Posted by Isaac Thorn on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 4:50 pm

In today’s New York Post David Wells suggests that Andy Pettite’s first pitch to Chase Utley should knock him down. As an ex-player, Wells can certainly make a valid argument about the function and necessity of throwing inside to hitters.

It’s even easier to make that argument after Alex Rodriguez has been hit. It might seem even more logical because Utley has launched five home runs through the first five games of the series. Not only is Chase Utley hitting home runs, each one he hits is launched. The way the ball is coming off his bat on those swings, it would not surprise me if he hit two more tonight.He looks as focused at the plate as one can be.

I disagree with Wells’s opinion.I don’t think it would help New York’s chances of avoiding a Game Seven.

Andy Pettite has pitched admirably this postseason. While he is obviously not the pitcher he once was, he is still focused and experienced enough to make Joe Girardi feel good about having him start Game Six.What I’ve noticed about Pettite over the years is the momentum he gathers from one inning to the next when things are going well for him. Striking Utley out would send “the message” to the Phillies more clearly.

Pettite would not be well served to have to deal with any warning, or bench clearing that might result from Utley being knocked down. If the attempted brushback pitch gets away, and hits Utley near his head the consequences could be far greater.

The risks of throwing a pitch high and tight to Utley are too great. Pettite is a battle-proven pitcher. He shouldn’t be asked to vary from his pitching strategy for the sake of attempting to send a message. It’d be much better for the Yankees to get through the first inning as quickly as possible, rather than prolong it. If Utley gets hit, it is a near certainty that a Yankee will get hit soon thereafter.

It would be unfortunate if ejections played a significant role in how the rest of this series pans out.

If Utley is hit in the first inning, it will make pitching to him the next two times practically impossible for Pettite. Once Utley has to dirty his uniform to avoid being hit by a pitch. Warnings will be issued. If Pettite accidentally hits Utley after already hitting him once, he will probably get ejected.

Knowing that, Pettite will be wary of coming inside to Utley, and make it way more difficult to retire him. It is easy to see why Wells believes what he does. However, I think that if the Yankees subscribe to the same theory it is a move that is likely to backfire.