Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 13, 2009 
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A.J. Burnett stayed in a rut as the Yankees were again beaten by the Orioles. But at least he liked the music.
Derek Jeter had an uneventful day after. This notebook also has an update on Johnny Damon and word on a call from George Steinbrenner.
The Baseball Beat recounts a late-night press conference after Jeter’s milestone on Friday.
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In the game story today, I wrote that A.J. Burnett is 1-5 with a 6.14 ERA since July 27. Among American League pitchers with at least 40 innings since the All-Star break, only Trevor Cahill of Oakland and Chris Tillman of Baltimore have a higher ERA.
In his column for the Post, Joel Sherman adds these numbers:
• Burnett is tied for the most walks in the majors
• Burnett has thrown three times more wild pitches than any other pitcher.
• Burnett has allowed 21 stolen bases, tied for fifth worst in the majors.
• Burnett has allowed a career-worst 24 homers.
This is all pretty much what most objective analysts feared when the Yankees signed him. There’s a lot to like about Burnett but a lot that scares you.
Pete-
I’m pretty confident that the Yankees will be in the playoffs. I’m not so confident they’ll have the best record in the AL, which could mean two trips to the coast if they play the Angels at some point.
My confidence in our pitchers starts with CC, along with Aceves, Hughes and ends with Rivera. To me the rest of them are a crapshoot, including Pettitte, because you don’t know what will be left in his tank in another month. Robertson is hurt, and if he can’t come back and become consistent we need all our starters to give 6 good innings, preferably seven!
We will be possibly facing the likes of Verlander, Jackson, Beckett, Lester, Saunders, Lackey, Kazmir, Weaver, Santana or Feldman.
In fact the entire Angel starting rotation has a sub 2.5 ERA over the last 10 days or so.
I don’t want the Yankees to count on averaging 5-6 runs per game to win.
This team has the wherwithal to go “all the way!”
I just hope the pitching, especially with all the money invested, doesn’t let them down.
“This is all pretty much what most objective analysts feared when the Yankees signed him.”
I don’t remember much analysis about walks, HRs and stolen bases.
I do remember lots of talk about great stuff and durability and health question marks.
Burnett is like the girl with the little curl:
There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very, very good,
But when she was bad she was horrid.
Longfellow
AJ’s proven to be everything he was said to be… unfortunately.
I watched the US Open match last night between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters. Horrifying for two reasons – besides the continuing presence of thuggish behavior on the part of pampered rich superstars.
First: the sycophantic tennis media refused to nail the girl-bully to the wall for her inexcusable conduct. Serena didn’t yell: “How dare you call that ***** fault on ME? I am your ****** Queen! Kneel before me, you little *****!” But she may as well have. How does any self respecting sports reporter let that person get away with that, dodging post match questions with lines like: “I’m trying to move on.”
Second: I am horrified to admit that I completely agree with Mike Lupica on Serena (don’t let the link verbiage fool you… the first part of Mikey’s essay is right on point).
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....umber.html
“I do remember lots of talk about great stuff and durability and health question marks.”
I agree there was a lot of talk about his health and his “electric stuff.” The negatives started to really surface when the price the Yankees were willing to pay for him became public. A number of folks here on this blog were on record saying that AJ was inconsistent more years than not, and that he was a very mixed bag and wasn’t worth the money he was going to get.
I believe Joba and AJ both have the same problem. First let me say they have incredible stuff. But it seems like they’re Always 2 strikes on a hitter , and then somehow they overthink and could never put them away.
Just throw the Heat and strike them out
You can do it AJ !!!
What irks me is that AJ just says he threw just one bad pitch. Just “one bad pitch” does not load the bases.
“What irks me is that AJ just says he threw just one bad pitch. Just “one bad pitch” does not load the bases.”
AJ is as delusional about his pitching performances as Joba is. He seemed in total denial about that inning. Like if he didn’t throw that one pitch to Roberts, the rest of the inning would have looked great.
I used to think that our biggest worry about AJ would be his health. Turns out we have to worry most about his head.
the only vocal concern about burnett in the offseason was his health…..every pundit/media idiot/post writer/ everybody said pretty much this “hes got amazing stuff but can he stay on the field and off the DL” Well hes stayed off the DL and on the field. Hes actually had a pretty good season overall. And now that hes scuffled the last 6 weeks everything hes done outside of the last 6 weeks has been thrown out as if it never happened and his signing is beign hailed as a disaster. His era is skewed by 4 or 5 bad starts. If Burnett is able to stay healthy and make his starts (which he has this year) I’ll take him over 95% of all other starters in the league. For 3 months over the summer (may-july) he carried the rotation basically single handily.
“His era is skewed by 4 or 5 bad starts.”
No, it’s not.
As a fan,watching AJ on the mound,is like being on a rollercoaster ride.
For those who like the rollercoasters,it’s exciting,and fun.
For others it isn’t something you want to do anytime soon again.AJ leaves your stomach in knots.HE’S HIT OR MISS.
This late in the season,and all Yankees Universe, players,ownership,mgr,coaches and fan base,are still waiting for a steady #2 performance.
His scouting reports must be the most coveted item to look at,as a key to defeating the Yankees.
If AJ is going to have a bad inning in the postseason, fingers crossed it’s the 6th or 7th inning when you can minimize the damage and not the 1st or 2nd where you have to ride it out and hope it isn’t so bad.
Something else that concerns me is how as a team,the Players go into No HIT Mode,at the same time?
In postseason you need 4 solid starting pitchers,and a good bull pen.The Yankees have 1 solid starting pitcher1 semi solid(Andy)a great bull pen,and baseball’s best closer.This isn’t enough to win in postseason.
What a disapointment AJ has been.
He looked liked the ace of the staff at about the midway point of the season. I thought that if the playoffs started right then, he should start the 1st game. Thats how impressive his stuff looked like.
6 weeks later, he just looks like a silly pie thrower with a lot of potential.
LOL i think he has fulfilled his potential as a pie thrower
If he rattles off a dominant postseason run, which he can, none of those numbers will mean anything to anyone.
“This is all pretty much what most objective analysts feared when the Yankees signed him.”
I don’t remember much analysis about walks, HRs and stolen bases.
I do remember lots of talk about great stuff and durability and health question marks.”
Pete,
As Pat pointed out, the concerns from baseball mediots were about his health and not the issues you are trying to imply here.
Those who examined A.J. closely wrote about his erratic streaks, his inattention to detail and the issues with control. It was the topic of a lengthy blog post during the winter meetings.
For the most part, the only player not really doing well is AJ. Unfortunately, he is the no. 2 starter and could start twice in a playoff series. Gotta get him straightened out and fast. It will be interesting to see the Yankees playoff rotation.