-
Let Pitchers Throw Complete Games
June 19, 2013 | 8 comments
-
Thoughts on New U.S.-Taliban Peace Talks
June 18, 2013 | 6 comments
-
Do Beyonce & Jay-Z Understand The “Complexities” of Syria?
June 18, 2013 | 2 comments
-
What’s So Moderate About Iran’s New President?
June 15, 2013 | 9 comments
-
When Did The Obama Admin Know Syria Was Using Chemical Weapons?
June 14, 2013 | 15 comments
The Spectacle Blog
I didn’t see this coming. Andy Pettitte, who retired after the 2010 season, has signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees.
Well, I guess you can never have enough pitching. However, it appears the Yankees are worried about the diminished velocity on Michael Pineda’s fastball. It also appears the Yankees aren’t so sure about either Freddy Garcia and Phil Hughes.
Apparently, Pettitte’s family opposed his retirement and are delighted with his decision to make a comeback. Translation: His wife wants him to get out of the house.
In sixteen big league seasons with the Yankees and the Houston Astros, Pettitte won 240 big league games as well as 19 post-season games plus five World Series rings.
View all comments (19) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/03/16/pettitte-comes-out-of-retireme
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
The Spectacle Blog
Democrat Dan Maffei Blames Budget Cuts for Girl’s Rape, Mother’s Murder
Robert Stacy McCain | 6.18.13
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Bob| 3.16.12 @ 10:17PM
Maybe one year off will end up being good for him. Garcia and Hughes better step up soon. They aren't rookies anymore and this is the Yankees. This might be a "minor league deal", but no way they'll leave Pettite in the minors.
k. bourg| 3.16.12 @ 10:48PM
I think we should have a little contest. Split the union in two. All the libs can move west of the divide, all the normal humans to the east. The libs will scrap the constitution and implement all their fantastic ideas. We'll continue in our rule of law republic. After about five years evryone will have moved east. It's so freakin obvious!
RJ| 3.17.12 @ 1:51AM
Some of our ancestors already did that when they left Europe to come to America. The liberals can move back to Europe. They should enjoy France, Italy and many other countries there. I am not for giving up one more inch of ground to modern day liberalism. It fosters dependency, denies personal choice and exploits people.
Norm Klevens| 3.17.12 @ 8:50PM
Please here in Kali, we have enough Libs.
albert constantine jr.| 3.16.12 @ 10:58PM
Among the bad decisions Pat Gillick made with the Phillies was the ill-fated purchase of the injured Garcia for the Phillies. I thought he was out of bullets then, but he surprised many a couple of years later.
Pettitte, on the other hand, could wind up surprising the MLB world if he passes the drug test.
Bob K.| 3.17.12 @ 2:00AM
Hey, Pettitte has averaged 15 wins a year and has 4 (count 'em!) lifetime shutouts! With those 19 playoff wins in those very rare playoff games at the end of each year, his total $125,000,000.00 dollars lifetime earnings and the fact that he played in New York City he is a cinch for the Hall of Fame! The Baseball writers will make sure of that!
Move over Whitey Ford! Give another great Yankee left hander elbow room!
Let's see? Ol' Whitey also had 16 years in the bigs and won 236 games with 45 (count 'em!) shut outs.
But that was a different era.
And speaking of ERA his was much, much lower than Andy's. But that was a different era remember?
JimH| 3.17.12 @ 7:44AM
I'm surprised to see anything nice said about any lefty on this site - heh heh.
Bob Grant| 3.17.12 @ 11:00AM
...or using ERA in a positive context. Heh, heh.
Pete| 3.17.12 @ 11:33AM
Seems like Yankees and Cub players have an easier path to the HOF. I am still trying to figure how the heck Dawson got voted in. Somebody like Jim Kaat will never get considered or a Baines, who had the same numbers as Dawson will not get more than 5 percent of the votes.
