On June 15th, Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte will turn 38, but he is better than ever. Andy has discovered the fountain of youth in 2010 and is off to the best 10 game stretch to start a season in his career. He is currently 7-1, with a 2.48 ERA in 65.1 innings pitched, allowing only 57 hits and 18 walks, while striking out 41. This bests his 1997 10-game stretch to begin that season when he went 6-2, with a 2.50 ERA, in 72.1 innings pitched, striking out 48, walking 21 and allowing 67 hits. That season was arguably the best statistical season of Pettitte's Yankees career. He ended 1997 with an 18-7 record and a miniscule 2.88 ERA.
On Memorial Day, Pettitte gave Yankees fans a memorible performance that provided milestones and gave a glimpse at what the rest of the season could look like for him. The future of this season certainly looks bright and could end with Andy winning that elusive Cy Young Award that he has flirted with throughout his entire career.
As for Milestones, Pettitte won his 236th career game, which tied Yankees legend Whitey Ford for 58th on the all-time Major League wins list. With the victory, he also finished the day exactly 100 games over .500 for his career. He is now 236-136, a .634 winning percentage. There are 18 pitchers in the history of baseball to end their career boasting that mark and 12 of those pitchers are in the Hall of Fame. Five of the other six pitchers who retired 100 games above .500 and are not currently in the Hall of Fame are pretty much a lock to be in Cooperstown one day.
Andy also earned his 199th career victory as a Yankee. The next one will put him in good company. He will become only the third Yankee pitcher in the history of the franchise to win at least 200 game in pinstripes. The other two are Whitey Ford at 236 and Red Ruffing with 231. Let's also not forget the three years Andy spent in Houston where he won 37 games with the Astros. Yesterday could have been a much different atmosphere with Pettitte looking to tie Whitey Ford's all-time Yankees mark, but that's neither here nor there.
Here's another look at how dominant Pettitte has been. Since last July 30th, he has had 27 starts with the 2009 postseason included. Over that stretch, Pettitte is 17-3, in 169 innings pitched. He has a 3.04 ERA during this stretch, allowing only 144 hits, striking out 129, and walking just 58 batters. To me that's amazing, he has won 17 of his last 20 decisions. Pretty impressive for a soon-to-be 38 year old.
Derek Jeter SS Curtis Granderson CF Mark Teixeira 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Robinson Cano 2B Nick Swisher RF Juan Miranda DH Francisco Cervelli C Brett Gardner LF
Pitching: Andy Pettitte (6-1, 2.62 ERA)
Trevor Crowe CF Mark Grudzialanek 2B Austin Kearns LF Travis Hafner DH Jhonny Peralta 3B Shelley Duncan RF Matt LaPorta 1B Lou Marson C Jason Donald SS
Derek Jeter SS Curtis Granderson CF Mark Teixeira 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Robinson Cano 2B Nick Swisher RF Juan Miranda DH Brett Gardner LF Chad Moeller C
Pitching: A.J. Burnett (5-2, 3.55 ERA)
Trevor Crowe CF Shin-Soo Choo RF Travis Hafner DH Austin Kearns LF Russell Branyan 1B Jhonny Peralta 3B Luis Valbuena 2B Lou Marson C Jason Donald SS
Derek Jeter SS
