Yanks Go Yard » Andy Pettitte

Where Should Robinson Cano Bat?

Dan Dechenaux — Wed, 08 May 2013 01:56:20 +0000

Robinson Cano has spent time in the two-hole this year. While this gives protection for Brett Gardner, and may get him a few extra at bats, is this his ideal spot in the lineup? (more…)

Andy Pettitte, The Aging Veteran

Alex Pugliese — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:09 +0000

Andy Pettitte has been a staple with the Yankees for almost the last two decades. There is no one else that I’d rather see going for the Yankees when a big game is up, or a series is on the line. He is a classic case of a pitcher getting better with age, becoming savvier despite the loss of velocity. Pettitte is the definition of the old adage of a guy who “just knows how to pitch.” He can get by with a sharp curve and fastball, and he can also get the job done without his best stuff, either. However, Pettitte is now also 20 years older, and with that comes a tendency to be more prone to injuries- which last longer, even for minor issues- and his recent back woes show that is a cause for concern this season.

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Yankees News & Notes: Club signs Dan Johnson, Pettitte may still be added to Team USA

Jimmy Kraft — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:25:37 +0000

The New York Yankees signed first baseman Dan Johnson, of Tampa Bay Rays fame, to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. The lefty hitter will look to secure a spot on the team as the club’s primary DH against righthanded pitching. Meanwhile, Team USA’s manager for the upcoming World Baseball Classic recently said that Andy Pettitte still might pitch for the club, but Torre was unsure. (more…)

Should Pettitte Have Said Yes To The World Baseball Classic?

Ricky Keeler — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 18:00:50 +0000

The World Baseball Classic rosters were announced Thursday afternoon by MLB Network as we found all the provisional rosters for all 16 countries. The event will begin March 2nd and conclude on March 17th in San Francisco, California. Three Yankees were selected to play for their respective countries in Mark Teixeira (USA), Robinson Cano (Dominican Republic), and Francisco Cervelli (Italy). I am a fan of this event, but there are many people out there who think the event should be played right after the season or think this event should not even be played at all.

.Andy Pettitte has said no to the WBC, but it would have been nice to see the 40-year-old re-unite with Joe Torre to bring the USA the title. (Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

There is one Yankee who originally had his name in the running for the team, but pulled out of the competition at the last minute. That man is 40-year-old pitcher Andy Pettitte. Pettitte is coming off of a great year with the New York Yankees in 2012. Despite a short season, Andy was 5-4 on the season with a 2.87 ERA. Also, he was formidable for the Yankees in the playoffs with ten strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched. Coming into 2013, Pettitte becomes a critical piece to the Yankees’ starting rotation.

That being said, I still would have been okay if Pettitte had decided to play for Team USA. I know the games are meaningless compared to the regular season, but these countries take the event very seriously. For example, just look at all the Major League stars on these Latin American countries. You have Miguel Cabrera and Felix Hernandez playing for Venezuela as well as players like Carlos Beltran playing for Puerto Rico, for example. These countries take the classic seriously.

The second reason I would have liked to see Pettitte on the team would be to re-connect with Joe Torre one last time. Torre was Pettitte’s manager for ten full seasons with the New York Yankees and will be the manager of this year’s team USA roster. That would be a sight to see for Yankees fans to reminisce on the glory days of the Yankee dynasty.

Plus, the injury concern would not be as great as you think. Remember, the World Baseball Classic has put limits on how many pitches a player can throw in each round. For Pettitte, he would have likely been the 5th starter on the team and Torre has stated that he will do his best to keep the best interests of the clubs in mind.

Yes, I know that it is just an exhibition, but I am a huge fan of the World Baseball Classic and the Olympic atmosphere that it can bring. It would have been great to see Andy participate in this event, but in the end, I think Pettitte realized that his ultimate goal is not to pitch for Team USA in 2013, but instead bring another World Series title to the Bronx in likely his final year in pinstripes!

Yankees News & Notes: Pettitte to play in WBC, Vazquez getting a look

Jimmy Kraft — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:45:51 +0000

A pair of pitching notes this morning. The Yankees are allowing Andy Pettitte to play in the World Baseball Classic this year. Pettitte will be joined by fellow Yankee Mark Teixeira as well as a plethora of other stars who will be managed by one Joe Torre. In other news, Javy Vazquez is getting a look from the Yankees as he works his way back to the major leagues. Vazquez has already had two tours of duty for the Yankees, with both not working out so well. (more…)

Breaking: Yankees and Andy Pettitte agree to a one-year, $12 million deal with incentives

Chris Carelli — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:33:48 +0000

Once the New York Yankees were able to sign Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year $15 million contract, the team turned their attention to veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte. Pettitte has now signed for one-year and $12 million with up to $2.5 million in incentives and bonuses. His signing means the Yankees have now filled their rotation for the 2013 season and have the ability to choose between David Phelps and Ivan Nova for the fifth starter role versus having to use both of them or go out to the free agent/trade market to fill a void Pettitte would have left behind had he retired. (more…)

Grading the Yankees: Andy Pettitte

Benjamin Orr — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:00:50 +0000

For those of us who didn’t know what to expect going into 2012, we certainly didn’t see Andy Pettitte being a part of those plans. The now 40-year-old veteran showed us in 2012 that despite being out of baseball for a year, he still has some fight left in him. When Pettitte suffered a fractured ankle back in the end of June, nobody knew when and if he’d return in 2012. He managed to pitch in three more games before heading to the postseason in which he pitched in two games. So, what did 2012 overall show us from Pettitte? Well, it showed us that once again age means nothing and had Andy not suffered that injury, who knows how good his numbers would have been this season. (more…)

The Return of Andy Pettitte: Good Thing or Bad Thing?

Alex Pugliese — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:00:31 +0000

Over the years, Yankees fans have come to rely on Andy Pettitte. For many, it seemed like the end of an era when he announced he was walking away after the 2010 season. As sad as it was for the first member of the “Core Four” to leave the team, it was even better to welcome him back late in Spring Training in 2012. Pettitte’s ability was never question as he continued to perform, despite being sidelined by a broken leg for several months. With CC Sabathia coming off an “elbow cleanup”, Michael Pineda “not on the radar”, questions about Ivan Nova and Hiroki Kuroda’s free agency, it would seem that, should Pettitte want to return in 2013, he would be a welcome addition to the Yankees. Moreover, is it possible that the return of Pettitte could be more a hindrance for the team in the long-term? (more…)

Yankees Injury News: A-Rod to DH for Single-A Tampa today and Pettitte awaits OK

Chris Carelli — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:05:52 +0000

The New York Yankees are 16-16 since Alex Rodriguez went on the disabled list with a fractured left hand courtesy of a Felix Hernandez fastball back on July 24. The poor record is not solely based on A-Rod’s missing bat as Eric Chavez has played well in his portion of the starts, but Rodriguez’s presence in the lineup and on the field has certainly been missed. (more…)

Yanks Go Yard Round Table Discussion: What will A-Rod and Pettitte provide down the stretch?

Chris Carelli — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:00:01 +0000

For this week’s Yanks Go Yard Round Table, I asked the staff what the expected from Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte should both make it back in September AND were 100%. Here is what they had to say. (more…)