Yankees keep Pettitte by signing him to one year deal
Posted on December 9, 2009
Andy Pettitte #46 of the New York Yankees pitches during Game Three of the 2009 MLB World Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 31, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)
Andy Pettitte is one of those guys who will always be a New York Yankee to me. I never liked seeing him in that burnt orange Houston Astros uniform from 2004-2006. He has always looked best in the pinstripes. This is why I was glad to hear that the Yankees kept the veteran lefty on their squad for the 2010 season by signing him to a one year deal today for $11,750,000.
Andy Pettitte #46 of the New York Yankees tips his cap to the crowd as he leaves the game in the top of the sixth inning of Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)
The last time I photographed Pettitte was just a month ago when he was on the mound to start Game 6 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium. Pettitte has always been a big game and big money pitcher to me and he proved his worth in Game 6 by going 5.2 innings while giving up 3 runs on 4 hits to earn the clinching Series win by a final score of 7-3. Pettitte also got the win in Game 3 in Philly when he gutted out 6 tough innings after getting roughed up for 3 runs in the second inning to earn the 8-5 win. Pettitte had a great post season for the Yanks becoming the first pitcher to ever start and win all three clinching games in all three post season series (ALDS, ALCS and World Series).
Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees in action during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California on August 26, 1997. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
The first time I can remember shooting Pettitte was back in 1997 during a game in Oakland against the A’s (see above). The big left-hander has always been one of my favorite pitchers to shoot with his long stride to the plate during his delivery. There is something about a pretty lefty on the mound that makes for great pictures and Pettitte is on the top of the list as a photogenic pitcher for me.
Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees pitches during a playoff game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California in 2000. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
Pettitte is one of those guys who will be talked about as a future Hall of Famer as his career draws to a close in the next few years. He will enter the 2010 season with an impressive 229-135 record, after going 14-8 in 2009. Although he was named in the Mitchell Report in 2007 as a user of performance enhancing drugs Pettitte has come out of the controversey unscathed by most fans after his heartfelt apology during spring training in February of 2008.
Joba Chamberlain #62, Andy Pettitte #46 and CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees get ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 17, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
This is a good move for the Yankees and one that should make all of their friends happy, as well as Pettitte himself. There is no way that Pettitte wanted to move to a different team this winter to pursue reaching the 250 career win mark in strange uniform. I look forward to shooting Pettitte again in 2010 when the Yankees come to Oakland to play the A’s.
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