Big night for Burnett
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 18, 2009 
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The Yankees have 15 games left to play and and A.J. Burnett will get three starts, the first coming tonight.
Burnett is 11-9 with a 4.33 ERA. He leads the AL in walks and wild pitches and is tied for third in hit batters. Once the team’s best starter, he is 1-5 with a 6.14 ERA in his last nine starts.
In terms of the standings, tonight’s game is just another page off the calendar for the rampaging Yankees. But Burnett will be facing Cy Young contender Felix Hernandez. This is his chance to show to people — especially his teammates — that he’s ready for the postseason.
With Andy Pettitte dealing with a sore shoulder, Burnett’s ability to make a series of quality starts in October could be what determines whether the Yankees win No. 27. That has to start at sometime.
————–
I’d be remiss not to thank those of you who have sent e-mails or made comments wishing me well with my new job. I really appreciate it. I’m overwhelmed by your kindness. The best part about starting this blog was getting to meet so many of you and share your passion for baseball.
I’m happy to say The Journal News is already taking steps to find a replacement and this blog will remain a priority for the paper. I know the people making the decisions and you’ll be in good hands.
Meanwhile, lets get back to business. The Yankees have some exciting times ahead.
still crying
we should have Blog tryouts!!
This Dude better step up big time. I have had it with his wild, ineffective efforts. He can easily wind up costing the Yankees a trip at the postseason.
Yes, it is a big night for AJ. I believe in you, AJ!
Has Rebecca auditioned?
Peter: the best of luck to you in your future endeavors. Please bring a large can of disinfectant with you, since you will need it associating with people from Boston.
Pete, i must say you have had a great blog. YOu are not a traitor and I dont think anyone can ever brand you that. You have always been a red sox fan and have just been hanging out on our side of the rivalry for a while. In any event, you have certainly been very impartial most of the time and not let your fandomn of the hated red sox usaully get in the way of reporting the news. I have disagreed with many of your opinions over the years but I constantly read this blog as you are among the first to break news and post the lineup. Thank you for that and enjoy your time in terrible boston and maybe your new job will allow you the opporunity to hang out with the bill bellicheat and his band of losers in the baseball offseason.
uncle ellsworth- are you nuts??? rebecca? She would be terrible for this
What’s with the weird article in the last thread? So it is true. AJ’s given up more than 3 ER at home only one time since 5/22/09.
Mike (Detroit)
Yes its a small sample size on CC but between the New York Media and potentially facing say Verlander twice, and Beckett twice, wouldnt you be worried about the pressure that he may need to not only turn it around but win 1-0, 2-1 type games.
Jayson Stark (1:49 PM)
I didn’t say there wouldn’t be pressure. Of course, there’s pressure. But what evidence have you seen, at any point this year, that CC can’t handle big-game pressure, New York pressure or big-matchup pressure? I sure haven’t seen any. Again, if he tanks in October, get back to me. But this guy is too good and too tough to be considered an official October underperformer yet.
Maybe Jared should audition to take over for you, Pete. He seems to have such an excellent grasp of spelling and grammar. Plus, he doesn’t seem to have a bitter bone in his body.
Clearly whoever does this blog will also have to be the new beat writer, so it’s not going to be someone with no experience at it. My guess is Sam Borden.
I just hope Pete’s replacement posts line ups early and enables me to run a well-organized postseason edition of “Guess the Line Up”
Woah! Pete’s leaving. I never comment(don’t want to get fired and all that), but always check his updates when I get a chance. Conrgatulations on landing a sweet gig Pete. You have kept us updated on the Yanks doings better then any other blog out there. By far. Your replacement should know he has some big shoes to fill. Best of luck.
He needs to throw that breaking ball for strikes, just like Chamberlain. Then location of the fastball wouldn’t matter as much. It’s easy to see why he’s getting hit. The fastball’s a fat pitch hitters are sitting on because they know he is hit & miss with the breaking ball.
It’s nice to hear that the blog will still be important to the newspaper. It would stink if it turned into the Mets version. You know with the starting lineup being the only post every day.
I will miss your “state of the Yankees” Pete
Agree Pete. About time he proves to his teammates that he can step up and be ready for the postseason.
Seattle is also the worst offensive team in the league. Would be very disappointing if he gets lit up again.
Biggest game of this series is tonight… need to see what AJ has,….
Jared
September 18th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
uncle ellsworth- are you nuts??? rebecca? She would be terrible for this
Relax. I think (know) they want someone with more experience.
I don’t know about Terrible though.
Hey Loyalty, maybe you should learn to spell “grammar.” Apparently, you don’t have spellcheck.
Erica – always OPPC
September 18th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I just hope Pete’s replacement posts line ups early and enables me to run a well-organized postseason edition of “Guess the Line Up”
——————————————————
Hopefully the replacement won’t let you be such a tyrant.
“And yet Randy l where would this blog or the many others..or the teams be without us fans”
yankee diva-
if you put people you are quoting in quotes it’ll make it easier to read your posts.
i agree fans (fanatics) are a key to having a pro game. thats where the money comes from that allows grown men to run around and play a kids game .
what i’m trying to say is that almost no one who works in the game is commited to one team. it just doesn’t work that way .
do you really think if the steinbrenners and cashman told jeter he wasn’t going to get more than ten million a year on a three year contract that he wouldn’t go to the red sox for 15 million a year for 4 years ?
think again.
pete’s not doing anything that any pro player wouldn’t do. they go where the money and the opportunity is.
i think the one common denominator is that most people who work in the game have a love for the game . i’d say most writers are fans of the game rather than fans of a particular team.
even gammons i think is a fan of the game fisrt and a red sox fan second though lately that may have changed.
