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A.J. Burnett’s Recent Pitching Struggles: A Case of Jekyll and Hyde

September 2, 2009   ·     ·   Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees

We’ve reached September baseball. The Yankees are 6 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox in the A.L. East and continue to dominate baseball.

But, there are still some concerns entering the final month.

After a terrible month of August, A.J. Burnett came into Camden Yards looking to shut down the Orioles, a team he has had plenty of success against in the past.

This time around, it was the Orioles who were getting the better of Burnett.

The Yankees took an early 3-1 lead in the third inning, but Burnett gave the lead right back on a two run RBI double by Melvin Mora that tied the game at 3-3.

Jorge Posada’s two run home run in the fifth gave the lead back to Burnett, but Burnett watched his lead evaporate before his eyes as he allowed three runs in the bottom of the fifth and a Luke Scott home run gave the Orioles a 6-5 lead.

But because the Yankees offense was on fire Tuesday night, they were able to pound rookie David Hernandez and the rest of the Baltimore bullpen, including Chris Ray, a pitcher Yankee hitters love facing. He allowed home runs to Nick Swisher and Eric Hinske that gave him the loss in the 9-6 contest favoring the Yankees.

Burnett brought his bad luck of August into this September contest, even against a dismal Orioles team that is 30 1/2 games in back of the Yankees in the A.L. East and in last place.

Burnett allowed 11 hits, six runs, walked two and only struck out two in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Thanks to his offense, he did not factor into the decision.

The last time Burnett saw a victory was back on July 27 in Tropicana Field against the Rays.

He did pitch a classic game on Aug. 7 against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, going 7 2/3 and holding Boston to one hit in the Yankees 2-0 win in 15 innings, a game Burnett did not factor into the decision in.

But, his Aug. 22 game at Fenway Park against the Red Sox was anything but a classic. He allowed nine hits and nine runs in five innings against Boston in the 14-1 loss.

His last start on Aug. 27 against the Rangers was pretty good, striking out 12 hitters in six innings. But one three-run home run to Ian Kinsler gave the Rangers the lead and the bullpen couldn’t keep the Yankees in the game and Burnett took the loss 7-2.

But on Tuesday night, Burnett was bad, just like the last month has been for him.

He’s watched his record go from 10-4 to 10-8. His ERA went from a 3.67 to a 4.29.

He’s been able to eat up innings for the Yankees with 170 in 27 starts. He’s gotten a lot of strikeouts as well with 155, but also has too many walks with 82.

In the current rotation, he’s seen as the number two starter, but CC Sabathia has 15 wins and Andy Pettitte has 12 wins. If Alfredo Aceves records another win from the bullpen, that’ll give him 10 wins, tying Burnett’s mark for victories in the pitching staff.

With 30 games left to play, Burnett will probably make six or seven more starts for the Yankees in September. September games are very critical to the Yankees keeping their lead in the A.L. East, as well as in the American League playoff bracket.

Burnett’s stuff has been both at times very good and very bad. He’ll look unhittable like he did against the Red Sox a month ago, but then he’ll look really bad like he did Tuesday night.

For the Yankees to keep their lead and maintain their successful pitching staff, Burnett must turn it around in September.

In 2008 with the Blue Jays, Burnett was 2-0 in five starts with 38 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings.

In 2007 again with Toronto, Burnett was 3-1 in six starts with 47 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Burnett’s previous September records have been successful, but he wasn’t pitching for a chance to play in the postseason like he is now in 2009 with the Yankees.

For Yankees Universe, they have to hope he brings his previous success of the last two Septembers into 2009, because that will help the Yankees in their run to October.

If not, Burnett’s struggles continue, what kind of luck will he have in October?

There aren’t any numbers to go off for Burnett in playoff baseball because Burnett’s never pitched in October. He was on the 2003 Marlins team that won the World Series, but only pitched in four games that year, spending most of it on the disabled list.

More than likely, this will be Burnett’s first time pitching in meaningful games in September and October.

Which Burnett will show up to pitch those games?

Read more New York Yankees news on BleacherReport.com

readers comments
  1. Dennis on July 27th, 2014 6:46 pm

    .

    tnx!…





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