Now that we’ve had some time to think about it, here’s a collection of thoughts on the mind-blowing Andy Pettitte signing.
1. Could end up being much ado about nothing
There’s no guarantee Pettitte can ramp it up in Tampa and prove to himself and coaches that he’s ready to pitch at a high-quality level. After all, he’ll turn 40 in June and hasn’t pitched in MLB since 2010. All this speculation and analysis might not mean sheeeettt.
2. What type of performance can we expect?
If Andy does get the call-up to the Boogie Down, what type of performance can we realistically expect? He was very good in his last season (3.28 ERA/3.85 FIP/3.89 xFIP), although he pitched only 129 innings due to a groin injury. If he’s in a slow decline phase, he could be average or slightly-above average. That’s a steal for $2.5 million.
3. We would not bump Phil Hughes to the bullpen to make room for him.
Unless Hughes is god awful, we would not jettison him to the bullpen to make room for Pettitte. First, Hughes is a former #1 prospect who clearly has a higher ceiling and longer-term future than a 39-year old Pettitte. Moving him to the pen means you are pissing away the opportunity to realize a very large potential value. Second, the Yankees already have the best bullpen in baseball. Adding another good reliever barely moves the wins needle.
4. Pettitte could provide an opportunity to reduce the amount of innings the top starters get during the regular season.
It could make for a meaningful advantage in the playoffs if CC, Kuroda, & Pineda have pitched significantly less innings than their opponent’s top 3. Maybe you skip a start every now and then, or rock a 6-man rotation at certain times like we saw in the latter stages of last season. Alternatively, you could reduce the amount of innings per start, and perhaps rotate some of the lower-tier starters as long relievers. However Joey G writes it up, it could mean fresher starting pitching come playoff time, when the importance of a top-heavy rotation looms large.
5. We hope the Yankees make their decisions based on baseball, and not placating the fanbase who still thinks it’s 1998
If it’s one thing the Yankees stink at, it’s dealing with the legacy/Core 4/headline-name players. What happens if the rotation is performing well, and Andy decides he’s ready to pitch in the bigs? Do the Yankees arbitrarily bump someone just to satisfy the large-nosed lefty?
Conversely, what if coaches realize that Andy can’t pitch at a high-quality level? There’s no certainty that Pettitte will be better than anyone currently slotted to take the mound. Will the front office tell him he’s not needed? Or will we see a Levine-like move to maximize ticket sales?
6. Some of the kids at AAA must really be dejected.
In December, we wrote “Help I’m in Triple A and I can’t get up“, regarding the cases of David Phelps, Adam Warren, and DJ Mitchell. This was before the Pettitte move. Now, the chances of them rotting away in the minors are even higher.
7. Let this be a lesson to all men
Andy spent a year at home seeing his wife on a daily basis. If only we all had a major league team to go back to…
36 Comments
Ana March 18, 2012 22:23
“Andy spent a year at home seeing his wife on a daily basis. If only we all had a major league team to go back to…”
You all could have not gotten married in the first place.
Just saying... March 19, 2012 09:09
Have you ever had any sex that was consensual?
Roger Clemens March 18, 2012 22:24
AM I NEXT?!?!?!?!
Moose March 18, 2012 23:50
Me first.
Suzyn Waldman March 19, 2012 00:25
I’m waiting for you, honey!
Negrodamus March 18, 2012 22:27
If their shoulders don’t explode, I’d give the nod to Atlanta’s bullpen.
TSJC March 19, 2012 15:57
Niggas be hatin’ yo
coreygunz March 18, 2012 22:31
he will make the rotation…..i love the shit about the fans who still think its 1998…gotta love those fucking vinnys from brooklyn
buttered Bread March 19, 2012 04:16
“If it’s one thing the Yankees stink at, it’s dealing with the legacy/Core 4/headline-name players.”
Really? They kicked Posada right out the door & then spit on his grave by signing Raul Ibanez.
They also shat on Tino for Giambi when Tino was integral part of the rings.
& we just signed Andy for $2.5 million!!
so in the end you’re still upset we’ve over paid for Jeter & Mo
as if they aren’t still Jeter & Mo?
You do realize that these 2 players will eventually have fucking statues of them, right?
Buttered bread March 19, 2012 07:19
I’m one of the fans who thinks it’s 1998!
Nick Social March 19, 2012 09:35
Minus the Jeter 2012 = Jeter 1998 point, there’s nothing in his post that is untrue.
Here's some more of the truth March 19, 2012 10:45
you are a moron.
CJ March 19, 2012 11:13
@ButterBread…Jeter is still vintage Jeter?
buttered Bread March 19, 2012 16:11
CJ that wasn’t the point. NM is saying we stink at handling
the core guys.
But the only silly arguments for that is that we overpaid Jeter & Mo.
& supposedly a few unproven minor leaguers won’t ever get the shot at being on team.
But that’s bull because we’ve had a very long history of giving up on players just because & not because we are making room for the legacy guys.
also Andy just signed for $2.5 million!!! How does that stink?
seems like that was played perfectly.
Fucker March 19, 2012 17:02
I think 2.5 is the minor league contract, expect to pay more when he adds his 39+ year old arm to our rotation.
BEXY March 19, 2012 16:03
I WANT A BURRITO
tsjc March 20, 2012 00:01
bitch, don’t have no mexican food. this nigga don’t wanna hear your uncontrollable farts when he goes down on ya
Bernie March 19, 2012 16:08
I’m going to go play some sad songs now.
Women everywhere March 19, 2012 05:21
Spending a year with your wife sucks does it, that’s assuming a woman would want you trolls.
CJ March 19, 2012 08:59
Haha. Nomaas pissed some ladies off with that comment.
Effeminate Men March 19, 2012 09:36
We’re offended too!
Fuck Brett Pedroia March 20, 2012 16:25
no, seriously, do it.
The old baseball adage March 19, 2012 06:02
You can never have too much pitching.
An exec from the Red Sox March 19, 2012 06:03
We’ve never heard of such a thing.
The only adage we know is, “Tastes so good today.”
Red Sox Organization March 19, 2012 12:47
Five aces.
An exec from Scrantom March 19, 2012 06:06
We’ve got room for 2 down here.
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Conspiracy Theory March 19, 2012 08:54
This is all a ploy to get people to travel to their closest home ballpark of the Scr-errr….Empire State Yankees. He never sees the bigs.
Moshe Mandel March 19, 2012 10:50
He came back for the money. Like a Jew
Yogi Berra March 19, 2012 15:56
They dealt with me like I was Bobby Meachem.
Babe Ruth March 19, 2012 15:56
They treated me pretty good at the end.
Joe Páwlikowski March 19, 2012 16:01
I wish it was 1998. I was younger, skinnier, and less gay.
Loren Echeverria March 20, 2012 17:01
Simply a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding layout.
hi March 21, 2012 12:14
Let’s be real here – we all know Andy was on a shit-load of steroids when he was playing. So let’s hope he can get back on those and make this team.
Samples March 21, 2012 21:40
The urge to tap that road-trip ass wins every time!
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