CLEVELAND — This is an age where aging aces such as Roy Halladay are falling by the wayside. The Phillies’ 35-year-old right-hander owns a 14.73 ERA after two starts.
Yet, Andy Pettitte keeps on rolling along at the age of 40. The Yankee veteran has been able to adjust and become a rocking chair warrior on the mound.
Pettitte toyed with the Indians last night in the Yankees’ 14-1 romp at Progressive Field as the lefty improved to 2-0 on the season with a 1.20 ERA. That marked his 210th win as a Yankee and 247th victory overall.
In so many ways Pettitte controls the destiny of this team. It’s an age-old dilemma. When does Father Time win? When will the clock strike midnight for Pettitte?
Not for a while.
Pettitte believes he is at the top of his game right now and his success is the sum of all the great pitching parts he has observed through the years.
“I really don’t know how to explain it,’’ he told The Post after his seven-inning, five-hit, one-run performance with three walks and four strikeouts. “I just feel like my command is a lot better. I’m able to throw any of my pitches whenever I want to and I never felt like that when I was a younger kid. Mechanically, now I just feel so comfortable.
“You see guys like [Tom] Glavine, [Greg] Maddux, obviously Roger [Clemens] pitch at a high level, and Jimmy Key. You look at all those guys and you’re like I can still do this if I stay healthy.’’
He’s healthy. It was against the Indians last year that Pettitte was hit by a comebacker and fractured his ankle. It takes an old player to know an old player. Listen to what former teammate and current Indians player Jason Giambi said about Pettitte.
“Andy is unbelievable,’’ Giambi, 42, explained. “He’s probably going to pitch until he is 50 and he didn’t even have to learn a knuckleball.
“He’s the same way as when I faced him when I was with the A’s. You knew he was going to be a tough at-bat. You knew he wanted to be out there. You knew he was going to win. He is the ultimate competitor and as he has gotten older he has gotten smarter. He knows he can’t overpitch. He’s changed.
“The evolution of being the older player is the guys who can make the adjustments that can last in this league,’’ Giambi added. “It’s no different than what I did. I went from being an everyday first baseman to DH to some pinch-hitting. If you want to play this game for a long time you have to make changes.’’
CC Sabathia is picking up on some of the same long-lasting traits that have made Pettitte such a force. Said Pettitte of Sabathia: “He knows how to pitch, he locates, and he’s going to win. The problem is when you can’t locate. A lot of guys aren’t strike throwers. He’s a strike thrower.’’
Pettitte is a strike thrower, too.
Since the start of 2000, Pettitte has posted a 166-96 mark, ranking fifth among major league pitchers in wins despite being retired one year.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild marvels at what Pettitte has accomplished.
“The reason the better pitchers are good for so long is that even when they were younger, they were able to make in-game adjustments and repeat deliveries,’’ Rothschild explained. “As you get a little older it’s no different.’’
Pettitte still has great stuff and that is essential. He is the first Yankee to play for the team before the age of 23 and after the age of 40.
“He understands himself and understands the game,’’ Rothschild said. “Give me a smart pitcher and I’ll give you a pitcher who can locate three different pitches. You can have a Rhodes Scholar on the mound, but if he can’t locate, he’s going to be an idiot.’’
Age is only a number for Pettitte now.