Pettitte to Astros, N.Y. Close on Brown

AP, via New York Post ^ | 12.11.2003 | Ronald Blum

[NYC GOP Chick]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Andy Pettitte chose home over history, agreeing Thursday to sign with the Houston Astros and leave the New York Yankees.

New York wasted little time in trying to land a replacement, closing in on a trade with Los Angeles that would send Kevin Brown to the Yankees for Jeff Weaver in a swap of starters, a baseball official said on the condition of anonymity.

[SamAdams76]

Buckner wanted to be on the field for the "glory picture"

Well Buckner got his "glory picture." It's probably hanging on the wall in every New York City sports bar even today.

In my opinion, the biggest problem the Red Sox have had over the years is the lack of a strong manager. The players have always walked all over the managers up here. I'm so sick of highly paid stars "sulking" all the time and taking themselves out of games for "sore throats" and conducting silly "media boycotts" because they can't handle a few pointed questions from the sports beat writers around here from time to time. The annual Pedro Martinez act of being the last one to spring training every year because of his father's birthday is getting old. Manny Ramirez zoning out on the team bus with headphones while the manager is trying to address the team is getting old. Nomar Garciaparra's sulky, petulant, "poor pitiful me" demeaner is getting tired as well. Ship the three of them elsewhere, I say. Then get a manager who won't put up with any crap from the rest of the team, and we might just get a World Series title up here, now that we have owners who aren't afraid to sling money around on decent players (and not washed-up overweight has-beens who are only interested in a DH role).

We need a hard-ass, take-no-BS manager for the Red Sox. This Franconia guy they just hired seems like a nice guy but that's just the problem. We don't need another soft-touch in the dugout. We need a Bill Belichick or a Bill Parcells type. Someone who will not be afraid to yank Pedro out of a tight game or bench a whiney superstar.

[WL-law]

We need a Bill Belichick or a Bill Parcells type. Someone who will not be afraid to yank Pedro out of a tight game or bench a whiney superstar.

Now its Manny and Nomar -- but in the past it was worse still, with Clemens, Boggs, Rice. Clemens "mailed it in" in his last few years with the Sox, Boggs cared only about Boggs and his batting average, and Rice never half-used his God-given talent.

Fred Lynn in 1975 was my all-time hero, but the Sox mgmt blundered in their handling of him.

As for Pedro, I wouldn't have pulled him either in Game 7 -- I thought he could reach back into his bag of tricks and pull it out. Remember that the relief pitcher who followed him walked his first pitched-to batter on 4 pitches, and that's your fear of going to a reliever in that situation.

Anyway, I had given up on the Sox and baseball for quite a few years, but I got SUCKED BACK IN (against my better judgement) and caught the fever this past pay-off season. [Sigh.]

[SamAdams76]

Well at least it's a better time to be a Red Sox fan as despite the horrific meltdown in Game 7 of the ALCS, the future looks very bright indeed.

I remember the pall of the 1986 Game 6 fiasco hung over the Sox not only through that entire off-season but over the whole next season as well. In fact, it was several years before the sting of that loss went away.

Well here it is, barely six weeks later and that loss is a distant memory. Everybody around here is pumped with the Schilling deal and the possibility of A-Rod coming here. If you read the glowing media coverage around here about how great the team is going to be next year, you'd think that the Sox actually won the World Series already.

[cars for sale]

Bill Buckner could flat out hit...nothing will
change that and I don't have a dog in this hunt.
I'm a dislocated Texan who thinks any LaSorda
team was best managed and since day one,live,read
and breath Diamonbacks.

[cars for sale]

Bill Buckner could flat out hit...nothing will
change that and I don't have a dog in this hunt.
I'm a dislocated Texan who thinks any LaSorda
team was best managed and since day one,live,read
and breath D Backs

[cars for sale]

add to your point the book THE MICK where Mickey Mantle
allows that if Whitey would have been allowed to finish more games his numbers would be untouchable.Mantle says the Yanks were so far ahead 40 percent of the time,Whitey was always yanked "to save him".

[jsbankston]

Not now that they traded Wagner for a song. Bad move, Wagner was worth 50 saves a year. Pettitte will not make up for what Billy brought to the club.

