C.J. Wilson Has Made Fans Appreciate Andy Pettitte Even More

C.J. Wilson has been referred to as the best free agent starting pitcher available. There is speculation that the bidding for his services could reach $75 million for five years, which is ridiculous. Wilson is nothing more than a serviceable pitcher.

The New York Yankees had a left-handed pitcher who usually achieved what Wilson would love to achieve. Watching Wilson makes one appreciate Andy Pettitte much more.

Pettitte, unlike Wilson, was one of the great pitchers in World Series history.

At the age of 24, Pettitte matched John Smoltz in the pivotal fifth game of the 1996 World Series and thanks to an unearned run, won the game, 1-0.

Pettitte, like Wilson, had problems in his first World Series start as the Atlanta Braves blasted him for seven runs in less than three innings, but unlike Wilson, Pettitte made amends next time out.

In 1998, Pettitte pitched seven and one-third shutout innings against the San Diego Padres in the clinching World Series game.

The Atlanta Braves got to an ineffective Pettitte in the third game of the 1999 World Series, but the Yankees, thanks to Chuck Knoblauch and Derek Jeter’s good friend, Chad Curtis, came back to win the game.

The New York Mets won the National League pennant in 2000. Despite all the hyperbole with respect to the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees rivalry, losing the World Series to the Mets would not have been a good thing.

Pettitte faced Al Leiter in the opening game. He faced Leiter again in the fifth game. If not for Paul O’Neill and friends, two great Pettitte performances would have been wasted.

In the opening game at Yankee Stadium, Pettitte shut out the Mets for six innings. It was critical and it was clutch because Leiter held the Yankees scoreless for five innings.

The Yankees broke through for two runs against Leiter in the sixth, but the tough Mets scored three times in the seventh inning, knocking out Pettitte.

Jeff Nelson gave up the hit by Edgardo Alfonso that put the Mets ahead, but the run was charged to Pettitte.

In the ninth inning, Paul O’Neill’s never-say-die at-bat against Armando Benitez led to the Yankees tying the game, which they won in 12 innings.

In the fifth game at Shea Stadium, Pettitte worked seven innings. He didn’t allow any earned runs but left the game with the teams knotted at 2-2.  It was Derek Jeter’s sixth inning home run that had tied the game.

In the ninth inning, Jorge Posada worked a two out walk after falling behind Leiter, 0-2. Scott Brosius singled to left field and Luis Sojo singled to center field to score the game-winning run.

Imagine if C.J. Wilson had started those games against the Mets. There is no reason to believe that he would have done any better than he has done against the St. Louis Cardinals.

In his first start, Wilson pitched five and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs. Paul O’Neill wasn’t available in the ninth inning so the Texas Rangers lost, 3-2.

In his Game 5 start, Wilson did a little better, but he was far from being a pitcher that will receive about $15 million a year. He pitched five and one-third innings, allowed two runs, one of which was unearned and left with the teams tied, 2-2.

In his two starts, Wilson pitched a total of 11 innings, but what is most disturbing is that he gave up 11 walks and had only seven strikeouts. His WHIP is 1.727.

Some Yankees fans took Pettitte for granted. Only after he retired and couldn’t be replaced did those fans recognize his great value.

Pettitte has been retired only one season and he was paid almost $12 million in 2010. To some, it seemed excessive, but today, with “the best free agent pitcher” asking about $15 million a season, Pettitte really was a bargain.