Another winter of waiting for Pettitte
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Podcast on Oct 23, 2010 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
It’s more or less a given that Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will be back, but Andy Pettitte is a complete unknown heading into this offseason, and the Yankees don’t expect answers from him any time soon.
“In Andy’s case,” Brian Cashman said. “Usually it takes a little time.
Pettitte himself expects to take some time before he makes a decision on retirement. Every time he addressed the question last night, his answer seemed to be a balance of good and bad. He wants to pitch, but he wants to see his family, and it’s difficult to do both.
“I wish I could tell you, I really do,” Pettitte said. “I wish I knew. I’m just not sure. The only thing I know right now is I love taking the mound every fifth day. Unfortunately there’s a lot of other stuff that — at this point, at this stage of my life –that I don’t like about baseball. It obviously just has to do with the family.
“Just go home, let this settle in, and really probably try not to think about this for a little while. And then just figure out what I want to do. I don’t want to make any rash decisions. I wish I knew. I really do. I wish I know what I was going to do right now, but I just don’t.”
Pettitte said he’s “really not sure” whether this sort of finish makes it more or less likely that he’ll come back. He seems to think back, not to the postseason, but to the regular season, when he’s constantly flying back and forth, splitting his time between two responsibilities.
“The kids are getting to an age where I want to be home,” he said. “But I also know how important what I do is. I’m a man, and this is my job. This is all I’ve ever known as an adult. I want to make sure I fully exhaust myself from this and run it out.”
Here’s Pettitte.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Associated Press photo of Pettitte with Kerry Wood
That picture of Pettitte is really sad. I bet he really wanted to take the mound at least one more time before having to make this decision.
Andy is going nowhere, he does this every year.
# ConcernedCitizen October 23rd, 2010 at 2:55 pm
That picture of Pettitte is really sad. I bet he really wanted to take the mound at least one more time before having to make this decision.
============================
Yes. And it should have been last night.
Andy is a classy guy and a warrior, a ‘True Blue Yankee’. I hope he comes back.
I think he’ll be back.
Hi
I hope he tells Cashman soon. Pitching is a priority for sure and until Cashman knows if Pettitte is returning or not – he can’t move forward.
We have every intention to bring back Andy Pettitte.
$$$$$$$
Howdy
Yes by golly we sure do.
Andy will come back. He is still very effective. People don’t walk away when they’ve still got that much fuel left in the tank.
I like this style. One year at a time.
I can see him retiring when he wins another ring, like next year. He wants to walk away on top with a good taste in his mouth.
Andy is class all the way.
We need Andy and we need Lee. If we get Lee and Andy retires, we still need a solid veteran………….Andy can still pitch, so I really hope he doesn’t retire.
As to Phil being scared/nervous, Gregg Zaun should cut him some slack as he’s a young pitcher thrust into a situation he’s not currently equipped to handle. I would have bigger problems with pitchers who pitch well all year and then completely implode in big spots- those are the guys you can get on for being scared.
Andy will be back………..and Cash’s first priority is Lee anyway, whether he does or doesn’t come back. I expect (I would hope, anyway) that the moment FA clock starts ticking, Cash is out there doing a full court press. Get CC, AJ, Alex, whomever – to recruit the man.
I agree that it wouldn’t be ideal for Andy to drag this out because they need another pitcher if he doesn’t return
He’s probably already told Cashman what he’s going to do – with the millions the Yanks have given him for Andy and future generations of Pettittes, the least he can do is tell the front office what his plans are so they can go ahead and make decisions on the rest of the staff.
I hope the Texas Rangers will get pummeled .
I hope they will crash and burn — literally .
Cj Wilson stated they took down the champions, took down an empire… I guess we turn in our 27 trophies and sale our history.
I live in Texas and this is brutal. If any consolation It is pouring here so there would not have been a game today anyway.
I am not an in your face fan, but next year it is on.
Where is the Sarge ?
The Yankees had a wonderful season. They struggled for a few games in a seven-game series and ultimately, that is why they did not advance to the World Series. They will retool and come back next year more motivated than ever to regain glory.
LOL. CJ Wilson must not know his recent baseball history very well if that’s what he thinks his Rangers did.
Using his logic, then they couldn’t have taken down the Empire because the Cleveland Indians (’07), Detroit Tigers (’06), LA Angels of Anaheim (’05), Boston Red Sox (’04), Florida Marlins (’03), Anaheim Angels (’02) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (’01) had already done it before them and there wouldn’t be an Empire left for them to take down, now would it?
Andys old school. You don’t leave money the family can use on the table..
