Wow, pulling out the Catcher in the Rye on us. Bold move.

Is it so wrong that Pettitte wants to play for Torre? Torre seems to be revitalized by the air in LA, maybe Andy wants the same?

I have no problem with papers getting on an athlete’s case, but this is too much.

-Zach Sanders
http://www.mlbnotebook.com

Torre’s “revitalization” probably has a lot more to do with the horrid division he is in, and not some new sense of purpose or coaching ability.

You said it well, Craig. Sherman’s opinion does not represent the Yankees fan base.

Joel Sherman thank you for having the stones to say this.  Somebody with a voice needed to.

Andy and his awe shucks gimmick is getting old.  The good cop bad cop with his agents is played out.

Hey Andy don’t let the needle I mean the door hit you in the rear on the way out.

Pettite is a phony!  How in the world does this guy think he is worth 16 million?  Sure he can probably get that on the open market but he did have like a 4.50 era last season!  Also, the Yankees gave him a contract while not knowing that he was a big lying cheater who was taking HGH!  No way that they would have given him that money after the report!  He knew he was going to be in the report so he suddenly felt some urgency to sign that 16 million dollar deal! After all this bullshit happened the Yankees stood by him!  To add in that factor along with his shity season last year is exactly why Joel Sherman called him a phony and that is why the Yankees rightfully so are making him take a pay cut!  PREACH!

Well said. I read the Shermanator’s article and he def. wet himself on this one. Yankee fans (not all of them, but a wide throng of them) have gotten used to a team that really doesn’t exist anymore in modern baseball, accounting for some ridiculous comments. They once had an All-Star-caliber team that could acquire anyone at anytime as long as their owner would shell out the cash. As they transition into a “real” baseball team (this consists of setting a budget and actually developing players in the minor leagues into major-leaguers), I am hearing some of the most ridiculous statements. Please just shut it, my fairweather friends. Your team just shelled out around $150MM, and while I don’t think that’ll be enough to net Sabathia, (I hear he doesn’t want to deal with this constant media BS) I know they’ll pick up someone (Burnett) so calm down and be grateful for what you get. You don’t NEED Pettite.

Regardless of that, the NY media has no business ripping into Pettite. Understand that Pettite’s comments were context-based. I’m sure he never expected NY to lowball him, however, the truth stands in front of us. The Yanks realize he’s not worth the 16MM. Andy believes through his agent that it’s possible his market value may be 16MM+. Since the Yanks are always the highest bidder on the open market, why shouldn’t they cough up at least 16MM? This is simply a conflict of interest on both sides. I can’t find a way to blame either party, but blaming a former team hero just looks bad for the Yanks’ media. 

I can’t believe Sherman used the word “phony”. When I originally clicked the article, it was because I haven’t heard that word in a hot minute and was unfamiliar with what he might have been talking about. I still don’t get it - it doesn’t really even make sense in this context if you agree that Pettite isn’t the anti-christ. But this line, “But even if Pettitte is a phony and takes his phony left arm to Phonyville, California for all of that phony baloney money,” made me laugh, then say it aloud, then laugh some more. Well done, Calcaterra.

As a Mets Fan I would take him in a minute. He has a strong post season record and you can always use a good lefty.

That all being said what Andy is doing is playing the Yanks for more money. The entire argument is stupid. He has the right to try to get every dollar he can…and they have the right to try and get him for the lowest dollar they can. If LA shows interest the Yanks will need to pay more to keep him…business decision.

Does anyone have the Official True Yankee Formula? I hear about these “True Yankees” all the time from Yankee fans but the Trueness seems to change from year to year and player to player. I mean Kei Igawa’s gotta be one right? $46 mil and only MLB team he’s ever played for. Help me out here…

Scott Brosius = “True Yankee”
A-Rod ≠ “True Yankee”

Thanks…that’s all I need to know.

Just more Yankee arrogance—Imagine how ridiculous it would be if someone suggested that Casey Blake should accept a below-market contract with the Indians because he’s a “True Indian” and because they rescued him from minor league obscurity.

i agree with sherman.  i think he does represent a big part of the yankee fan base when he calls out pettitte for repeatedly playing the “i only want to play for the yankees” card, and then going along with his agents’ hardball tactics to get him every last dollar after a down year that andy admits was likely hindered by the HGH scandal he was embroiled in.

is there no player accountability anymore?  it’s OK to spew BS about your desires to play in NY and your drug use, and then reverse course whenever you want?  and the SPORTSWRITER (i.e., professional sports critic) is the bad guy when he calls the player on his track record??

i don’t live in that world.

i’m no longer an andy pettitte fan if he leaves for a few extra $M this offseason.  he should suck it up, negotiate a fair $10-12M deal, and work his ass off this offseason.  or retire.

ny is a horrible place to live.