Near perfect, Pettitte has best start of the year in 5-1 win

by Travis G on Aug 31, 2009 10:48 PM EDT in Game Recap

Oh, Jerry, what could have been...

Andy Pettitte was cruising, having thrown 6.2 perfect innings before Adam Jones came to the plate. He hit a fairly hard grounder to third-baseman-for-the-day Jerry Hairston - he Buckner'd it, leading to the first baserunner of the game. The no-hitter was then lost to the very next batter, Nick Markakis, who apparently picked out the vulnerable Hairston and lined a clean single past him.

The next barrier to fall was the shutout, which was lost in the eighth when Melvin Mora homered to left-center.

It's too bad. A perfect-game/no-hitter would have been a fantastic 'cherry on top' to a near Hall of Fame career. Do I think it would have happened? No. But I would've liked to have seen it lost on a clean single rather than an error.

However, it was still his best start of the year: Pettitte threw an astonishing 73 of 104 pitches for strikes and struck out eight with no walks.

As for the offensive side of the game, Nick Swisher was the hero. After slumping on the homestand, Swisher bounced back with a 3-4 game with a homer, double and single.

Meanwhile, minor leaguer Freddy Guzman was acquired today from Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate for a PTBNL or cash. He's 28 and has played in 37 major league games. His forte is speed: he's stolen 436 bases in 521 attempts in the minors.

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Via RAB

Romine was named FSL Player of the Year

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090831&content_id=6715582&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Aug 31, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

very cool

cant wait to watch him in Trenton next year.

by Travis G on Aug 31, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

jerry must be the most miserable person in the world in that moment. when he missed that ball his head immediately dipped down.

I'm just like you, only ten times better.

by noonoo on Aug 31, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

Hey' I'll take it

Andy’s got 4 WS rings (and going for the 5th), so I don’t think he’ll be too upset. I’ll take a WS win over a perfect game any day.

by coops2001 on Aug 31, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

Pettite was great

But Bruney had his best Brad Lidge impersonation going on.

by mercy on Sep 1, 2009 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

What's the deal with Bruney

He is a total enigma! One moment he looks like he’s getting out of the funk he’s been in and then he just sucks! I hate his body language as well. He looks like he could give a rat’s arse!

by Mondoas on Sep 1, 2009 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

did anyone notice

at the start of the 7th pettite had thrown 6 innings, struck out 6, and thrown 66 pitches?

by Jon F on Sep 1, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions

Andy Pettitte should be a Hall Of Famer

No, not because of tonight but the guy is almost 100 games over .500 for his career, was jobbed in 96 for the Cy Young, has a ton of post season wins, 4 world titles, 7 league championships, and one of the best pick off moves ever. Any objections?

by YankeesJets on Sep 1, 2009 12:39 AM EDT reply actions

andy pettites era career is like 4 and u think hes a hall of famer!!!! HAHAHAHAH

lookout landing - banning people for no reason since 2009

by bigdickwillie on Sep 1, 2009 1:11 AM EDT reply actions

Every pitcher that has won 100 more than they lost is in the Hall

ERA isnt everything. Red Ruffing has a high ERA, and he’s in. Reggie Jackson hit .260 and he’s in.

by YankeesJets on Sep 1, 2009 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions

You also have to take other things into consideration

Pitchers in modern times have it a bit tougher than the guys of the past. In the old days second baseman werent hitting 30 plus homers, Catchers and SS werent key offensive positions they were mostly defensive specialists, the mound was also higher, and pitchers in the past also didnt have to deal with the DH or juiced up hitters. Is an ERA of close to 4 comparable with the guys of yesteryear, maybe not, but dont be mislead.

by YankeesJets on Sep 1, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Can't forget

He spent most of that time pitching in the AL East…..

For the Love of the Game

by ForTheLove on Sep 1, 2009 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions

My Man...

If Jim Rice Can Get In Andy Is A Lock!!!

by Yankz09 on Sep 1, 2009 4:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

+1

Plus, Andy’s not a d*ck

by waw on Sep 1, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

haven't heard of ERA+, huh?

by Travis G on Sep 1, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Andy pettite

Deserves a spot in the Hall of Good, along with players like Bernie Williams, Paul O’neil, etc. He’s not Hall of fame material

by mercy on Sep 1, 2009 1:17 AM EDT reply actions

I never said guys like O'Neill and Bernie belonged

But if Schilling and Moose are considered, why not Andy? Schilling always gets the big postgame pitcher argument but what is Andy and his 14 wins(second All Time to Smoltz’s 15) chopped liver?

by YankeesJets on Sep 1, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Pettite

Has alot of postseason wins because he had alot of postseason starts. As for the Moose and schilling, well they were dominant pitchers and among the best in the game one time or another. Pettite, not so much. However I do expect Schilling’s name to be linked to PED’s, which would DESTROY his chances of making it to the Hall.

by mercy on Sep 1, 2009 3:27 AM EDT reply actions

you get put in the right situation and make the most of it....

