Is Pettitte’s Return Related to Mike Pineda, Dellin Betances & Manny Baneulos?
March 16, 2012 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Bizarre is not the right word. Maybe unbelievable is better. Ridiculous describes it best.
The New York Yankees have just announced that they have signed Andy Pettitte to a minor league contract with the likelihood that he will pitch for them this season. The contract is for $2.5 million.
Pettitte joined the Yankees in 1995, left for the Houston Astros for the 2004-2006 seasons, and returned home in 2007. He retired following the 2010 season.
How will a soon-to-be 40-year-old left-hander that has missed an entire season fare in a comeback attempt?
Does the signing of Pettitte have anything to do with Michael Pineda’s lack of velocity and the possibility that he is not going give the Yankees the production they hoped they would receive from him?
Is this an admission by the Yankees that prized prospects Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos are not as prized as originally believed?
Pettitte has 203 Yankees wins and 240 for his career. Whitey Ford has 236 wins, so it’s not likely that Pettitte will pass him on the all-time Yankees win list.
A borderline Hall of Famer at best, Pettitte admitted to using HGH (human growth hormone) in 2002 when he was suffering from an elbow injury. The admission cannot help his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame.
Another negative is that Pettitte has a lifetime 3.88 ERA. No pitcher in the Hall of Fame has such a high ERA.
In his favor, he has never been on a losing team, and he is one of only eight pitchers to compile a .635 winning percentage and 240 wins. Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Lefty Grove, Jim Palmer, Randy Johnson, former friend Roger Clemens and Mike Mussina are the others.
Andy Pettitte has always exhibited class. He has always been a winner. Some might criticize him for retiring and returning. They may say he is addicted to the game. That is great. Maybe he is addicted to the game.
All winners are addicted to the game.
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