Schmucks like us work till 60, he’ll work to 39 and then retire… He understands
Cash needs to start the bidding at 6 years 150 million right from the gate for Cliff Lee – get that number out there – just as he got the initial number with C.C. out there in ’08. I fully expect this to end with 6 years and 165 million – Lee beats C.C. in terms of annual average and overall total package.
Then move onto Carl Crawford – quietly – the way he did with Tex – lay and wait until the offers come in – and then offer ten million more for the total package.
This opens up trading Bret Gardner and other assets for additional pieces – i.e. another starter or bullpen. My first choice is BOTH – that’s right – POWER TRADE:
Gardner, Hughes, Romine, Warren, Joseph, and Mitchell FOR
Danks and Thornton for the ChiSox.
Under this scenario we keep Laird to play IF corners and OF corners down the road.
Welcome Andy back – in addition to Jeter and Rivera.
Team 2011 makeup:
Lineup: Jeter, Crawford, Tex, ARod, Cano, Posada, Swisher, Montero, Granderson
Bench: Cervelli, Nunez, Pena, Cabrera (that’s right I am signing Melky as a FA and backup OF)
Rotation: Lee, Sabathia, Danks, Pettitte, Burnett (four lefties – but hey – it is Yankees Stadium)
Pen: Rivera, Thornton, Robertson, Logan, Aceves (if healthy), Marte (if healthy), Mosely, Chamberlain, and cast of others competing for spots in ST
In AAA waiting – Laird, Phelps, Nova, and possibly Brackman if he starts there,
No
The Clemens debacle will play a very large role in Andy Pettite’s return to The Yankees in 2011……..I think he could be done
Don’t ever want to see Melky in a Yankees uniform again, unless it’s OTD.
Cano improved much more with Melky off the team. Melky is fat and played all season out of shape, and had 11 errors in the OF. No thank you on that deal.
“The only thing I know right now is I love taking the mound every fifth day.”
and we love watching you do it Andy….so just come on back for one more try
# Pat M. October 23rd, 2010 at 4:12 pm
The Clemens debacle will play a very large role in Andy Pettite’s return to The Yankees in 2011……..I think he could be done
He already said that wouldn’t.
blake -
If you read between the lines, I think Andy said, I’ll be back.
Pat M,
I certainly hope that doesn’t factor in to his decision….that would be a real shame.
Words of advice – here is how you handle a supposed Texas Rangers’s fan:
(1) point out the obvious that they are bandwagon fan b/c the DFW metroplex has and always will be a Cowboys town – the Mavericks, Stars, and Rangers are and always will be the neglected children who are only paid attention to when something extraordinary happens
(2) hit the fan where it really hurts, ask them what Texas college they went to – most will have gone to either UT, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, or Baylor – then drop the hammer – tell them that their college football team is doing just terrible this year (b/c they all are – if you run into an Oklahoma fan – realize that this fan should not be rooting for anything with the word “Texas” in it) – b/c at the root of it – the individual from Texas who went to a Texas college or university will take this entirely too personal and defend it to their death as if you just insulted their family – they will become irrational and irate – at this point just walk away b/c you will have wounded them MORE with your comment than any Yankees win could have achieved over their all of a sudden darling Texas Rangers.
FYI – I grew up in the DFW area, so I kind of know a thing or two about this.
Big AL,
I hope so…CC, Lee, and Andy would give them 3 absolute gamers
I really think Andy is going to come back……………..either way, when he does hang it up, it’s going to be hard.
Stoneburner October 23rd, 2010 at 4:08 pm
** Lee
** Danks and Thornton for the ChiSox
** Welcome Andy back
================
7 LHP on the same team ?? I don’t think so.
Andy is a story of legends. I hope his story has one more year.
It would actually probably be 6 LHP – but yes yes – 6 LHPs – that is a recipe for a disaster – see Texas Rangers this year in the ALCS. Plus this is shortsighted – in Lee, Sabathia, Pettitte, and Danks – you have lefties that get both hitters out.
They aren’t trading Hughes.
blake -
I believe AJ will rebound next season. If AJ can give them a 14-12 record, it will be enough, with the SP in front of him. I don’t expect Hughes to give us another 18 win season, but, a 15-10 season from him would be acceptable.
All this is based on the CC, Lee, Andy front line doing what they are capable of.
A couple of tweeks here and there, and this team should be back on top, looking for #28.
It’s difficult to know right now what the starting rotation will be after C.C. in 2011.
It hinges on Cliff Lee being signed and Andy returning. What is known is that Burnett is not the 1st RH in the rotation after C.C.
108 stitches -
You’re right, that would be Phil. I project AJ as the #5 SP.
AL,
AJ has always been inconsistent but he’s never been nearly as bad as he was this year. I agree that I would expect him to be somewhat better next year and I actually liked how he through the ball the other day.
