Wednesday, December 6, 2006
BERGEN COUNTY RECORD
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Rumors that Andy Pettitte was on his way back to the Yankees spread so fast through the lobby of the Dolphin Hotel, it kicked to the curb the day's secondary stories, particularly Barry Zito (still listening to the Rangers), Manny Ramirez (still with the Red Sox) and Barry Bonds (making one, long boomerang journey back to the Giants).
It's no small achievement, surging to the top of the news cycle on a mere whisper. But that's how hungry the Yankees are for a dependable starting pitcher, not to mention a link to the late-'90s golden era.
The question, of course, is whether the gossip is true. SI.com reported that Pettitte was so "intrigued" at a return to pinstripes, a one-year deal could be completed within days.
His agent, Randy Hendricks, wasn't quite as enthusiastic, saying Pettitte had yet to tell
him he's actually playing again in 2007 and, if so, which team he's choosing, the Yankees or Astros.
That said, there are strong indications the Bombers might have the Christmas present they've been hoping for. For one, Hendricks says he's been trying to convince Pettitte not to retire. Even more significantly, Pettitte's family has signed off on the idea of a second tour in New York -- which in itself might be cause for celebration in the Bombers' front office.
It was Laura Pettitte who cleared the path to Houston three years ago, all but insisting her husband sever his ties with the Yankees. Friends say Mrs. Pettitte disliked New York at every stage of Andy's career, beginning in his rookie season all the way to his superstar, 21-win season in 2003.
But if Laura Pettitte is OK with Andy signing a one-year contract to play in pinstripes, then the Yankees will have -- at least temporarily -- the emotional rock they've obviously been missing since ... well, 2003.
There's every reason for Yankee fans to root for this deal to happen. Pettitte is one of the finest citizens of the Joe Torre era, a latter-day Whitey Ford who was as honest and hard-working as any Yankee of the last decade.
Pettitte has proven he can handle big-city pressure, appreciates and respects the Yankee legacy and isn't afraid to take the ball in a big game. Put it this way: If the Bombers' season comes down to nine final innings next October, whom would Torre rather trust, Pettitte or Randy Johnson?
The irony here is that Pettitte's exodus spawned the Yankees' desperate attempt to find a reliable replacement. There've been failed experiments with the emotionally overwhelmed Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez and Carl Pavano and, to a lesser degree, Johnson. None of them have had Pettitte's stuff or maturity.
Pettitte's potential return isn't without risks, however. He's not as durable as he was in the '90s; nor is he as dominating as he was in '03. Pettitte has undergone two elbow surgeries since then, and even though he was proclaimed healthy by doctors in 2006 (and made a career-high 36 appearances for the Astros), he still had recurring elbow problems in September.
It took a cortisone shot for Pettitte to get through the pennant race, and there were at least two circumstances, one pain-related, when he couldn't take the ball. The Yankees surely know the tidal wave of nostalgia would evaporate instantly if Pettitte ever suffered a third blowout and was forced to retire in midseason.
The other thing to remember is that Pettitte would be coming from the National League to the American, which isn't the most appetizing career path for a 34-year-old pitcher. More than ever, the AL is the home for glorified batting practice, which is precisely why Barry Zito is so strongly considering signing with the Mets.
Except for one season, (in 2003 when he was hitting 94 mph on the radar gun), Pettitte has never been a particularly hard thrower. Instead, he's relied on a cutter to be effective, especially against right-handed hitters. Whether that pitch could still neutralize the bigger, strong hitters in the AL is an unanswerable question.
What the Yankees need, ultimately, is a future generation of young, hard throwers; a legion of Jeremy Bonderman clones. Maybe Philip Hughes is the answer, but the Bombers are, for now, committed to starting the season with their rookie right-hander at Class AAA.
So what do the Yankees do to bridge the gap? The answer is sitting at home in Texas, fragile left elbow and all. Pettitte might not be the perfect choice, but for one summer, he's more inviting than anyone out there.
Better track record than Ted Lilly. More impressive than Gil Meche. And certainly more economical than Zito. All the Yankees have to do is convince Pettitte that he has one more -- maybe one last -- chance to get to the World Series, if only he'd agree to wear the pinstripes again.
Maybe the courtship is actually over, as SI.com reports. Maybe the game of semantics his agent played Tuesday suggests the Yankees should set aside No. 46 for the first day of pitchers and catchers at Legends Field.
When someone asked Hendricks if Pettitte was ready for a Yankee homecoming, he didn't say no. Instead, the agent cryptically replied said, "That's getting ahead of the curve."
It's actually pushing the rewind button, which the Yankees say is just fine. This is one history class they wouldn't mind sitting through.
E-mail: klapisch@northjersey.com
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