Jeter Hot, Pettitte Not

Der-ek Je-ter. Clap clap, clap clap clap. Der-ek Je-ter. Clap, clap, clap clap clap.

I'm tempted to end the post right there because I don't think anything more needs to be said, but since I'm here.....

You've got to give it up to Jeter. I don't care if you love him or hate him, you have to respect him. His 1st inning single was his 1270th hit in Yankee Stadium. Nobody else has more and with the Stadium closing this weekend, it's a record that will never be broken. I was skeptical at the beginning of this homestand if Jeter was going to pull this out. He made quick work of it leaving himself with 5 games to spare. He's been in the zone lately, going 11 for 18 on this homestand. You know that DJ knows the season is over. Yet he's still going out and giving it his all every night. I hope the youngsters on this team are taking note, **cough Cano cough * There's no mailing it in with Jeter. You get 100% from him day in and day out regardless of the situation. There's a reason he's the team captain and if anyone doubts what it is, just watch him go about his business. After his record-breaking single, my wife asked me why he doesn't look excited as he was standing on 1st. I told her that's just who Jeter is. He puts the team above his own personal accomplishments. He'd rather win the ball game then break a record. Since the game was on My9 tonight, there's no post game, but I can guarantee if asked about how it felt, Jeter would say it was nice but also comment on how winning and the team are more important that his own achievements. That's the kind of guy I want leading my team into battle. That's the kind of guy that the other 24 men on the field need to aspire to be. congrats Derek. Your name more than deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence as the likes of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Andy Pettitte on the other hand....

If any of the Yankees FO are entertaining thoughts of bringing Pettitte for another go 'round, please get rid of them now. Andy has been absolutely brutal lately. I blogged about this after his last outing. The goose is unfortunately cooked. I love AP but unless he finds some way to totally reinvent him self a la Moose, it's time to part ways. He's now lost 5 straight and is 1-7 in his last 10 starts. The team is 1-9 in those starts. Shocking considering how strong of a second-half pitcher AP has been throughout his career. He wasn't as bad tonight. He had a few rough spots but for the most part settled down. But that's been the story with AP most of the year. The starts aren't all terrible, but you ca count on him to have a rough inning that totally blows the team's chances of winning. His record on the year now stands at 13-14. I have to thank Mike from The Sommer Frieze for this little nugget: Andy Pettitte is one of 2 pitchers in history to pitch in 10 or more years and have a winning record in each season they pitched in. The other being Babe Ruth. Wow. That's a crazy stat. Granted a lot of great pitchers get disqualified from that list for having a bad 1st season or a season with few starts, but still. Wow. Pettitte has never had a losing record and he has 2 starts left to preserve that streak. Regardless of what happens to AP in those 2 games, it's time to part ways. The Yanks can do a lot with $16 million. Even bringing him back at a reduced amount isn't worth it. The Yanks can go out and find a much younger guy for a lot less money that can win put up a 500 record. I hope they don't bring him back. And if they do, it better be as a last resort once the free agent market has dried up. I love AP, but his time has come.

Quick update on the Essential Games Of Yankee Stadium DVD giveaway contest. The question for this series was to guess how many strikeouts the Yankee pitchers would get against the White Sox. The series is 1/2 over and the 2 game total is 14. It's still anyone's game. For those not aware of the contest, just scroll down to some of my past entries, of which there are plenty, and you can read all about it.

Peace, love and Pinstripes,

J-Boogie