The night Andy Pettitte takes the mound, for the first time since 2010, the New York Yankees fans will be collectively holding their breath. Because after the hoopla wound down over the announcement if Andy's return, the next question everyone had was "Can he?". Can return at the age of 39 (almost 40) and pitch again after sitting out all of last season? Can he be the same "Andy Pettitte" we knew for all these years. Can he still have the same great pick off move and strike out pitches he had before? There is only one way to find out. Put him on the 25 man roster and hand him the ball. As Nike says "Just do it".
Andy has made about 5-6 starts in the minors. Numbers have been decent. I think fans thought he would be lights out. After all he's pitching in the minors. It's not that simple. Everyone has to remember that these minor league players, especially those in triple A, are good. They are there because their team feels they have what it takes to be a major league player someday. He's not pitching to high school kids. Second, these minor leaguers know who Andy is. They want nothing more to get hits off him. If nothing else they can say "I got double off Andy Pettitte". I don't think the numbers are as important as how Andy feels after his starts. How strong his legs feel and if he has any soreness in his arm. According to Andy his legs and arm both feel good. He's ready. It's go time.
I want Andy to succeed. I have loved him as a player and admired him for the man he is since he first came up in 1996. But I also trust him. If you believe IN Andy then you have to believe what he says. So when he says "I'm ready" then that's all I need to hear.
I picture his first start like a scene from a movie. On that night (hopefully this week) Andy will take the mound, crowd roaring and screaming like it's the seventh game of the Workd Series. He throws a couple of warm up tosses. The lead off hitter steps into the batters box. Andy sets into the wind up, fans hold their breath and.....fade to black.
