December 10, 2003

Is Andy Almost Home?: "Free agent lefthander Andy Pettitte, one of baseball’s winningest pitchers, is on the verge of an agreement with the Astros, industry sources said today... Pettitte has already passed a physical, and Astros owner Drayton McLane and agents Randy and Alan Hendricks are attempting to complete the deal within 24 hours, sources said. "

posted by jerseygirl to baseball at 03:31 PM - 29 comments

Well, that would pretty much guarantee that the Brewers won't finish first in the division.

posted by rocketman at 03:43 PM on December 10, 2003

Well, that would pretty much guarantee that the Yankees won't finish first in the division. I'll be a very disappointed Yankees fan if this goes through. Pettitte just looks like a Yankee to me. Him and Posada.

posted by msacheson at 03:49 PM on December 10, 2003

i feel the same way msacheson. i think my mom would go into mourning if this went through. maybe i should call to check up on her.

posted by goddam at 03:54 PM on December 10, 2003

This is sad. Steinbrenner has officially lost his damn mind. I knew something was up this morning when I read the Red Sox offered a better deal for Pettitte than the Yankees did. Seriously, if there was ever a doubt George was running everything, it's been confirmed now. NJohnson is gone, Sheffield is still iffy, Colon signed with ANA, Millwood will probably return the Phillies, Maddux seems opposed to playing in the NL... Bust out those old Skid Row tapes, the LA Gear sneakers and the acid washed jeans - George is bringing back the 80s The NYY rotation is now...tenatively... Mussina Vazquez Contreras Weaver Lieber 1 & 2 are terrific. 3 could be okay. 4 and 5? Mehhhh.

posted by jerseygirl at 04:00 PM on December 10, 2003

Wow, between this and the Sheffield deal seemingly not a sure thing, things seem to be boiling over on the Yankees Hot Stove.

posted by pivo at 04:06 PM on December 10, 2003

This is so weird. I just don't understand how something like this could happen.

posted by rocketman at 04:09 PM on December 10, 2003

How this could possibly happen: Exhibit A. Exhibit B.

posted by jerseygirl at 04:27 PM on December 10, 2003

The lowdown on Sheffield, from Redbird Nation.

posted by mbd1 at 04:48 PM on December 10, 2003

JG, I thought the Yankees were resigning David Wells, even your Exhibit B says that, so why isn't he in the projected rotation?

posted by billsaysthis at 05:04 PM on December 10, 2003

Because they're signing him to a minor league deal, aren't they?

posted by lilnemo at 05:09 PM on December 10, 2003

This Yankee fan is going on strike. To be honest I don't want Sheff that much - not strongly opposed but not attached - but the whole thing there reeks of poor ownership, as does this. This is the 80s all over again, but with exponentially more cash wasted (nice improvement on the NYYFans quote there JG :) ). It's fucking ridiculous. Aside from a great job with the bullpen they have fucked everything up. Andy and maybe a short Colon deal would have finished the rotation and then all they needed was a RF. That was IT. Now the whole team is fucked up and they're about to make another stupid move by getting Lofton. This is bad. Looks like the AL East will change for the first time in 7 years. And it looks like the Sox will take the AL. There's just no way that this team as it'll end up will compete - it's not as good, plus throw in the ever increasing pressure from George and they'll be stressed out and underperform. This is it for Joe, Mel, the staff, and the team. Fucking hell. I'm not too terrified of Moose Vasquez Contreras Wells Leiber but 4-5 are question marks injury wise. I'd rather combine them as the 5 and have some insurance, and have Andy there. I have to respect Andy's decision but this ruins his actual baseball career. No more glory, no more post season, and no more sub-5 ERA. Not in that park. So long Andy, and good luck. You'll need it.

posted by Bernreuther at 05:10 PM on December 10, 2003

Why no Wells? Because they're discussing a minor league contract. He hasn't even been signed yet, just offered arbitration. He just had back surgery, plus they are concerned about his fitness and conditioning and that's going to be a heavy clause in the contract they are negotiating now.

posted by jerseygirl at 05:20 PM on December 10, 2003

Isn't Pettite a Texan? He may simply want to be closer to home. In the world of pro sports it may sound absurd, but it might also be a case of a rush of sanity to the head.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:02 PM on December 10, 2003

