[ESPN Buster Olney] Pettitte will return to the Yankees

In 2005, Pettitte was one of the best pitchers in the NL (top 3 in ERA, I believe?). In 2006, after a struggling start, he had a 2.8 ERA after the All-Star break, again making him one of the best pitchers in the NL. Would you really put Garland in that kind of class? He had a *great* 2005, but his 2006 was right back to his career norms while are OK, but nothing special (4.5 ERA, 1.36 WHIP). He's certainly very consistent though, which is a definite plus.

 

No way Garland is in that class. Terrible move, Astros.

 

Great move. Where was AP the first half?

 

Ha, so true!

 

JG pitched in the AL while AP pitched in the NL.

Games
JG - 33
AP - 36

IP
JG - 211.1
AP - 214.1

ERA
JG - 4.51
AP - 4.20

WHIP
JG - 1.36
AP - 1.44

Hits
JG - 247
AP - 238

Runs
JG - 112
AP - 114

HR
JG - 26
AP - 27

BB
JG - 41
AP - 70

SO
JG - 112
AP - 178

BAA
JG - .294
AP - .284

So how did AP have a better year than JG? I think AP going back to the AL is going to make him worse and JG coming to the NL better.

 

Among pitchers who threw at least 75 innings after the All Star Break:

Pettitte was 6th in the NL in ERA

Garland was 8th in the AL (3.61).

 

It's not that he left. It's how he left. Saying you're thinking about retiring, and then your mouthpiece complains about the Astros not offering a second year, either one or the other is a lie. No one hated Hakeem for leaving for more money, because he didn't try to invent some other excuse. If Andy said "it's about the money, and also maybe the Yankees have a better shot at the World Series", you wouldn't like it, but at least you could still respect him.

 

Probably depressed because his bff had not shown up yet.

"Oh I promise I'll improve guys... Roger and I just need our menstruation cycles to get in sync'."

 

If Roger goes well then that is fine too. He is only good for a few innings half a season only anyways.

 

So, can somebody break down how Barry Zito would pitch in Minute Maid? I'm thinking if we're not gonna have Roger back either, might as well spend that money on the "prize" of the FA pitcher market.

 

People...Zito ain't gonna happen. The Astros do not give out 6 or 7 year deals to pitchers...period. The 5 year deal that Oswalt got was suprising in itself. Oh, and Scott Boras is his agent which doesn't help matters.

Once again...Barry Zito will not be an Astro.

 

I have trouble finding fault with Jeff for not retiring. He is rich, but that is still a ton of money.

 

It is easy for us to talk about just retiring and not taking the money, but I'd imagine if it came down to it..... it wouldn't be too easy for most of us to walk away from the money.

 

Roy
Woody
Hirsch
Nieve?
Wandy?

Ugh . . . without a FA in there somewhere, a trade is going to decimate our staff to the point that trading won't matter all that much. Who thought Woody was going to be a #2 pitcher on this team?

ugh . . . My fears are starting to be realized

 

B O R A S S

Forget Zito. We trade for Garland, and sign Suppan. That would be the best scenario now.

AP's bum elbow will flare up again. He dominated the NL. Wait till he gets back in the AL. Oh, and Roger? Wait till his hammy blows. Seriously, this team needs to get younger. Ausmus should be traded for a pack of cigs.

 

Well I can't say that I'm shocked, in this day and age, that Pettite would do this. But I will say I have lost a little respect for him. It makes the whole, wanting to play in Houston to be close to his family, near retirement/done with baseball argument a little sketchy. Maybe there's more motivation there, like he wants to finish his career where it began; I can understand that (but I think he should come out and say it). Otherwise, he just basically screwed his family and the hometown fans and went for the money. I don't wish ill of him, but I would really like to see him continue the success he saw in the NL over in the AL; going back to hitters who are more familiar with him and more potent lineups.

As for what this means to the Astros. Well it's not the end of the world. As I've said before, we've been flat out blessed to have the rotation we've had the past few years. It was only a matter of time before A) Both of them retired or B) Both of them moved on. Pettite leaving in no way means Clemens is gone. In fact, I'd almost be more inclined to believe he'd stay here because of all the benefits the team gives him. But again I wouldn't be shocked if he went to Boston or NY. The fact is this team had to plan to move on without them. And that's exactly what they've done (in signing Woody, trying to acquire Garland or others). They've been proactive.

I guess you just can't please everbody. Drayton proved he can open up his checkbook by signing Carlos Lee but now he's stingy for not signing Pettite. Or he overpayed for Lee, but giving 14-16 mill to a near-retirement pitcher w/ shoulder problems wouldn't be. Or how bout signing Woody and getting Garland may have seemed good at the time because they were taking action but it's not anymore because they needed Pettite, they should've waited and saved their money to throw at him.

I really like the moves the Astros are making this offseason. For the first time in years, they aren't sitting idly by waiting for the players to make the first move. Their taking action and doing what's best for the team...adding a bat by acquiring Lee...adding veteran pitching in Woody Williams...trying to get a #2 through a trade. And while they had to overpay for their FAs (like all teams) they're not going overboard and flushing their money away by overpaying for everybody. Seems like smart baseball to me. Their pitching might be a little bit worse but their offense should be a little bit better. I guess time will tell how this plays out.

And to keep those two guys on the basis that we made it to the WS only AFTER they arrived is pretty flawed logic. Sooner or later, this team was gonna have to learn to make it WITHOUT them.

 

Interesting that you'd quote Pettite's 2nd half ERA only, ignoring the poor performances in the 1st half of last season. Garland "had a great 2005 but his 2006 were back to career norms" - good analysis. You could say the exact same thing about Andy Pettite. In fact, taking into account his playing in the NL, Andy's 4.20 ERA and 1.44 WHIP were worse than Garland's performance in 2006.

 

It's highly doubtful, but maybe this changes things a bit. There doesn't *seem* to be a very hot market for Zito (NYY are out, LAD are out)...maybe Pettitte leaving changes the Astros tolerance level for Boras a bit.

Not that what I think matters one iota, but I'd offer Boras the exact deal Schmidt got from LA & see what happens. Of course, there's also the "does Zito want to play here?" question that gets ignored by fans with regularity.

 

Bingo. Why is everyone so hung up on AP? He's not that good anymore and he's making more money that Oswalt.

 

Ah, a silver lining in every cloud! We may be losing Andy and Roger (the Ambiguous Duo), but sending Ausmus to the pine is sweet.