[jsbankston]

Not now that they traded Wagner for a song. Bad move, Wagner was worth 50 saves a year. Pettitte will not make up for what Billy brought to the club.

[Hannity4prez]

I believe that to be a true statement. When motivated, I'd put Sheff up against 99% of hitters in baseball. The key is motivation. After he signs with the yanks for what they are saying should be a 3 year deal,, which imo will get done, he has 2 full years before his next "contract" year. The plus side for you Yanks fans out there is that the city will not except the half azz efforts he put on in other cities.

[Hannity4prez]

Just an aside to your comment for the sake of conversation. I think it is a good trade on the dodgers part. People tend to forget cause of his NY implosion, but weaver is a young "stud" in the making. He has a real chance to shine in the laid back atmosphere of Chavez- Ravine. His ball has soo much natural movement not to mention his sinker will keep the ball in the park much of the time in that hitters death trap of a pitching park.
My comments about Weaver didn't even touch on the most important aspect of this trade. It opens up money to persue some more offense. Dodgers aren't my favorite team ( Phillies Die hard) but I do have a mild interest. I would love to see them step in and snatch up Nomar if the A rod deal happens. All in all it opens up possabilities that didn't exist with Brown, his bad arm, groin, and attitude in tow.

[Hannity4prez]

They traded from a strength. They have Dotel AND Lidge who will make up the difference. Freed up a bunch of money and got a starter who will move both Oswalt and Miller down a slot, hence taking some of the pressure off the youngsters. Their good pitchers but obviously not good enough to get the stros over the hump. Imo they got a sweetheart deal from the Phillies. There aren't many, if any other teams in baseball who would give up a future possible #1 pitcher in this age of salary conciousness. They were happy to dump 10 mil in closer salary and when they saw what they received in return they about blew a load. But they wouldn't say that in public cause Wagner was such a big part of the chemistry, I. E. he was "in" with bagwell and biggio. I think that once a closers contract escalates in the final years to upwards of 10 mil, they have got to go. Thats with Salary strapped teams. Luckily my Phillies are no longer in that class :) been a long time coming though, LOL

[jsbankston]

So when you go see Wagner pitch for the Phillies are you going to boo him like you did Mike Schmidt?

[Hannity4prez]

LOL, Not me my friend. I grew up with Schmidty as my idol. I remember while growing up, once bed time came there were no if's ands or butts about it. EXCEPT if Michael Jack was due up within the inning.

As for wagner, I'll love him like family, until he blows a save ;)

[jsbankston]

No come on Philly Phan. We all know that you and your Phellow Philly Phans Boo'ed Mike Schmidt and even Boo'ed Santa Claus. However, I thought it was kinda cool when Philly Phan cheered as that Crackhead on the Cowboys got his bell rung at the Vet.

[Hannity4prez]

Philly fans will boo their own Grandma's if they aren't winning. HA. it ( the booing )gets a lot of play in the national media, but I bet there aren't many more passionate fans. I wouldn't trade being a Philadelphia sports fan for any other city. It ain't even close. ( although St Louis baseball and Green bay football fans might differ with my opinions) Have a great evening

[WL-law]

Bill Buckner could flat out hit...

Yes he could. We liked his bat alot. It was, of course, positively PAINFUL to watch him run -- all heels, as if his Achilles tendons were made of rock.

[F16Fighter]

"Players are leaving the Yankees in droves. Why?"

"Droves"?? Not quite, but then again -- Do you actually follow baseball? HELLO -- Ever hear of a little thing called "FREE AGENCY"??

[F16Fighter]

"Weaver and Brown are very similiar pitchers."

My eyes are stinging....In an earlier post I'd asked if you "actually follow baseball."

If you can in ANY way equate Jeff Weaver with Kevin Brown, you have indeed answered my question.

[F16Fighter]

"The Skankees will still choke."

Hey Joe -- Got to actually get in the hunt to "choke." Bummer about you losing Schilling to Boston for who again??

Unfortunately, the D-Backs are now soooo far into the back of the bus in the Western Division I expect to see them 10 games out by May.

[Al B.]

FYI -- there's speculation this morning that Clemens could join Pettite and pitch next season for the Astros:

Deal could sweeten if Clemens follows