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December 06, 2006
Andy Pettitte to the Yankees?
All off-season there's been rumors that the New York Yankees are interested in re-signing Andy Pettitte , who pitched for them for nine seasons, from 1995-2003. Now comes word that the Yankees are dangling a one-year deal worth $15 million in the hopes that Pettitte will sign with them instead of going back to the Houston Astros, the teams he's been with since 2004. Many fans are excited about this possiblity, but I'm not one of them. Pettitte is 34, and has battled injury issues since he's left the Yankees. But more than that Pettitte has expressed a great deal of doubt over whether he wants to pitch in 2007, or whether he wants to retire. I'm leery of a player who isn't sure they want to continue playing baseball. I think the best chance for success is when a player is as confident as possible in their abilities, and has a tremendous amount of desire to play the game and help their team win. If Pettitte isn't sure he wants to keep playing, is the desire and passion about the game really there any more?
I also think that some fans are nostalgic for the past when Pettitte was a part of the World Series winning teams of 1996-2001. However, the past can't be duplicated. Pettitte isn't the same pitcher he was in those years, and the Yankees aren't the same team. Pettitte might be able to pitch decently for the Yankees if he remained healthy, but adding him isn't going to mean that the Yankees are going to be able to recapture the magic of those years.
A one-year deal isn't terrible, and I think Pettitte is better than some other options that the Yankees might have. But I'm not jumping up and down about his possible return to the Bronx - maybe if I hear him talk about how committed he is to playing baseball and pitching well in 2007 I'd feel better about it.
Posted by silverdsl at December 6, 2006 01:59 PM