We won't see that Andy Pettitte stare again. I will always associate the televised image of Pettitte's eyes peering just over his glove for the catcher's sign with many other negative Pinstripe memories. Yes, I acknowledge Pettitte's abilities and I enjoyed rooting against him because of that, but.......I'm just happy he won't be around to help the Yankees win so much.
His absence significantly impacts the Red Sox - Yankee rivalry for 2011. It gives the Sox an edge in starting rotations as we enter a year when our hitting line-up, amazingly, has gotten much closer to the quality of the Yankees' line-up with the additions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez.
I think the Yanks still have better hitting - without question, but, suddenly, it feels the two teams are much closer --- similar to the feeling we had back in 2003 and 2004, for instance. This comes after about six years of the Yankees maintaining their old "superiority" over the Sox.
I'd still probably give a slight overall edge to the Yanks, but, I feel much more confident - like many Sox fans - about the matchup.
Pettitte went 11-3 last season and has defied the odds by continuing to pitch at the highest level despite his age. He's 38 now as he announces his retirement today.
The Bombers were hoping that Pettitte would remain in their already-shaky starting rotation.
Now, the Yanks' rotation is even more shaky. Last season, the Yanks' starting pitchers collective ERA ranked 22nd in Major League Baseball, according to a recent post by Cliff Corcoran, a writer for S.I./com. The Yankees, despite that horrible stat, relied on their fantastic hitting to make it to the ACLS in 2010 before losing badly to the Texas Rangers.
The Yanks will again have C./C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett back as starters, but their #4 and # 5 starters are not confirmed and are unlikely to match the quality of the Red Sox' #4 and #5.
Also, consider the context: Sabathia is coming off two outstanding seasons. Is he likely to do that in a third consecutive year? Maybe he'll be good, but I doubt he can be quite as dazzling.
Hughes' numbers were impressive last year. He finished at 18-8, but, Corcoran's S.I./com article reminded me his year wasn't what it appeared. In his final 23 starts, Hughes posted a 5.05 ERA and he benefited from tremendous run support, Corcoran wrote. (an average of 6.75 runs per game he pitched) Burnett finished at 10-15 in 2010 and had a lousy year across the board. Plus, consider that Burnett had consistent injury problems before he arrived in NY, and, yet, has been healthy during his two year stint. At 34, coming off his poor year, is he likely to be a healthy, incredible "ace" in 2011? I doubt it.
So, if you look at the questions facing Hughes and Burnett and then factor in the likely limitations of the two unknowns the Yanks designate to fill out their rotation, it's fair to say their rotation has not looked this potentially flawed in many years.
If one considers the Red Sox rotation of Lester, Buchholz, Beckett, Lackey and Matsuzaka, it seems the Sox have an indisputable edge on paper. Of course, Beckett and Lackey have a lot to prove after their sub-par seasons and we simply don't know if one or both are facing an unavoidable drop in their "stuff" at this stage of their careers. I worry, in particular, about Beckett, who has been unable to throw his fastball as hard the past two years -- when that has been his signature pitch his whole career. Lackey's fastball also lacked the zip of his past seasons. So, we just won't know until the late spring whether one or both of these guys appears on the "down side." Or, perhaps one or both will work on their problems in spring training and come back strong.
However the details evolve, I cannot believe that Beckett and Lackey together will be worse than the #4 and #5 newcomers to the Yankee rotation. And, I think Lester and Buchholz match up against Sabathia and Hughes because even if Sabathia is the best, our #2, I'd argue, is better than Hughes.
Dice-K looked decent for much of last season, but, he still has bad habits that are unlikely to go away. If the Sox could trade Dice-K, I'd do it right now.
Pettitte's departure reminds me that the old Yankee-Red Sox rivalry is not far from a total transformation. Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada are getting older and won't be the hitting threats they once were. Even Mariano Rivera cannot pitch forever. Plus, on our side, David Ortiz is playing what will likely be his last year for the Red Sox. So, all of the players who were part of the unique excitement of 2004 will soon be fading or off both of these two great teams.
It seems that something different is going on with the Yankees in early 2011. GM Brian Cashman is having public disagreements with the owners. Yankee management was stupid enough to get into a public spat with Jeter over his contract a couple of months ago. The team looks more fragile. Could the team be headed for an unusually bad year?
That's unlikely, but, Pettitte's departure will make things harder in the Bronx.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)