Andy Pettitte's Last Dance

First Mo announces, then Todd Helton, and now Andy Pettitte. Pettitte has announced his retirement for the end of the 2013 season, and he will most likely make his final start in Yankee Stadium today.

We know that Pettitte has been one of the faces of the New York Yankees, being on the three-peat in the late 90’s, as well as on the team in 2009. He has four titles, and seven world series bids. For three years from 2003-2005, he was on that scary Houston Astros team that also had former Yankee Roger Clemens, who would go on to the World Series in 2005. That year, Pettitte went 17-9 with a 2.39 ERA. 

 

That, and his 1997 year, were probably his best years in his career. It was the only two years in which he had a qualified ERA under 3, and yet he didn’t even get 20 wins in either season (he has two 20-win seasons, one in 1996 and one in 2003). He has a career 3.86 ERA with a 255-152 record. Granted, remember that he has always been on a winning team, so hopefully he’s getting some wins. He never had a Cy Young season, and was only a three time all-star.

What I do like about Andy is that he didn’t have much special too him. He just threw fastballs and cutters that averaged in the upper 80’s. Sometimes he would throw a pretty mean curveball or changeup, but that’s about it. He stopped using his slider years ago to preserve his arm. 

 

But speaking of preserving arms, remember that he is on the Mitchell Report, and has admitted using Performance-Enhancing Drugs. I mention this because there is a big question on whether he should make the Hall of Fame or not. I’d say he shouldn’t get in even with the steroid allegations. 

While he does have 254 wins, 2,415 strikeouts, and is one of the “Core Four” from the Yankees (the others being Mo Rivera, Derek Jeter, and Jorge Posada), there are much better pitchers that deserve the spot right now. Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson, Tom Glavine, Mike Mussina, Pedro Martinez, Trevor Hoffman, and Billy Wagner are all on the ballot by at most the year 2016. Now you see that there are much better picks, guys that didn’t use steroids and guys that are much better statistically.

The Yankees will honor Rivera and Pettitte during a ceremony at Yankee stadium. It’s the end of a Yankee era, and a start of a Yankee… rebuilding year? That’s a story for another day. But now, there is only one member of the core four left, and that’s Jeter, who’s going to retire soon. 

I really hope Metallica comes and plays “Enter Sandman” live for Rivera. How awesome will that be.

Email me at statsbuddy42@gmail.com for any questions/comment/concerns.

-Evan Boyd