A.J. Burnett: Is the New York Yankees Starter the 800-Pound Gorilla in the Room?
August 4, 2011 · Josh Schermerhorn · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees have publicly announced that they have a problem most teams would love to have; they have too much pitching. Manager Joe Girardi has extended this week’s rotation to a six-man group, allowing Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes a chance to battle for the final official spot in the order. However, with Nova’s continued success and Hughes’ newfound dominance in his last start, Girardi has flirted with the idea of prolonging the extra spots, though that situation would likely only occur as long as CC Sabathia doesn’t miss any starts.
What the Yankees have not publicly addressed is a problem they have brushed behind young and blossoming talent, and explosive offensive power: A.J. Burnett. Of all the pitchers on the starting roster, Burnett is the least promising.
The most glaring example would be Wednesday, Aug. 3 in Chicago against the White Sox. Burnett, who was handed a 13-1 lead by the fourth inning, found a way to start giving back quickly. Before he could realize what happened, Girardi was coming to get the ball from his starter with one out in the fifth inning, calling on Corey Wade to preserve a 13-7 lead with two runners on.
A displeased Burnett forcefully transferred the ball to Girardi’s hand on the mound and ripped his jersey off after barely clearing into the dugout tunnel.
Though he was likely mad at himself for doing poorly, and perhaps a little at Girardi for not allowing him to get the win, he should have seen it coming. For one, Girardi has not been afraid to pull the trigger on a floundering starter if it seems the game might be in jeopardy. What could make the manager confident about leaving Burnett in any game?
To be fair, Burnett has pitched some very good games this season, but has lacked the run support needed to pick up well-deserved wins. Also, Wednesday’s debacle was his first outing this season that wasn’t five innings or more. And in the shadow of a dominant Sabathia, it is easy to lose track of his good performances.
Still, fairness comes with honesty, and there are some tough questions to ask about Burnett. Has he been worth the money? Since joining the team in 2009 for a little more than $82 million over five years, Burnett has compiled a 31-33 record and a 4.60 ERA.
Also, under the greatest magnifying glass in sports—New York’s postseason—he has been well beyond poor, pitching to a 1-2 record and 5.67 ERA. If that’s worth $82 million, there should be plenty of rich pitchers in baseball.
The question of the hour, however, is where does Burnett belong in this current, roster-jostling rotation? Obviously, starters like Sabathia, Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia have proven their reliability in tight spots. Hughes may still have something to prove, but if he throws similarly to his outing in Chicago, there will be no doubt in his place on the Yankees. Even Nova has shown the ability to get the job done, and has a respectable 9-4 record to back it up.
If Burnett continues to pitch on such shaky ground, it may become a long and treacherous road for the remaining two years of his New York career. Fortunately for him, the Yankees are winning and competing toe to toe with the Red Sox for the pennant.
Hypothetically, however, if the Yankees went in the tank and the starting rotation went to shambles, the pressure would fall squarely on Burnett’s shoulders. After all, he is the only pitcher with expectations. Colon and Garcia were barely expected to make it this far, let alone contribute the way they have, and Hughes and Nova are young talents still trying to find their way.
Burnett, though, has had 12 years to find his way, and if he doesn’t find it soon, an obvious vote of confidence may be all but lost for this struggling starter in New York.
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