This has got to be a main focus for the Yankees. If the Yankees want to be able to compete in the AL East next season, they will need a veteran like Andy Pettitte in the rotation.

Will somebody please let me know why Brian Cashman is acting so weird with the public when it comes to Pettitte’s future? If you know something that we don’t, please make it public. Don’t string it our forever and leave us all guessing. We may call you the next Lebron James.

What does this mean?

The Yankees need to make a move and do it quickly. If they don’t get a veteran in the rotation to compliment CC and AJ, this could be a non-playoff appearance year….just sayin.

Honestly, I would like someone to argue this point with me. He is one of the best pitchers in the game. That is a fact. Not only the number of wins he has under his belt, but the number of wins he has in big games that really matter.

Last year, Pettitte was one of the huge reasons that the Yankees did as well as they did in the postseason. He was lights out practically every time he took the mound. We all know that the money that he is receiving is no where near the checks that CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett are cashing, however, Andy Pettitte has a mental game that can rattle any hitter.

The following huge wins for Pettitte are my evidence that he will come through in the clutch yet again:

• Last Game in Yankee Stadium in 2008. Talk about pressure. The last game ever to be played in the house that Ruth built. Led the Yanks to a 7-3 victory.
• Game 6 of last years ALCS. Pettitte lead the Yankees to a much needed win over the Angels to clinch the series.
• Game 3 of last years World Series. Pettitte not only did the job from the mound, but he also got a huge RBI up the middle.
• Game 6 of last years World Series. Pettitte was the man. He threw this game on only 3 days rest. Experts and physicians were skeptical, but Pettitte proved otherwise.

Again, I will say it loud and clear. Pettitte will be the reason that the Yankees win #28 this year!

Other than that one pitch, the New York Yankees left-hander was nearly flawless over seven innings in a 5-1 victory Monday night.

Andy Pettite- New York Daily News

Pettitte (12-6) was poised to finish the seventh without allowing a baserunner, but former Oriole Jerry Hairston Jr. let a two-out grounder by Adam Jones slip through his legs for an error. Hairston was playing in place of Alex Rodriguez, who was given the night off.

Nick Markakis followed with an opposite-field single inside the third-base line, ending the no-hitter.

“I had him 0-2 and I was really just trying to throw a ball,” Pettitte said. “I was trying to throw a ball up and out of the zone. I haven’t seen the replay, but I guess I left it too much on the plate.”

After Melvin Mora led off the eighth with a home run, Pettitte completed his masterful effort by getting three straight outs.

Pettitte took his dominance of the Orioles to a new level with a vintage pitching gem that enabled him to break a tie with Lefty Gomez on the Yankees career wins list. Only Hall of Famers Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) have more wins in a New York uniform than Pettitte (190).

Pettitte allowed one run and two hits, struck out eight and walked none to improve to 4-0 in his last seven starts. He’s 26-6 lifetime against the Orioles, including 16-4 in Baltimore.

“Pettitte pitched a tremendous, terrific, exceptional, outstanding, superb, however you want me to say it, ballgame,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.

Pettitte didn’t get the perfect game, but he found the ideal way to console Hairston afterward.

“He was kind of funny,” Hairston said. “He was like, ‘You took the pressure off me.’ He goes, ‘If I haven’t thrown a no-hitter by now, then I’m not going to do it.’ He was probably the best. He said he didn’t want to throw nine innings anyway. That’s what type of attitude he has.”

Pettitte threw 104 pitches, 73 for strikes. It was the first time he went eight innings since July 20, 2008.

Brian Bruney gave up a walk and a single in the ninth before Mariano Rivera got two outs for his 37th save — and career-best 33rd in a row.

Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie (9-13) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The right-hander was good, but on this night he needed to be near perfect to outpitch Pettitte.