Hughes may not win 18 next year because thats really hard to do but I would expect him to be good again and hopefully even a little better.
# mick October 23rd, 2010 at 2:52 pm
AL
It all starts with pitching, you know that.
If Andy pitched the way he did in game 3, IN GAME 2, we would have won that game.
Do you really think Texas would have come back from that?
So we lose game 3, so what? They placed too much emphasis on that and played into Texas hands by making it a MUST game and wasting Andy. Waste AJ or Hughes, either of which I would have sacrifuced in games 3 and 5.
Last night was Andy’s game , our #2 starter NOT HUGHES. If he loses , at least we have a game 7. and CC would be on 3 days rest. The hitting aspect is overrated, remember the 60 Pirates? Whitey should have started 3 times , case closed.
The fact that nobody is arguing this with me means I must be right.
=================================================
Big Al
OK – Later folks. Gotta go take care of some business.
Since Cashman has now declared that it is winter, but no one will admit to thinking about next year, I have compiled my list of players in the Yankee minor league organization who are likely to be granted free agency in the next few weeks. This is based upon having completed all or parts of seven playing seasons (whether active or injured) since the signing of the first minor league contract. In other words, players who first started affiliated professional play in 2004 or earlier. Players on the 40-man roster at the present time are not eligible for this list. The official list, when it comes out, usually varies from my list by one or two players, plus or minus, but it is a reasonably close projection. If the Yankees choose to purchase the minor league contract (add the player to the 40-man major league roster) or if player and team mutually agree to a new minor league contract for 2011 before free agency is granted, obviously the player will come off the list.
The projected minor league free agents are:
Pitchers: John Van Benschoten, Zack Segovia, Jason Hirsh, Wilkin De La Rosa, Ronny Marte, Jonathan Ortiz
Catchers: Rene Rivera and Jose Gil
Infielders: Eric Bruntlett, Robby Hammock, Luis Nunez, Marcos Vechionacci, Myron Leslie, P.J. Pilittere
Outfielders: Reid Gorecki, Edwar Gonzalez, Justin Christian, Melky Mesa
Obviously, Hammock, Pilittere, and Leslie can all catch too. I listed them as infielders because the Yankees list them currently as infielders on the minor league rosters.
mick -
Real quick, I must go, but, yes I agree with your thinking on the rotation.
so hindsight …..would you have traded for C Lee this year & signing him to a contract using Montero & either Nova or Nunez in the deal
Having AJ as the solid #5 is where his destiny lies.
AS a solid 5 we would be assured of leaving him off the playoff/WS roster.
He would, of course, be the most expensive 5th starter ever but the team must be placed 1st not a player, certainly not him.
While I dont think he pitched that badly in the ALCS, I do think he disrupted the rotation placement.
It seemed like it revolved arouind him and cost CC a game 4 start
This crap about loving Hughes in Texas after 1 or 2 good starts there is nonsense. How did he pitch at home in the ALDS?
Who is making these decisions?
Just want to prepare you for the worst :
C.B. and J*n L*st*r will be co-Cy Youngs in two thousand eleven .
mick
yep. biggest mistake of the postseason for girardi/cash
they played for a game 7 that never came
I know one thing … I’m glad I’m not Brian Cashman.
Also, this team must get younger, but with all the long term contracts, and all the money already spent on those contracts, I don’t know how you do it.
I would like to see Swisher traded, he is a liability in RF.
They need 2 new starting pitchers for next year, a catcher, and a RFer.
Good luck, Cash.
I don’t think Swish is a liability in RF at all, but I can see trading him because the lineup is not that versatile and he’s one of the few guys who’s tradeable. I would prefer to trade Gardner as I’m not a huge fan, but who’d be our leadoff hitter/#9 hitter?
If Andy returns, they only need one SP..
So the Yankees are OK with signing Pettitte on a year-to-year basis knowing that he misses atleast 2 months of the baseball season every single year?
Deal With It October 23rd, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Aldo, perhaps a few samples of your many, many handles ??
West Coast Yankee Fan October 22nd, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Sorry to expose your lack of baseball smarts. DEAL WITH IT. I am not predicting anything – no one can do that. I am saying that no one in baseball would consider pitching to A-Rod instead of Berkman in a critical situation. I hope Berkman goes 4-4. I don’t dislike him, I just wouldn’t have hit him behind A-Rod.
Well, it has been a while since I posted and last night was rough, but I’m here and ready to look towards 2011.
A few initial thoughts:
1. I think Andy comes back for one last season. In fact I think 2011 could be the last year in pinstripes for not just Andy but Mo and Jorge as well.
