Nobody quite knew what to expect out of the 40-year-old southpaw, Andy Pettitte, when he announced his return to baseball in pinstripes. He hadn’t pitched a game since 2010, and although he had a great year, the aging star had to have some rust to shake off from being out of the game for a while. Questions arose about whether or not Pettitte would be able to contribute as much to the Yankees as the organization had formerly been accustomed to.
WIth significant losses to injury in the Yankees pitching staff, one thing was certain, his return was more than welcome by the club and fans alike. Pettitte’s work ethic is unquestionable too, as is his passion for the game, all of which have been clearly on display in his first three starts for the Yankees this season and it couldn’t come at a better time for the team.
After four minor league starts, Pettitte didn’t look to be the dominant pitcher of old and didn’t seem to be as ready for his return as hoped. He went 0-2 in those starts and gave up a lot of hits as the talk started to swirl that his velocity had declined and he may not be ready for the big leagues yet. However, the Yankees were desperate for a change in the rotation and called him up to come to their aid.He’s answered that call in a big way. With his experience and attitude on the mound, Pettitte has a chip on his shoulder and is out to prove that he can still handle himself in the majors.
On May 13, he made his 2012 debut, and it didn’t go as well as hoped for. In 6.1 innings of work, Pettitte gave up seven hits, two being monster home runs, four earned runs, and three walks to only two strikeouts, which gave him a loss in his opener. He seemed to lack command, leaving a few pitches over the plate that hurt him as they were taken for a long ride out of the park.
In his last two starts though, Pettitte has made a complete turnaround, dismissing that shaky opener from his mind completely as he’s dominated opposing batters as of late. He’s provided the Yankees with two of their last three wins and seems to be improving with every start. In those two wins, Pettitte has put in work, pitching 15 total innings where he gave up 11 hits and only two earned runs. He’s also regained his control, fooling batters as they wave at his infamous cutter to no avail. On the season, Pettitte has now struck out 19 batters already and only walked five.
Pettitte’s desire to win and his leadership is something the Yankees need right now, as they continue struggling to win games. As long as he can continue to his recent trend of dominance on the mound, it’ll be all the team can ask for to help put them in position to win games. If he continues to play this veteran role consistently, Pettitte may make all the difference in whether or not the Yankees make a playoff push in 2012.
