Yardbarker: Andy Pettitte

Yankees working hard to prevent offseason breakup

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:41:59 -0500

Sporting News staff reports The Yankees are strategizing ways to keep all three of their premier free agents, according to the New York Post. That trio includes outfielder Johnny Damon, DH Hideki Matsui and left-hander Andy Pettitte. The newspaper reported Damon and Pettitte are the top priorities, but the Yankees apparently want to keep their core together as they try to defend their World Series title. There is a catch, however: New York would like all three free agents to ...

Yanks Trying To Net All Three

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:56:00 -0500

From Joel Sherman:The Yankees are strategizing ways to retain all three of their major free agents -- Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte and Hideki Matsui -- sources told The Post.Damon and Pettitte are the priorities. But when asked if that meant Matsui had played his last game in pinstripes, one team executive said, "No, I hope we can figure out a way to have them all back."Right now, the Yankees are much more focused on their own trio than they are on the three big outside free agents: ...

Damon, Matsui and Pettitte all could return

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:21:26 -0500

Sporting News staff reports The Yankees are strategizing ways to keep all three of their premier free agents, according to the New York Daily News. That trio includes outfielder Johnny Damon, DH Hideki Matsui and lefthander Andy Pettitte The newspaper reported Damon and Pettitte are the top priorities, but the Yankees apparently want to keep their core together as they try to defend their World Series title. However, there is a catch: New York would like all three to agree to one-y...

Cash Won't Make Decisions Based On October

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:45:00 -0500

From David Waldstein:“Over the last few years we’ve tried to improve the way we’ve gone about our decision making, and a part of that is sample size,” said Cashman, in Chicago for the general managers meetings. “I think you look at the broader perspective of what somebody’s abilities are. Jerry Hairston, for instance, is a free agent. If he had hit .700 in the World Series doesn’t necessarily mean that he would get an A-Rod contract. We’re thankful for the guys who did what they did, and if y...

Yanks mapping out plan to keep Damon, Pettitte and Matsui?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:53 -0500

In Joel Sherman’s (NY Post) latest, citing inside sources, he writes that the Yankees are “strategizing ways to retain all three of their major free agents — Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte and Hideki Matsui.” Damon and Pettitte are the primary concerns, says Sherman, however, Matsui is certainly a player that the Yankees would be inclined [...]

Yanks Trying To Bring Back All Three

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Bringing Back a Trio

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:54:25 -0500

According to Joel Sherman, the Yankees want to bring back Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte. I understand Pettitte, since pitching is scarce. There are younger, better options in leftfield, and the money freed by letting Damon and Matsui go will pay for that player. Standing pat after a World Series [...]

Quick Bits: Pettitte, Rankings, Steinbrenners, Cashman

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:15:52 -0500

Here are a few interesting news items on the evening. According to Jon Heyman (SI), Andy Pettitte told his teammates that he would like to “come back for one final year,” with 2010 serving as that year. The Yankees need Pettitte for next season and it will likely be his last, not only in pinstripes, but [...]

Rotation Depth is a Must

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:36:00 -0500

Last offseason, we got a complete overhaul of the pitching rotation. After the debacle of the 2004-2008 rotations, it was clear that the Yanks needed some help. So, Brian Cashman took advantage of a strong pitching market and went out and got C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett for the rotation. The two pitched well and brought home the trophy, going on three days rest throughout the postseason. It was a frenzied offseason and only Andy Pettitte ended up making significant contributions in both 20...

MLB Trade Rumors To 50 Free Agents

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:40:00 -0500

Tim Dierkes over at MLB Trade Rumors came out with his list of the top 50 MLB free agents in this year's FA class. He also listed the team he believes that player will sign with.As far as current Yankees are concerned he ranks Andy Pettitte 6th and believe he'll remain in the Bronx. The same goes for Johnny Damon, who he ranked 12th. He believes Hideki Matsui, who was ranked 27th, will end up in Seattle. Xavier Nady even made the list at 48, and Dierkes expects him to land in Arizona....

