He would have to get past the Yankees in a normal year so no, I don't think it's all crazy. Besides there is no saying that Boston even makes the playoffs next year. The Yankees were 12 games better then them over the last 100 games of the year (the first time they had their entire team together). We now have that entire team back. What's to say we aren't 14 or 15 games better then them next year? That may make it difficult for them to even get to the post season. I'm sure they know this too so while you would think it's more important for the Yankees to do something that may not be the case at all.
"Just look at what he did this year in game 2 of our ALDS." Why game 2? Why not game 1, against the best opposing pitcher, instead of the second best. "Add that to the fact that his lifetime winning percentage is .64 to Santana's .67 " Are you actually suggesting Pettite is better? What do you think those numbers would look like if Pettite was ptiching in Minnesota and Santana had the Yankees lineup backing him up? They wouldn't even be in the same universe! "On top of that he was one of the best pitchers in baseball over the second half of the season with a 10-2 record.In the first half he got no run support at all." In the midst of an argument comparing Pettite to Santana, you actually think this is some kind of supporting argument...Pettite lacked run support? "I would much rather have him in a post season series then Beckett." Did you actually watch Beckett? This is one of the dumbest things I ever heard. As I said, I like Pettite...but Pettite is a B+ to A- pitcher, whereas both Beckett and Santana are A++. Pettite is a damn good #2 pitcher, and an average #1....I wouldn't call him an "ace" though...I don;t see any Cy Youngs on his resume or in his future...in fact, I don't even see his name in the Cy Young conversation.
The lack of run support is valid. Pettitte's run support was dismal early in the year. (I don't recall the exact number, but it was under 2/game.) Santana's ERA was 3.33 last year. He'd have lost a lot with the Yankees too. You're right that Pettitte is not the pitcher Santana or Beckett is. However, he's not as bad as you make him out to be either. He's always been a quality 1, but there's always been a Cy Young guy in front of him his whole career. He's a legit A, but yeah, Santana/Beckett have pluses after their letter.
guys guys, please dont say youd rather have pettitte right now than beckett in the playoffs...youre embarrassing us.
I didn't. I never would. All I'm saying is that I'm glad we have Andy for the playoffs, since we don't have Beckett.
Again, I don;t want to sound like I'm bashing him, because I'm not. I like Pettite....but..... Pettite's ERA last year was 4.05, according to sportsline, a career 3.83. http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/7976 Beckett's ERA last year was 3.27, a career 3.74, certainly comparable, but I think Beckett's best years are ahead of him yet, not behind him. http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/174887 Santana's ERA is 3.22, last year a 3.33, his HIGHEST ERA in 5 years! Furthermore, his record is 93-44, and that's playing in Minnesota!!! Had he been with the Yankees all that time, you could easily add 15-20 wins to that total, and remove about 15 losses. http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/174948 Pettite is very good, as I said, but he will never be a Cy Young contender, and will be at a disadvantage in a playoff series against any team with one of these guys. When you want to win a championship, you don't say "Oh well, Pettite is pretty good, maybe we can get through the playoffs with him as our ace." If Pettite is your "ace", the Yankees have essentially 0 chance of winning the World Series....IMO....he should be your #2 pitcher.
1 - Because we had clueless Joe as our manager. That has since been fixed. 2 - I am suggesting nothing. Just that the difference isn't so great and Pettitte hasn't been pitching in the cushy AL Central his entire career. 3 - Well, you obviously haven't seen much of Pettitte in the post season to make such a ridiculous statement. Even after starting this by saying you knew he pitched well in the post season. Go back and look at the really important games he pitched in the post season and how he did.
Any day of the week. I would take any great leftie over any rightie in the playoffs any time in any game.
I can see where you come from on this point...I don't agree, but at least I can see your argument. As for me, I would gladly unleash Beckett or Santana against Pettite in the playoffs and take my chances.
It would be a good matchup. Of course Santana is a leftie too. I especially would want a leftie if the game was being played in Yankee stadium and that is where my opinion mainly comes from.
Postseason stats... Josh Beckett- 6-2, 1.73 ERA, .55 H/IP, 5.86 K/BB Andy Pettitte- 14-9, 3.96 ERA, 1.08 H/IP, 2.31 K/BB So it comes down to this. Don, you would rather have the pitcher who gives up almost 4 ER a game (more than double Beckett), more than a hit an inning (just about double Beckett) and has a K/BB two and a half times lower in the postseason? Not to mention the fact that Beckett is just entering his prime while Pettitte has considered retirement two years running? BTW, against the Yankees in the playoffs Beckett has an ERA of 1.10 and 19 Ks in 16 IP.
I still don't understand why everyone thinks you NEED an ace. Having 4 #1 or #2 pitchers will put you in a better position in a playoff series than having an ace and a few average pitchers after him. Sure, you may lose the first game, but you have the match-ups until you have to face their ace again.
Because if you have a guy like Beckett who you know is nearly guaranteed to win two games in a best of 5, that means you need to only take one game of the other three. If you are on the other side, you need a three game sweep in the other three. It's much easier to go into a series having two wins already "in the bag".
Not true...in a 5 game series, you would face Ace,#2,#3, Ace, #2....the "ace" essentially gives you 2 wins...meaning you only have to win 1 of 3 to advance. In a seven game series, you are looking at Ace, #2, #3, Ace, #2, #3, Ace. If the ace gives you 3 wins, you need only 1of 4 more out of the rest. That's the theory, anyway. of course, you can pitch the Ace twice in a seven game series, but if you need it, you can put him in 3 times.
Bonus points if they do the hands cupping the crotch like DX! Double bonus points if they do it with pyrotechnics!
Santana has to be traded this off season. As everyone knows, he won't approve a trade July 31, unless its to Boston or New York, but then its a two month rental with no guarantee he will sign. And its already known he wants to stay on the East Coast. If Boston AND Yankees bow out of the bidding at this point, it just allows a team like the Mets to swoop in and get him at a reduced price. Just for that reason, the Yankees cannot bow out.
w're not talking about just a leftie over a rightie. youre crazy if you take pettitte over beckett....its not even close dude...lets be fair here
I dont think anyone will get him at a reduced price. If the Sox and Yankees bow out then he will remain a Twin at least until the trade deadline or through the year. The Twins havent gone through all this just to get less than what has been offered. Either they choose one or it will be none at all for now.
If the Twins don't trade him this off-season, they risk getting nothing for him at the trade deadline, he does have a no-trade clause and doesn't have to go anywhere, and ABSOLUTELY nothing at year end.
