Thank You, Andy Pettitte

I couldn't believe what I was seeing last night. No, I'm not talking about seeing the Yankees lose to the Orioles last night. I was almost expecting that to happen, what with Jeremy Guthrie on the mound for the O's. Although, thanks to Johnny Damon's home run, the Yankees did score some runs off of him.

The Yankees of the Joe Torre era have always been known as an emotionless, all-business, no-nonsense team. Things could be going bad but you'd never know it from looking at anyone on the field or in the dugout. This year, things are the worst they've been since 1992 when Buck Showalter first took over the managerial reigns. I've watched with frustration as this team continues to fall apart at the seams, yet still shows no emotion. I could live with the bad year they're having if they'd only show some fight, some anger, some kind of emotion. But they continue to sleepwalk through the season. Last night, the person I least expected it from showed me that there's at least a glimmer of fight in the Yankee Clubhouse: Born-Again Christian, Andy Pettitte.

After an easy fly ball dropped between his outfielders, Pettitte stood between the mound and third base looking absolutely livid. He yelled in anger, then watched a pop fly fall into shallow centerfield. When he got into the dugout he yelled again, then slammed his glove onto the bench before leaving the dugout and walking into the clubhouse. Is this a big deal? Damned right, it is!

Would it be asking too much for Pettitte's teammates to show some emotion as well? I don't think so. I'm sick of watching this team sleepwalk. It might be too late for them to get back into the playoff race, but it's never too late to say you're "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore."

The Lady

[Photo of Andy Pettitte: Gail Burton/AP]