andy pettitte, HOF

Andy Pettitte Hall of Fame Debate Continues

Andy Pettitte Jon Heyman

Andy Pettite is going to the Hall of Fame: EAT IT!

Author and journalist Jon Heyman is awfully controversial. All he did was Tweet one line about Andy Petttitte, and it sparked such a flurry of hate and outrage: i think pettitte’s going to cooperstown for his great 1) consistency, 2) durability, 3) octobers, 4) explanation.

The stat head mutants online proceeded to attack both Heyman and Andy Pettitte, of course. Keep in mind, Heyman did not say he would vote for Andy, he just said Andy will probably get elected.

Here is a list of counterarguments to Heyman from the mutants:

1) Andy Pettitte is consistent. The main problem the stat heads have with Heyman is that he refused to vote for Bert Blyleven because Heyman said Bert was not dominant; he was just consistent. Therefore the stat heads’ brains imploded for Heyman to suggest Andy Pettitte will get voted into the Hall of Fame for consistency.

2) Durability. Yep, almost every year Andy Pettitte pitches around 200 inning a season, which is the watermark for durability. The only problem, according to stats heads, is that…yeah, here we go again- Bery Blyven pitched around 2,000 more innings than Pettitte.

3) Octobers. Here’s the thing- those geeky stat heads? – they don’t believe we should consider games played in October or achievements in October. Reasons? 1) Small sample size and 2) A player can be lucky by being on a winning team year after year (like Eric Hinske). The problem with that? 1) Andy Pettitte now has over 200 innnings pitched in October, and won 18 games with the same career ERA- Andy doesn’t choke, and he does the same thing he does all year- win; 2) Andy Pettitte is one of the reasons why the Yankees won 5 rings. Without Andy, I doubt they would win 5 rings; 3) Why shouldn’t be consider post-season play in October (and now November)? It’s the player’s ultimate goal…and…JOB to do well in the playoffs and win the World Series.

4) Explanation. Here, Jon Heyman is referring to Andy Pettitte’s admission of using HGH. Andy was forgiven by the MEDIA and the New York fans for using HGH. The stat heads say that there were too many holes in Andy’s story- and they are correct. But I hate to break the news to Andy’s critics: Andy could actually commit a serious crime, and we’d forgive him because of his “aw, shucks” personality and the fact that he feels guilty about doing the wrong thing (unlike other HGH/steroid users who either deny or do not face their accusers.) I agree with the stat heads that Andy’s explanation didn’t hold up…but…who cares?

Just to conclude this: Job Heyman did not say he would vote for Andy instead of Blyleven. If Andy Pettitte retired today, his raw career totals are similar to  great pitchers like Kevin Brown, David Wells, Bob Welch, Doc Gooden, Orel Hershiser, Mike Mussina, and David Cone. His raw totals are also similar to Hall of Famers Catfish Hunter, Juan Marichal, Dazzy Vance, and Herb Pennock. But Andy has the edge in career value in that he won 5 World Championships and pitched in a hitter’s era. Pettitte is not on the same level as Randy Johnson or Tom Glavine, but Pettitte is Hall of Fame worthy.

Pettitte going in has nothing to do with do Bert Blyleven, who should had already been elected. I know what I and Heyman are saying is incomprehensible to close-minded people that just see things black and white, and who attack the messenger and ignore the message.

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  5 comments for “Andy Pettitte Hall of Fame Debate Continues”

  1. germandonut
    December 28, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    Andy Pettitte Signed Uniform – Astros Jsa coa – Autographed MLB Jerseys: ANDY PETTITTE ASTROS,YANKEES JSA/COA HA…

  2. EDinVANcity
    October 28, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    I liked a class=” ” video

  3. Alina E.
    June 4, 2011 at 4:41 AM

    Stereotype.
    There was once a coach that was looking for a new baseball for his team. So he decides to post up papers all over the school, the paper said ” I'm looking for a baseball player for my team who's Dominican and has good grades”. The next day the principle had concerns about why should the new baseball player be Dominican. So she called him to the office and asked him ” Coach, may i ask why the new baseball player your looking for must be Dominican?” He replies ” Because all Dominicans are good at playing baseball “.

  4. Twitter
    June 2, 2011 at 5:32 AM

    Annnnnnd I click unfollow, Mr. Newberg. Anti-baseball stat heads annoy me far more than religious nuts.

  5. Joe
    July 4, 2010 at 7:43 AM

    I’m just not sure how a pitcher with 239 wins (and counting), a 65% winning percentage, the best pick-off move ever, 5 world series rings, 8 world series appearances with 2 different teams, and the most playoff wins ever doesn’t make the HOF. Pettitte was the backbone pitcher of a dynasty. This team fell apart when he left and, wouldnt you know it?, his new team goes to the world series the very next season. That’s leadership and consistency.

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