THANK YOU ANDY!

This is going to be short and sweet. Memo to George Steinbrenner: Re-sign Andy Pettitte.

If you ever wondered what it would be like for a pitcher to put a team on his back and say, "follow me boys," then look no further than tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins.
Andy Pettitte proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is a New York Yankee, through-and-through. One of Joe Torre's soldiers who stood up to the test and passed with flying colors.

The all powerful, vaunted, New York Yankees were on the ropes. The Minnesota Twins came into Yankeeland and punched the pinstripers right in the nose, drawing blood. The Twins, who have used the underdog role to their advantage came into Yankee Stadium and stole Game 1 of the ALDS with a 3-1 victory. But, in reality, two teams beat the Yankees Tuesday night. The Minnesota Twins and the NEW YORK YANKEES!!!!

Sloppy defense and no offense gave the Twins a 3-0 lead going into the 9th inning of Game 1. The pinstripers scored their meager, single run in the bottom of the inning to make the final score 3-1. The Yankees looked old, tired, ineffective and disinterested. The Yankee faithful were in shock. For the first time I can ever remember Bernie Williams got booed.

Suddenly, the Yankees, who had the tied the Atlanta Braves for the best record in major league baseball, was down to the upstart Minnesota Twins one game to none in the ALDS.
Oh-oh Yankees' fans thought. This was starting to look like 2002 all over again. The Yankees were going to bow out of the ALDS for the second time in two years.

Not so!!! Andy Pettitte, the 7th Calvery in pinstripes, dug in and kept the Twins' hounds at bay. Andy pitched 7 of the most important innings in Yankees' history Thursday night. He kept his team in a 1-1 tie until the Bombers unlimbered their bats in the bottom of the 7th inning and scored 3 times to take a 4-1 lead going into the 8th inning.

Manager Joe Torre, not wanting to take any chances at all, gave the rock to his closer. Mariano Rivera came into the game at the start of the 8th inning and totally dominated the Twins' hitters in the last two innings. The Yankees left the yard with a 1-1 split in the best-of-five ALDS. None of it would have been possible without the throughly gutty performance by Andy Pettitte. He, alone, kept the Yankees from leaving New York down 2-0 in the ALDS. Now it's a best-of-three affair. My money is on the Yanks.

Oh, by the way, as I said at the top of this article, George. I have but, three words for you regarding Andy Pettitte. They are "re-sign your lefty." Twenty-one game winners are hard to find these days. Especially those right under your nose.

PLAY BALL!