Thaaaaa Yankees Win Quick Notes

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:11:00 -0500

~The main cogs in the game 6 wheel were very fitting. Andy Pettitte picking up the victory. Mariano closing the door. Jeter going 3-5. Matsui picking up his first World Series ring and doing it in style. Oh and Pedro lost.

~Mr. Pettitte tied a record that Derek Lowe also shares and probably somebody else too. He was the winning pitcher in each of the series clinchers.

~Everyone making a big deal about 3 days rest can all shut up now. What a stupid topic. Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett have all pitched on 3 days rest before. They are all massive men. They have gotten ample rest the entire postseason. They weren't going to be asked to throw 8 innings. Each and all of them could pitch on 3-days rest without being significantly diminished or diminished at all. Pitching Gaudin would have been stupid. AJ Burnett pitched bad because he's AJ Burnett. He also pitched like crap on full rest in his 2nd start against the Angels.

~Can Mo continue to dominate into his 90s? I hope so. Perhaps the Steinbrenners can just clone him, that'll be the next way to increase payroll.

~Someone paint A-Rod a mural of the team as centaurs, he deserves it.

~If A-Rod did not get busted for steroids, would he now qualify for the greatest player of all time? What would he need to do to garner that distinction? He was the best player this playoffs, he's been arguably the best player in baseball for a decade and a half, he might set the all-time home run record, he's won MVPs, Gold Gloves, etc. etc.

~Swisher had sex with ___ women last night? Over/Under is set at 2.5.

~Think Mike Mussina is angry today? He was a Yankee from 2001-2008. Picked up zero world series titles and left after a 20 win season. (H/T FackYouk)

~And don't forget about Giambi, a Yankee from 2002-2008. The Giambino has zero world series rings and one gold thong.

~Japanese electronic stores saw a boom in business with each 2 RBI hit by Matsui. They are in awe of his clutchness or moles or both.

~What will the Yankees do with the money that's coming off their payroll this offseason? Matsui, Nady and Damon are all off the books. Matty and Damon were both heroes of the World Series. Do they let either or both walk? Damon's already proved that he'll move to where the money is, so if someone offers him a 4 or 5 year deal I bet he goes there. Matty might have the Japanese loyalty and be willing to sign for a year.

~Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Brett Gardner were a combined 2 for 243 this series. Or something like that.

~The Phillies could use a sidekick for Lee. Perhaps Hamels can wake up and stop being a lady.

~Thank you Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard for being mostly useless this series.

~Is Steinbrenner alive?

~Shall I go to the parade tomorrow? Hmm...

~I'm gonna miss this...
Video: MLB on FOX: Phillies fall in 6

~World Series games 6 and 7 should really be on friday and saturday. I desired to get drunk last night and not have to go to work this morning.

Did You Know: Pettitte Has Been Here Before (and Failed)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:56:16 -0500

Yankees game 6 starter Andy Pettitte is lauded as being one of the top playoff pitchers of all time (by some, not us). He has a long track record, including a fair amount of success. However, when faced with exactly this situation, the Yankee's experience hasn't been all that favorable...Last two times the Yankees have been in Series, Pettitte pitched in game six. The Yankees lost both of those games. If I had to bet on one old goat tonight over the other, I...

Yanks Make It Official: Pettitte To Start Game 6

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:13:00 -0500

Following last night's game Brian Cashman told Jon Heyman that "andy's looking forward to [game six]", so we all knew this anyway. But Joe Girardi made it official today and named Andy Pettitte the Yankees' game 6 starter. Pettitte told the media that he felt "great" today.In 14 career starts on three-days rest Pettitte is 4-6, with a 4.15 ERA. The last time he started on short rest was on 9/30/06 when he was with the Astros. He got a no decision, but pitched w...

Pedro and Pettitte

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:32:00 -0500

While I was looking at the new projected pitching matchups for the rest of the World Series, I noticed one intriguing matchup that stood out from all the rest. The two pitchers have faced each other in big games before and they're no stranger to the spotlight of the postseason. They both jumped onto the map with an impressive rookie season and both of them have rings. Perhaps most significantly, this could be the two pitcher's last chance for another World Series ring.If we see a game...

Pedro and Pettitte

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:32:00 -0500