Ode To Pettite

"It's helping the Mets out when they need me."

Today being Stuper Bowl Sunday, even more no one is reading this than usual. That gives me a great opportunity to hatch a nutty theory. (Although my last theory has yet to be dis-confirmed.) Here goes.



This winter could someday end up being remembered as the "winter of Andy Pettite." At least by us Metsfans.

Sound crazy?



Dig.

item one:
The Yankees would have traded Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and Jeff Marquez for Santana on Dec. 2, but the Twins asked for Ian Kennedy, too. The Yankees said no, and the next morning, Andy Pettitte announced that he would return to the team.

The Yankees soon pulled their offer and never made another, resisting again Tuesday when Minnesota asked for Cabrera, Kennedy, Marquez and Chien-Ming Wang. Cashman has made his stand, and Santana may be across town to remind him of what might have been.

item two:
McNamee's lawyer, Earl Ward, said Tuesday that he thinks Pettitte will tell the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that he and Clemens talked about human growth hormone when the two were teammates with the New York Yankees in either 2001 or 2002.


i'm going to hell, i know. but at least i'll see these two there. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

So there you have it. The timing of effete southpaw Andy Pettite's return to the Spanks was one variable that helped lead to the Mets successful acquisition of Santana. And now, there are some indications that honest Andy's gonna wipe the Rocket off the books for once and for all.

It may be a while before we understand the role Andy, better known as the chump carrying Rocket's bags around like a clubhouse boy, he of "Bronxback Mountain," played in the achievement of two of the four goals cherished by every Mets fan:

1) the landing of a bona fide ace pitcher
2) the complete and total humiliation of Roger Clemens

But I just want to put it out there, in case Andy should provide further assistance on the other two:
3) the utter destruction of the Atlanta Br*ves
4) the capture of the World Series championship

Thanks Andy!

Things to like going into the Spring:
(Let's keep the sunny disposition going.)




*Pitching, pitching, pitching.

*No high maintenance divas. Pedro hasn't really been a diva in a long time. And you can't really call Carlos Beltran a diva.

*Bench filled with appropriately heroic, if injury prone, character guys.

*Carlos Delgado has now had a full year to hire a nanny and write in his diary.

*Youthful progression. Or whatever you want to call Jose Reyes and David Wright's growth as a result of the September to Dismember. Wright was an MVP last year, according to some, and it seems inevitable that he assume more and more of the leadership of this team. Jose? First it was he wasn't running right, now it's he's running too much.

*SNY guys. Whatever happens, it will brought to us through a very pleasurable broadcast experience. Even in the shadows of Mex, Ron Darling has ascended to near man-crush status for me. And then, of course, there's...

*

Something tells me the Mets will be exchanging some serious grooming tips this season, if nothing else.