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The Awful Truth
2008-09-25 05:49
by Alex Belth

Andy Pettitte's Yankee career could be over. Pettitte, talking to Mark Feinsand in the Daily News, was critical of his own performance:

"The biggest thing was me, personally; I just pitched terrible," Pettitte said. "I don't think we played great, I don't think we hit in some clutch situations when we needed to, but everybody pitched really well other than me down the stretch. If I don't win one game out of my last 10 starts, I think the last couple days of the season, we'd be right there."

...But was it his last season in the Bronx? Pettitte will be a free agent at the end of the season, and while he said he would consider playing only for the Yankees next year, he hasn't decided whether he's prepared to take on the mental grind that comes with another season.

"I probably just need to get away for a while, but I don't want to drag it out," Pettitte said. "They've pretty much already told me they'd like to have me back, so we'll just have to see."

I wouldn't be surprised to see Pettitte return but I'm not counting on it.

Comments
2008-09-25 07:28:19
1.   Knuckles
I'm a Pettitte fan but I can't see bringing back both him and Moose next year, so you're gonna have to choose between the two. Their IP, K/9 and pitches per start were both similar this year, and Moose had 20 Quality Starts to Andy's 18 (I know, not the greatest stat in the world.) But Mussina walks a ton fewer guys and this year gave up significantly less hits (Mike's WHIP 1.23 to Andy's 1.44). And if you want to get all BP-ish, Mussina's VORP is more than double Andy's this year. Both havd a similar BABIP this year in the .330 to .340 range so no major corrections are likely.

I'd posit that when Andy's on his game, he's a match for Moose, but bad Andy is much much worse than bad Moose. Add that to the fact that Andy is aging, while Mussina has already aged, and changed his repertoire as a result, and he's a safer bet (if you care to gamble on 35+ year old pitchers) than Pettitte for the next year or two.

2008-09-25 07:28:32
2.   Knuckles
I'm a Pettitte fan but I can't see bringing back both him and Moose next year, so you're gonna have to choose between the two. Their IP, K/9 and pitches per start were both similar this year, and Moose had 20 Quality Starts to Andy's 18 (I know, not the greatest stat in the world.) But Mussina walks a ton fewer guys and this year gave up significantly less hits (Mike's WHIP 1.23 to Andy's 1.44). And if you want to get all BP-ish, Mussina's VORP is more than double Andy's this year. Both havd a similar BABIP this year in the .330 to .340 range so no major corrections are likely.

I'd posit that when Andy's on his game, he's a match for Moose, but bad Andy is much much worse than bad Moose. Add that to the fact that Andy is aging, while Mussina has already aged, and changed his repertoire as a result, and he's a safer bet (if you care to gamble on 35+ year old pitchers) than Pettitte for the next year or two.

2008-09-25 07:47:52
3.   buffalocharlie
I prefer the rotation of Mussina, Wang, Chamberlain, Hughes, and Aceves next year. I have been rooting for Andy Pettitte for a long time, but would prefer he did not pitch for the Yanks next year.

Also, I would have Kennedy pitching in AAA and ready to go if the one of five mention above gets injured.

2008-09-25 08:01:29
4.   JL25and3
I'm not ready to go overboard on Aceves. I'd give him a chance to win a job in the rotation, but I wouldn't pencil him in quite yet.
2008-09-25 08:17:19
5.   ny2ca2dc
I think it has to come down to money. If Andy wants to be paid like he's an above average pitcher, say 12mm, that would be a tough one. But if he's willing to come back at an amount where it would be reasonable to retire him mid-season (should it become necessary), go for it. Andy at 6mil would be a nice 4th starter for a team that has gone with question marks for the 4 & 5 slots since '05.
2008-09-25 08:17:36
6.   ny2ca2dc
5 err, since '03
2008-09-25 09:23:39
7.   yankster
3 Penciling in 5 guys just isn't going to do it. The Yankees need at least 7 plausible pitchers to have a shot, especially when two of them, Hughes and Aceves are both still essentially rookies.
5 So I agree, it's about money, if he's cheap, we've got to sign him. On the other hand $6 million seems like maybe Pettite would be offended?
2008-09-25 12:14:50
8.   rbj
7 I dunno if Pettitte would be offended b $6 mil, if he understood that he'd be at the back end of the rotation.

I suspect the rotation will look something like

Sabathia/Burnett
Wang
Hughes (?)
Moose/Pettitte
Aceves/IPK/_____??
with Joba being eased in there at some point.

Part of me wants Moose & Pettitte both back, but that's just the sentimentality talking, and the whole team -- rotation and position players -- needs to get a bit younger.

OTOH, I think the bullpen is looking pretty decent for next season.

2008-09-25 12:24:58
9.   Biscuit Pants
8 I think IPK is the stuff of trade bait. And, frankly, I don't want him. Aceves seems to have more . . . what's the word . . . grit?
2008-09-25 13:04:35
10.   rbj
9 Yeah. I was trying to come up with other internal names to compete for the fifth slot, and didn't really want to write down Ponson or Pav___ nope, can't go there.

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