to…

A: His impending testimony in the Roger Clemens perjury trial would be a distraction to the team, and himself during spring training and throughout the first few months of the season. Pettitte is a creature of habit and he does not like to have anything interfere with his normal routines.

I believe Pettitte will silently work out through June, testify and wait for the call in July to help the Yankees if they are still in the hunt. It happens all the time, and will again in New York if the conditions are right.

B: Retiring now allows him to spend the time he wants with his family, watching his kids play ball in school, something he has missed over his career and has been very public about. If he comes back it will be in the summer when his kids are out of school.

Don’t forget, his family supposedly wants him to play…Andy is going to have a hard time not wanting to when he is free of some of his obligations.

Is Any Pettitte a Hall of Fame Pitcher?

In my opinion, as a left hander, you bet your behind he is. However my opinion and a bag of socks don’t matter in the real world.

On paper, Pettitte’s numbers are Hall worthy. His winning percentage as a lefty, his post season play—it’s all good.

However, the Hall of Fame is an elitist society voted on by narrow minded people that rarely base there decisions fairly.

Pettitte’s failing to reach the 300 win milestone, while not a specific criteria, will be a problem for some voters. The fact that he pitched the majority of his career for the Yankees is another problem for some voters (and don’t tell me it won’t….there is a prejudiced in Hall voting) and the PED allegations and his subsequent confession will hurt his chances greatly.

He should be in…but it took Blyleven forever and performance enhancing drugs were never in the conversation in regards to his consideration.

Sadly I fear that Pettitte will never hear the call for the Hall.

If the Yankees landed Cliff Lee would Pettitte be pitching for New York this year?

If the Yankees could have landed Cliff Lee, Pettitte would be reporting to Tampa on February 14^th relaxed and eager to pitch yet another season. I am completely convinced of that.

Why? Andy is many things, but he is not stupid. He sees the current state of the Yankee rotation without Lee in it and therefore his role changes dramatically with or without Lee.

With Lee on board, Pettitte would easily slip into the third slot in the rotation with little pressure. He would be able to just go do his thing every 5 days. With Lee, the prospect of winning increases greatly.

Lee stated he joined the Phillies because their rotation could be historic. Pettitte might have thought the same thing in being part of a rotation with Sabathia, Lee, Hughes and Himself.

Not so historic or tempting without Lee in the mix.

Without Lee, Pettitte all the sudden moves up to the number 2 slot and must be a savior. Would you want to come back under those conditions in the pressure cooking, must win every year powder keg that is New York?

Winning, without Lee in the rotation, is less of a certainty.

If the Yankees, with their patchwork, retread rotation, can somehow stay in the hunt come July I would not be afraid to be the House that Cashman makes a call to Deer Park…and that call will be answered.

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