How Coult the Yanks NOT sign Andy Pettitte?

[redmanwest]

Sounds like the 1980's again in the Bronx.

George and his staff are starting to sound like MJ and crew.

They are, after so many years of making all the right moves, now starting to make all the WRONG ones.

Claussen for Boone
Pettitte leaving
Shefield over Guererro
Lofton

What else can they do to dismantle what was a GREAT run?

[mjmaherjr]

Have faith Redmanwest. Steinbrenner just read Skills for life: the fundamentals you need to succeed. He now has all the tools needed to rebuild the Yanks.

[SullivanHall205]

The Yankees are a smart orginazation. I think the Yankees know exactly what they are doing. If the Yankees despratly wanted him we would have had him come back. I expect him have a poor season next season because the Yankee scouts are very very very smart people.

[marbles]

The Yankees are a smart orginazation. I think the Yankees know exactly what they are doing. If the Yankees despratly wanted him we would have had him come back. I expect him have a poor season next season because the Yankee scouts are very very very smart people.

That might have been true, the the Yankee scouts haven't been very smart in a few years now.
Gone are the days of Gene Michael being the de-facto super scout, even if he is still on the Yankee payroll. Just check out the current farm system, if you don't believe me. Now Steinbrenner has his cronies in Tampa as scouts. They will never give an honest assesmant of a player that The Boss wants.
Exactly at what part of last season gave you the impression that Pettitte is going to have a "poor season" in 2004? Was it the 20-plus win season? Was it his usual big game performance in the playoffs? Or is it poor off-season workout habits. Ooops, sorry, that's David Wells, who George re-signed.
Pettitte works hard on and off the field. He is a gentleman in every sense of the word. He is a high character guy that the Yankees will a miss.
As a Met fan (and yes, my team hasn't been able to get out of its own way since totally bungling the A-Rod signing) could pitch for my team any day of the week. Or for any team in the majors, for that matter.
But, since the Yankees have acquired Sheffield, Brown, Lofton, and kept Wells, atleast they are now easy to hate. :D

[redmanwest]

I don't kow, but you had a 31 or 32 year old LEFTHANDER who has won 140 or so games over the last 9 years (and pitched very well against NL competitioon in the WS) who was relatively cheap, who the owner NEVER liked and did not even bother to call after the season to keep him. I think it is more about getting back at Joe Torre and Mel than anything else. You basically traded a very relaible 32 year old Lefty for a 4o something, injury prone Righty. Not too smart.

And, about Sheffield, Vlad Guererro is 3X the player that Sheff is, and a bunch younger. That is a terrible move as well.

Since when have the Yankees been penny-pinchers?

Again, I think George is on a rampage to try to show how he can do it himself w/o the likes of Joe, Mel, Brian...

Looks like the 80's all over again!

[troy]

the yankees will be fine.