Yeah. "Is Andy Almost Home?"

posted by jerseygirl at 08:50 PM on December 10, 2003

Jeez, JG: Gammons' ain't got nothing on you! Only a matter of time before you start telling us how such-and-such a player is "truly one of the finest human beings in the sport today" as part of your posts. Hey rocketman- glad to see you're still posting, hope we didn't rag on ya too bad the other day. Welcome to the club! :)

posted by hincandenza at 04:41 AM on December 11, 2003

Isn't Pettite a Texan? He may simply want to be closer to home. Pettite stated his desire to move closer to home some time around the start of last season.

posted by yerfatma at 06:27 AM on December 11, 2003

This morning's Houston Chronicle is reporting the Yankees could counter-offer a 5yr/65m contract today. Now we'll see if it was really about being home with the family or if it was all about the, uh benjamins.

posted by jerseygirl at 06:47 AM on December 11, 2003

a heavy clause In reference to anything dealing with Wells, that's hilarious.

posted by wfrazerjr at 08:39 AM on December 11, 2003

well, it looks like it's official. i never would have called that. i think this move officially puts the nail in the coffin of the 'dyansty' (1996-2000) years, if the past three years hadn't done that already. the yanks are dropping the ball big time. pettite was a yank through and through.....and it's shame they let him walk. he earned the respect he was never given, and this goes back to when george was pulling to trade him in 2001. methinks that must have stung hard. just think about the yanks this year in the playoffs without pettite and you'll picture the uphill battle it's going to be now in the bronx. and now with the sheff thing up in the air....backpage drama before he even does his first spring workouts.....i don't want to say collapse....but the yanks will be lucky to finish second in the AL east next year, let alone the playoffs. yankee fans i got two words for ya: kenny lofton. it's going to be that bad. it's looking good to be a mets fan again. they're going to be younger, more exciting and more interesting than the yanks.

posted by oliver_crunk at 08:43 AM on December 11, 2003

Oh, well, I guess the guessing is over. Good luck to Pettitte, where he, as all other Houston pitchers, will be awed by the beauty of Minute Maid Field and tormented by the short porch in left. Also, this: The Yankees' offer averaged about $13 million a year, while the Astros' proposal averaged about $13 million. Typo, or just written poorly?

posted by wfrazerjr at 08:44 AM on December 11, 2003

No more glory, no more post season I'm gonna have to call you on that, Bernreuther. I may be new to following the sport, but the Astros are in my team's division, and they're dangerous. They've got good pitching, and with Pettitte, I think they're a lock to win the division this year. Where they go in the postseason is anyone's guess, but I'm predicting a bright future for Pettitte in Houston. Minute Maid Park may have a short left porch, but that works against both teams' pitchers.

posted by rocketman at 08:50 AM on December 11, 2003

Apparently, it was about the family and maybe a little spite at the Yankees.

posted by jerseygirl at 09:31 AM on December 11, 2003

As a Sox fan, I'll really miss that hawk beak.

posted by yerfatma at 09:33 AM on December 11, 2003

As a Sox fan, I'll really miss Pettitte's... Hell, I won't miss anything.

posted by jerseygirl at 12:42 PM on December 11, 2003

The Yankees could still get Brown & Maddux. I think they probably will. I wouldn't write them off yet!

posted by djacobs at 12:58 PM on December 11, 2003

Brown maybe. Maddux I really doubt. From everything I've read here in ATL, he wants to go west, closer to his home (He's from Las Vegas and is building a house in San Diego). My money is on the Padres to borrow against that new stadium to sign him.

posted by trox at 01:09 PM on December 11, 2003

Maddux has said he has no desire to play in the AL. He's also a big golf player apparently and would prefer to go to a warmer climate.

posted by jerseygirl at 01:25 PM on December 11, 2003

I don't think it can go Weaver for Brown. Brown, as injury ridden as he is, is worth more than Weaver. George's behavior thus far, plus desperation? I bet Soriano goes.

posted by jerseygirl at 01:39 PM on December 11, 2003

I don't want Brown or Maddux. Too fragile, too old, too surly in column A, and too old and on the decline in column B. I can't picture Maddux in another uniform. I hate the Braves but it's a shame to see him go.

posted by Bernreuther at 03:07 PM on December 11, 2003

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