Andy Pettitte's Comeback: 8 Bold Predictions for His 2012 Season

In a move that shocked nearly everyone in the baseball world, Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees agreed on a one-year deal on Friday worth $2.5 million, effectively ending Pettitte's retirement.

The deal is a minor league pact with an invitation to the Major League Spring Training.

Pettitte retired after an 11-3 season with a 3.28 ERA in 2010, leaving many fans wanting more. He was an All-Star that season, and many believed that he had retired too soon.

He was in camp as a Yankees instructor, which may have given him the itch to put on the pinstripes once more. Whatever his reasoning is, it was a smart decision for him to return.

It will likely take him a little extra time to get ready, as we're already halfway through Spring Training, but all signs point to him being an effective starter when he returns.

Here are my bold predictions for Andy Pettitte's comeback season in 2012.

He Will Make His Debut Mid-May

Pettitte's 39 years old, so it would have taken him some time to get back into playing shape, anyway. Throw in the fact that he's been retired for a season, and it's definitely going to take a significant amount of time for him to be game-ready.

He seems convinced that he'll be ready sooner rather than later, but it's easier to see him making his debut mid-May.

The Yankees take on the Mariners at home from May 11th to the 13th, so it might be smart for Pettitte to make his debut in that series. The weak-hitting Mariners would allow Pettitte to work pretty easily and get a few innings in at the Major League level.

His debut should most definitely come at home, as Pettitte is one of the most beloved Yankees of all-time. It would be a nice gesture to allow him to make his debut in front of his home fans.

He will not have a dominant debut, as it would be unfair to expect that from someone who has been retired for a full season. I predict the Yankees will ease him in, allowing him to pitch five innings, or about 80 pitches.

He Will Bump Phil Hughes to the Bullpen; Freddy Garcia Will Be Released

With another nice outing today against the Nationals, all signs point to Phil Hughes winning the fifth starter's job out of Spring Training.

He is outperforming Freddy Garcia, who was recently struck by a comebacker off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion.

Hughes will perform well in the rotation, but when Pettitte is deemed ready he will be asked to move into the bullpen.

To make room for Hughes, Garcia, who will have been the long man, will be released. The team will no longer have a need for him, and it's hard to assume that he'll even perform at the level he did in 2011.

As the long man, Hughes will continue to pitch well. 

Pettitte's return just increases the Yankees pitching depth even more. By bumping Hughes from the rotation, Pettitte will become the No. 5 starter. As soon as he proves himself, he'll be moved up in the rotation.

He Will Win No. 250...and Then Some

Pettitte currently has 240 career wins, 203 of which came as a member of the Yankees. He is third on the Yankees all-time wins list behind Red Ruffing (231) and Whitey Ford (236).

Just 46 pitchers have won 250 games in their careers, so Pettitte would definitely increase his Hall of Fame credentials with a 10-win season.

I predict more from the left-hander, though.

Will he win 20 games? No, definitely not.

Will he win 15 games? Eh, probably not.

However, 12-14 wins is a real possibility if Pettitte can prove he's healthy.

He Will Spend Time on the 15-Day Disabled List

Pettitte will be 40-years-old on June 15th, he hasn't pitched in over a year and his biggest concern is getting his legs back in playing shape.

That spells a potential problem for him later in the season.

I have all the confidence in him to get back in playing shape as fast as he possibly can, but that doesn't mean that he'll be able to stay in that shape over the course of the season.

After taking a year off, his body is not used to the long grind of the Major League season.

Sometime in August, I predict that Pettitte will be placed on the 15-day Disabled List with a left groin injury. It won't be serious, though, and Pettitte will recover just fine.

Placing him on the DL will be mostly a precaution for the Yankees, but one definitely worth taking.

He Will Throw 140+ Innings of Sub-4.00 Baseball

If he misses eight starts before being activated and misses about three starts while on the disabled list, that puts Pettitte on pace for about 140 innings pitched.

In 21 starts in 2010 he tossed 129 innings, so it's a possibility that he could go 150 in 2012.

The safe bet is for 140, though, as the Yankees will be careful with him in his first three or four starts of the season.

No matter how many innings he provides, the Yankees can be assured that they will be quality.

Even though he's posted a sub-4.00 ERA just seven times in his 16-year career, Pettitte owns a career 3.88 ERA. In 2010, he posted his lowest ERA (3.28) since 2005 with the Astros (2.39).

Do I think his ERA will be on par with his 2010 season? No.

An ERA on track with his career average is a real possibility, though.

I predict an ERA of 3.85 for Pettitte in about 140 innings. 

He Will Be a Playoff Starter for the Yankees

Andy Pettitte is the winningest pitcher in postseason history.

He owns a career 3.83 postseason ERA.

He won each series-clinching game for the Yankees in their 2009 World Series run.

Need I continue?

Pettitte is one of the best postseason pitchers of all-time. His ability to perform in the clutch will be a very important piece to the Yankees playoff run in 2012.

That's why he must be given the ball as one of manager Joe Girardi's top-three playoff starters.

CC Sabathia is a given to get starts, with all the other rotation members being options. That being said, none of the pitchers, including Sabathia, have the playoff success or experience of Pettitte.

He will be pitching in October for the Yankees.

He Will Notch Postseason Win No. 20

He already has the record for most wins in postseason history, but Pettitte will also become the first pitcher in Major League history to record 20 postseason victories.

Pettitte's season will help the Yankees make it to the postseason, where he'll be given the ball for Game 3 of the ALDS. In 7 innings, he will allow just one run and strike out seven.

He will record the victory, giving the Yankees a 2-1 series lead. After winning the series in five games, Pettitte will be in line for the Game 1 start in the ALCS.

This start won't be nearly as dominant for Pettitte, but he'll still go seven innings, allowing three runs and getting the no-decision.

After receiving another no-decision in the ALCS, the Yankees will be on to the World Series where Pettitte will...

Win the Clinching Game of the World Series and Announce Retirement...for Good

What a perfect ending to Pettitte's comeback season in 2012.

The Yankees will make it to the World Series and battle it out against the National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks, in a rematch of the 2001 World Series.

The series will go all the way to Game 7, with Pettitte ensuring that history does not repeat itself.

Pettitte will pitch one of the best games of his career, allowing just three hits and striking out nine over eight shutout innings.

Mariano Rivera will close the game out, and Pettitte will be accredited with the victory.

During the post-game celebration, Pettitte will announce his permanent retirement, going out on top like so many other sports icons have done before him.

With his sixth World Series ring, Andy Pettitte will ride into the sunset, hanging up his pinstripes once more. He will forever be remembered as the man who retired too early, then redeemed himself by bringing home a championship to New York.