That’s how guys become legends…its not andys fault he got starts in the post season..he still had to go out there and pitch…and it made him one of the most clutch pitchers in history…..he has rings….he has the record…respectable era…..a place in post season history….the man is a big game pitcher…I think he deserves the hof…probably not first ballot or even second…but he deserves it….

by NYYWinsRings26 on Sep 1, 2009 4:00 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Unless the steroid things gets in the way...theres that to think about also

by NYYWinsRings26 on Sep 1, 2009 4:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Andy Pettitte

deserves strong consideration for the HOF. Personally I want to see him there and think he deserves it. My gut feeling says he gets close, but misses it by just a little.

by Edgware on Sep 1, 2009 6:13 AM EDT reply actions

Wow.

Andy damn near has a perfecto and NOW he’s in line for the Hall?

Before midseason, most wanted his head on a stick. After last season, people were happy that he signed an incentive laden deal cuz he kinda sucked at the end of last season.

Andy is NOT a HOF candidate. As long as a guy like Bert Blyleven is out of the hall, Andy’s not getting in.

I still don’t have a clue how Jim Rice got it, but to me that’s gonna open the floodgates for a lot of ‘very good’ hitters in the future.

GODZZIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 1, 2009 7:10 AM EDT reply actions

Ok so...

Thome and Garland have been traded to the Dodgers..

by Yankz09 on Sep 1, 2009 8:26 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Comparisons

I may be old, but not old enough to have seen Red Ruffing pitch, but I did see Whitey Ford pitch, many times, both in person and on Dizzy Dean’s old Game of the Week.

Pettite is good, as was Whitey. Both have or had incredible teams behind them. Both had incredible control.

Barring problems related to the PEDs, Pettite belongs in the Hall as much as any other pitcher alive today. 38 years old and throwing the stuff he tossed last night shows that he’s only getting better.

Someone should ask Whitey about Pettite in the Hall. I can’t help but think he’d agree on Andy’s qualifications.

by GrandEd on Sep 1, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

who wouldn't?

And I was not one of those who wanted andyls head…even great pitchers have bad seasons or bad streaks…if someone asked who are 5 of the most consistant left handers in the game in the last 12 years or so…andy pettite wouldn’t be in there?…please….

by NYYWinsRings26 on Sep 1, 2009 9:15 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Andy Pettitte will not go into the HOF

You can bet your last dollar on it.

It’s not about consistency, its about dominance. Pettitte is undoubtedly a fine pitcher, but Hall of Fame?

Please.

by New York Sports Jerk on Sep 1, 2009 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

Dominance?

So if you are not a strikeout pitcher you are not getting in? You dont finish top 6 in Cy Young votes 5 different times if you are not exceptional. If there was a big game on the line I would take Pettitte over Mussina 10 times out of ten. When he retires he will be close to 100 wins more than he has lost, every other pitcher in history with that number is in the hall. I think he should make it and I have always been a fan and never wanted his head on a stick. I still think if Andy never left, the Sox dont win in 04.

by YankeesJets on Sep 1, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

explain Don Sutton

by Travis G on Sep 1, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know about the HOF

But I sure am glad he’s pitching like he is for the Yankees this season. Frankly, lots of guys are talked about for the Hall (mostly by homers like us), but very few get in. Forget this argument and hope Andy keeps bringing it in the postseason.

by waw on Sep 1, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

i respect the opinionas of those who disagree....but

But what pitcher is great without being consistant….??…I totally did not get the basis of your argument…andy is one of the best left hand pitchers of our era regardless of his earned run average….3rd all time on the all to prominent list of yankee pitchers….190 wins should be 200 if not for various occassions when the offense fell asleep …5 times considered for cy young….4 rings….I’m giving you facts that 80% of pitchers would dream to have…

by NYYWinsRings26 on Sep 2, 2009 1:12 AM EDT via mobile reply actions