Aaron Goldstein| 3.17.12 @ 12:51PM
The difference between Baines and Dawson is that Baines spent more than half his career as a DH. I don't think it's fair that was held against him by the BBWAA. Baines fell off the ballot after he received less than 5% of the vote in 2011. His offensive numbers do warrant consideration and should I write another article about players overlooked for Cooperstown I might very well include Baines.
With that said, Dawson is a Hall of Famer. Aside from his 438 homeruns and 314 stolen bases (only one of six MLB players to have more than 300 homeruns and 300 stolen bases) he also won 8 Gold Gloves for his defensive work first at centerfield and then rightfield. That Hawk had a rifle for an arm. He won the NL MVP in 1987 with the Cubs and finished runner up in NL MVP balloting twice (1981 behind Mike Schmidt and 1983 behind Dale Murphy - another player who got no love from the BBWAA).
Mark Twain| 3.17.12 @ 8:29PM
Compare Dawsons numbers with Harold Baines, almost identical except for one key state. Walks, Dawson hardly ever took a walk so he has a lower on base percentage. But frankly I don't think Baines deserves to be in the Hall, just that Dawson does not either. What is absurd is Dawson gets in while Baines gets 5 percent of the vote. Its the Cub factor, just like Billy Williams.
But if you think Hawk deserved to get in how about Konerko. He is just 40 home runs away from Dawson's 438 with about 4 years to go before turning 40 and his game just keeps getting better. But most telling his OPS (OBP + SLP) is .858 compared to .808 by Dawson. And Konerko is no slouch in the field either. So Aaron, I am sure you
will be pushing for Konerko to get into the HOF, a guy never accused of steroids in a steroid era.
And btw Murphy finished with 398 homers and an .815 OPS. Hence not near to what Konerko is doing. Murphy also hit .268 compared to Konerkos 282.
And true Baines did DH, but not till he was well in his 30s. Dawson would have DHed also if he were in the AL. He went to the Cubs because they had grass and he didn't want to hurt his knees any further. By then he was a right fielder who lost most of his speed. .
Do I think Konerko should be in the HOF? Nope. Neither Should Murphy and Neither should Dawson.
Aaron Goldstein| 3.17.12 @ 8:57PM
Dawson had the lion's share of his success with Montreal and was inducted as an Expo. BTW, Dawson was largely a DH during his two seasons with the Red Sox.
If Konerko stays healthy and productive (i.e. 500 homeruns) he will get consideration for Cooperstown.
Aaron Goldstein| 3.17.12 @ 12:36PM
I don't think Pettitte is a lock for Cooperstown because he wore a Yankee uniform. Remember that Bernie Williams got less than 10% of the vote from the BBWAA in his first year on the ballot.
Mark Twain| 3.17.12 @ 8:35PM
Well after Jim Kaat with his 283 wins Pettite gets another 40 wins and gets his era down to under .3.50, maybe he will deserve to get in also.
Pete| 3.17.12 @ 11:30AM
Sounds like his family is anxious to get him out of the house. I remember when Ryne Sandberg retired early to be with his family. His wife, Cindy, had been bar hopping in Scottsdale and had an affair with a good friend of mine and didn't want her husband home. So she quickly divorced Ryne. He then returned to the game and remarried a friend who also had a divorce.
Sometimes the wives don't want the athlete home to cramp their style.
Bill| 3.17.12 @ 11:34AM
Yankees are falling apart.............
Norm Klevens| 3.17.12 @ 8:58PM
The Rangers have 7 bonifed starters. The Angels, also in the west have 5 and we seem to beat Pettitt , who is sure to be voted to the Hall of Fame in 5 or 6 years, in the play offs if we can get past the Rangers. My money is on the Yanks to win the east.
porno | 3.22.12 @ 5:35AM
Talking about real estate loving it Here’s some mildly amuzing stuff I found: Thought for the day? : Crime doesn’t pay… does that mean my job is a crime?