I know this is the New York Yankees, and I know it’s their business of giving themselves as many options as possible each season, but bringing back Andy Pettitte for another go in 2012 shows a lack of faith in their current arms.
Let’s list all of them, shall we?
1. C.C. Sabathia (guaranteed)
2. Hiroki Kuroda (guaranteed)
3. Phil Hughes
4. Ivan Nova
5. Freddy Garcia
6. Michael Pineda
7. Adam Warren
8. David Phelps
9. Dellin Betances
10. Andy Pettitte
That’s a damn impressive list of options if I say so myself. A list that could potentially make a Boston Red Sox fan hurl.
Now, that’s not to say that this obvious lack of trust is unwarranted.
Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova only have one year of MLB experience. Nova has had a rough start to the spring thus far and Pineda’s velocity has yet to show up, something that has been of concern for general manager Brian Cashman.
Hiroki Kuroda is coming from a much weaker offensive division to the best in baseball, and he has also started spring on the wrong foot. And no matter what, if he doesn’t pitch well, manager Joe Girardi won’t hesitate to pull the plug and go with someone else.
Phil Hughes battled through a difficult 2011 season, which was plagued by injury and a lack of consistency. He certainly hasn’t earned trust during his time with the Yankees.
And his constant moving back and forth between the rotation and bullpen hasn’t earned the Yankees’ trust in Hughes’ eyes either.
But at some point, and especially with young starters, you have to show a pitcher you have faith in them to take the mound each start and win games. It builds a certain confidence in a starting pitcher that can lead to success during the year.
It’s quite the opposite when they’re looking over their shoulder at the 39-year-old Yankee legend who, with his extensive resume, has now become the greatest insurance policy in MLB history.
They need to make separate wings in Cooperstown for guys like this. It would be called the Roger Clemens wing.
And that’s not to say I’m unhappy about Pettitte returning. You’d have to be a total hater if you didn’t because there’s nobody any Yanks’ fan has more faith in, even now, in a big game then Pettitte.
Yes, that includes C.C. Sabathia.
But this deviates from what appeared to be a more forward-thinking approach with the Yankees. It seems just when the Yankees were going young and depending on their young arms, here comes the “Core Four” Bombers trying to take them to titles again.
I’m just waiting for Jorge Posada to lace up the cleats.
For $2.5 million, it isn’t a waste by any stretch of the imagination, and it can only benefit a team already rich with pitching.
As for legacy, I can see a scenario where it be may be embarrassing if Pettitte doesn’t make the roster, but let’s let Andy worry about that one.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com