Andy Pettitte has won 216 big-league games and is on the short list of all-time great Yankees left-handers, but he was the forgotten man as the Yankees went about building their 2009 rotation.
He didn't waste any time proving the Yankees can count on him, though, as he allowed only one run on three hits while striking out six and walking one over seven innings Friday in leading the Yankees to a 4-1 victory over the Royals in Kansas City's home opener. The Yankees shelled out nearly $250 million to sign CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and plenty of hype continued to surround Joba Chamberlain's seemingly endless transition to the rotation.
Chien-Ming Wang tended to blend into the background even as he authored consecutive 19-win seasons in 2006 and 2007, but eyes were fixed upon him as he returned from a foot injury that cost him the final three-and-a-half months of 2008.
As for Pettitte? He and the Yankees engaged in a high-stakes poker game for months following last season, with Pettitte's agents reportedly insisting they had a multi-year deal from another team and the Yankees refusing to budge from their one-year offer.
And given the presence of youngsters such as Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy on the farm as well as Pettitte's advancing age (37 in June) and rough finish last season (he was 5-9 with a 5.16 ERA in 16 starts after July 1), it appeared uncertain if the Yankees even wanted Pettitte back.
The southpaw and the Yankees finally agreed to a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $5.5 million late in January, and Pettitte has subsequently provided ample evidence he'll be worth the investment.
Pettitte threw only 89 pitches and got a first-pitch strike against 16 of the 25 batters he faced. It was the first time since Aug. 11, 2006, that Pettitte allowed three or fewer hits while pitching at least seven innings.
The performance against the Royals came on the heels of an outstanding spring in which Pettitte went 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in four starts and allowed only 14 hits while fashioning a 12/2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 1/3 innings.
Such performances must be reassuring to the Yankees, who need Pettitte to be much more than a nostalgic link to the club's dynastic days if they hope to emerge from the rugged AL East.
YANKEES 4, ROYALS 1: Andy Pettitte allowed one run on three hits over seven sterling innings and Jorge Posada provided his long-time battery mate all the offense he'd need with a two-run single in the first inning as the Yankees spoiled the Royals' home opener. The Yankees scored twice more in the fourth against Sidney Ponson when Nick Swisher hit an RBI double and Derek Jeter delivered an RBI groundout. Robinson Cano continued his hot early-season hitting by going 2-for-3. Mariano Rivera allowed a hit in the ninth inning in recording his first save of the season.
