Dropped Third Strike

The weeks after Christmas and New Year’s are a time when many people are actively engaged in the process of returning. Returning gifts, Returning to work, returning home after a trip, returning to the real world, returning to the spouse you left after witnessing his atrocious behavior at the company holiday party, and, last but not least, returning to blogging. So naturally we find the story of the potential return of a Yankee (sort of) great rather compelling. We speak, of course, of Andrew Eugene Pettite. According to an article on The Leader’s website, Andrew Eugene has rejected the Yankees’ offer of a $10,000,000 salary. (Do you see all those zeroes, Andy? You’re going to turn that down?) In a year in which the best offer Derek Lowe — a pitcher who had a 131 ERA+ to Pettite’s 98, and who has shown none of the arm problems Pettite has —  has received is a deal worth only $12 million annually (did we really just say only before writing $12 million? What an absurd sport), it seems sheer madness for Andy to pass up the Yankees’ dollars. Now, the smart money says that enough members of the Yankees’ brass want him that they’ll up the offer slightly, but our Bold Prediction: The Cash-Man wins the day and says adieu, Andy, leaving the fifth spot in the rotation open for Phil (OMG! He’s SuCh a FLOP!!!1!1!!1) Hughes.