2. There are some rumors floating around already that I think we can pay no attention to:
A. The Yankees might not bring back Girardi – completely false; he didn’t have a good series but Cashman and Hal love the guy and with the Cubs making their call on Quade he really has no other options.
B. The Yankees will go hard after Adam Dunn to be their DH. Heyman was already spreading this one today. As much as the idea of Adam Dunn and the Yankee Stadium short porch makes me drool Dunn doesn’t want to be a DH and the DH spot in the Yankee lineup will most likely be split between Jorge Posada and Jesus Montero.
C. The Yankees will make a big play for Jason Werth or Carl Crawford. If Curtis Granderson hadn’t come on strong at the end of the season I could have seen the Yankees trying to move him, bring in Crawford and shift Gardner to CF, but that’s no longer the case. If the Yankees don’t get Cliff Lee and if Andy retires and the Yankees find themselves needing a starter – maybe they would entertain trying to use Swisher to get pitching help and replace him with Werth, but that’s the only way I see the club shaking up the outfield.
D. Joba’s going to be back in the rotation. No he’s not. In fact I would wager that there’s a better chance Joba gets moved this winter than that he is a starter next year.
3. Staying, going and I don’t know:
Staying: Girardi, Jeter, Rivera, Andy, Thames
Going: Berkman, Kearns, Nick Johnson, Javy Vazquez, Damaso Marte (released), Ramiro Pena, Mitre, Gaudin
I Don’t Know: Kerry Wood. He would have to take a tremendous pay cut for the Yankees to be interested – I’m sure after how well he pitched in the Bronx there will be some team that will offer him the chance to close
4. Targets:
Cliff Lee is the obvious one. There aren’t any good starters after him really – they could take a flyer on a guy like Brandon Webb or Rich Harden, but most likely if they miss on Lee they’ll try to fill out the rotation through the trade market. And that doesn’t mean I’m expecting Grenkie here – he wants nothing to do with the NY market and has the Yankees on a no trade list.
Guys who will probably be available: Fausto Carmona, Anibel Sanchez, Hong Chi Kuo, Gil Meche…there are others, but needless to say, it’s not a great crop.
The Yankees don’t really need much. Maybe a better fourth outfield option than Colin Curtis or Greg Golson.
You can count them out on Victor Martinez – he makes no sense for them
Looking at the potential free agents – maybe they look to bring back Eric Hinske.
So, what do I do if I’m Cashman.
1. Sign Lee. The worst case scenario for the Yankees is that they don’t sign Lee and Andy retires. At that point the Yankees probably will look to Ivan Nova to take one rotation spot and I don’t know where they go to fill the fifth one.
2. Pencil in Eduardo Nunez as your utility infielder. He’s not on the same level defensively as Ramiro Pena but Pena’s bat was a wet noodle this year. Nunez can play well enough on the infield, and also gives you depth in the outfield to make him worthy of a spot on the 25.
3. Prepare to carry 3 catchers. Jorge Posada and Jesus Montero should both be in the lineup either at C or DH with Cervelli serving as the back up. Montero’s going to have growing pains both at the plate and behind it, but his bat could be very very special.
4. Sign Eric Hinske and Randy Choate.
My 25 man roster:
Jeter – SS
Swisher – RF
Tex – 1b
Alex – 3b
Cano – 2b
Posada – C/DH
Granderson – CF
Montero – C/DH
Gardner – LF
Bench:
Cervelli, Hinske, Nunez, Thames
Rotation:
CC, Lee, Hughes, Andy, AJ
Pen:
RHP: Mo, Joba, Mosely, Robertson, Nova
LHP: Choate, Logan
And this wouldn’t be a Chip post without at least one off the wall trade suggestion:
If the Yankees don’t get Cliff Lee (or Andy retires).
Yankees send:
Swisher, Joba, Nova, Brandon Laird to Oakland for LHP Brett Anderson and LHRP Craig Breslow
Replace Swisher by signing Werth.
The AL East 2010 season is now history.
The 2011 season will see an even more balanced division, with Toronto and Baltimore both more competitive. That said, the quality of the manager will be even more important in terms of line ups, BP management and in-game control.
Now that we know who will manage Toronto, how do folks here rank the five 2011 AL East managers?
If the Yankees do indeed sign Cliff Lee, who is the Opening day starter and why?
Good thing AJ, Joba, Sergio will be back. Maybe even invite Javier to come back. so much good pitching to look forward to. This was money well-spent. And everyone of them working here so they can retire rich and winning is secondary.
Fairly interesting article on C.B. and other things :
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39.....e-science/
Big Al, notify us if you balance thebudget, okay? You rascal, you! All of us care about your life, really.
TIM / TR10 more garbage from you. Stop posing as Aldo.