Afternoon Baseball

Andy Pettitte left New York, depending on whom you talked to, because: 1. The Yankees blew him off in early negotiations, whereas Houston doggedly pursued him despite a smaller checkbook; 2. The Yanks thought his elbow wouldn't hold up after an injury-plagued 2002, despite stellar numbers that year and a sensational 2003; 3. His wife pulled rank and made him move back home; 4. Roger Clemens' faux retirement left Pettitte without his mentor and therefore without a compelling reason to stay.

It doesn't matter, though, because a couple elbow problems sandwiching his best-ever season, he's back and pitching tonight (after the Wednesday rainout). The injuries are still an issue, but we're talking about a guy who's won 186 games in 12 years.

It led me to think, what are my favorite Pettitte moments. Here's a few:

1. 1995 -- Seeing this rookie come in and go 13-12 for a green team filled with overpaid disappointments (Jack McDowell) and low-paid disappointments (Scott Kaminiecki) was a great sight. He had oodles of talent, it was clear.
2. 1996 World Series, Game 5. He was awful in Game 1, but he was pitching against 24-game winner John Smoltz and the defending champs, so you could almost shrug it off. The far worse blow was the shutout loss in Game 2 at home. But by Game 5, the series was again even, and Pettitte allowed nothing, nearly completing the game. Through 34 postseason starts and an ALCS MVP, he's never been better in a bigger spot.
3. The live struggles. I've seen Pettitte pitch twice. One was April 24, 1999 against, Roy Halladay, then in his rookie year. Halladay had pitched 16 scoreless innings in 4 appearances, and he extended that streak dubiously, giving up four unearned runs in four innings. Pettitte struggled, however, giving 7 innings but with four runs, three earned. Chili Davis saved the day with a 3-run monster shot in the eighth, and Mo Rivera got the save.
The other time was against the Detroit Tigers on June 30 of that year, who stomped all over the Yanks. Tony Clark, of all people, hit one into the black seats off Pettitte. So, I've not seen a masterful Andy performance, but he's still a great watch.
4. Of course, I'd be remiss if I left off the 2003 postseason. Each Game 2, he evened the series, missing a World Series shutout because of an Aaron Boone error. In Game 6, he gave the best effort he could, but Josh Beckett was sealing his overrated reputation with a shutout.

I think he's got a lot left in the tank. Let's hope moving back to the superior AL doesn't empty him too soon.