CC also pitched must-win games on 3 days rest last year leading to the playoffs, as most people know, and he ended up logging 253 innings. In ’07 he threw 241 innings in the regular season, and his performances in the playoffs got steadily worse from the first round on.
This year he is on pace for 235 as of now, but the Yankees could shorten that once they wrap up the division (an eased-off start against KC at home?) He is also going to get an extra day before the upcoming Boston series due to an off day.
So while I do not claim to know/speculate that this will in fact improve his postseason performance, there might be something to the fact that his arm should be less taxed this October, compared to how it was in his last 2, and as a result his stuff and control could be sharper (hopefully).
JOSH
-that was a pun. Sorry you “missed” it.
Erica…. I think we should have a “guess the score contest too”
pete i love you and you made the right decision for your career and family but at this point i would think answering and posting anything on your blog is akin to someone’s girlfriend (or BF)breaking up with them and saying “but we can still be friends”….ummm no we can’t….i wish you well but lets not prolong the inevitable…i’m not a fan of long goodbyes..
and whats up with the journal news..its not like you quit yesterday…wouldn’t it be a good thing to pick someone and have them learn from the best for the next two weeks (if they insist on keeping you around)..and having that person post new threads with you occasionally chiming in so we can get used to the new person (sort of like what erica did with benfica regarding the gtlu game before school got in the way)..
i would think anything you say or write at this point rings hollow…just like everyone else in a job that gives their 2 weeks notice – they don’t give a flying fig what happens the next 2 weeks after they quit and give notice…
not suggesting him as a replacement but
has anyone heard anyhthing about Max Kellerman?
Good luck Pete and thank you for this great blog! You have set the standard for sports blogs that all others aspire to. You made this the best “1 stop shopping place” for NYY info, stats, facts and inside information. I don’t think many of us can appreciate your efforts including your travel schedule and many long hours. You blog when most of us are asleep, which only made for a good morning when I would open to this site and have an overnight story waiting for me. It is nice to see someone get rewarded for working hard and producing a great product. You deserve it. If you had a number I would make a motion that we retire it!!
MaineYankee
September 18th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Erica – always OPPC
September 18th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I just hope Pete’s replacement posts line ups early and enables me to run a well-organized postseason edition of “Guess the Line Up”
——————————————————
Hopefully the replacement won’t let you be such a tyrant.
***
You forgot the words “evil and maniacal”
AJ BURNETT IS EXACTLY WHO I THOUGHT HE WAS! (C) Dennis Green
Our starting rotation for a short series is pretty bad. They really needed to pick somebody up when Wang went down. You just have to pray that our offense continues to do what it’s done all year.
as far as burnett goes, he’s starting to piss me off. the yankees didn’t pay him 82 million to throw pies and let a 25 year old buchholz out pitch him for the last 8 starts.
if he continues stinking up the joint and joba comes on, i’d give joba burnett”s playoff starts.
tonight burnett needs to show something or else it’s time for girardi and eiland to take a tough love approach with him and tell him to get it together or else he’s getting bumped.
Pete should write a book on his adventures as Yankee beat writer and blogger.
I’d buy it.
Joe
September 18th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Erica…. I think we should have a “guess the score contest too”
****
Well, after the Yankees officially clinch a playoff berth- “Guess the Postseason Roster” will follow.
I’ll give exact details on it when the time comes
Erica – always OPPC
September 18th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Joe
September 18th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Erica…. I think we should have a “guess the score contest too”
****
Well, after the Yankees officially clinch a playoff berth- “Guess the Postseason Roster” will follow.
I’ll give exact details on it when the time comes
——————————————————
Will the winner get Yankee Snoopy?
Erica –
I was merely saying that all the “What ifs?” in regards to Brett Tomko and Yankees are purely moot since his season is over with.
What if we optioned some young guys because was in our post season plans and then went out with injury?
You can’t predict anything, and I know we hardly used the guy, but in retrospect, we are fortunate that we are not relying on Brett Tomko as a starter or reliever right now.
Don’t really know how you could disagree with that.
LOYALTY
September 18th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
JOSH
-that was a pun. Sorry you “missed” it.
———————————————————–
Sorry, but, that’s not a “pun”. That’s a screwup with your spelling. Trust me….I know misspelled words. You can always change your name and be another jerk.
Here. Perhaps this will help you in your future endeavors.
http://www.yourdictionary.com/.....elled.html
Petie better hope that the other chowderheads who are already following a blog decide to read his comments. Otherwise he’ll be looking for work at the Jersey Truckstops.
MaineYankee
September 18th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Well, after the Yankees officially clinch a playoff berth- “Guess the Postseason Roster” will follow.
I’ll give exact details on it when the time comes
——————————————————
Will the winner get Yankee Snoopy?
****
You are sooooo funny!!! LOL
DT – OPPC member
September 18th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Pete should write a book on his adventures as Yankee beat writer and blogger.
I’d buy it.
————————————————————
will it be in the horror, fiction or comedy section?
Get Yer Damn hands Off Of her!
September 18th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Erica –
I was merely saying that all the “What ifs?” in regards to Brett Tomko and Yankees are purely moot since his season is over with.
What if we optioned some young guys because was in our post season plans and then went out with injury?
You can’t predict anything, and I know we hardly used the guy, but in retrospect, we are fortunate that we are not relying on Brett Tomko as a starter or reliever right now.
Don’t really know how you could disagree with that.
****
I was disagreeing with your word choice that it was a “lucky break” for the Yankees. Brett Tomko has no effect on the Yankees
“as far as burnett goes, he’s starting to piss me off. the yankees didn’t pay him 82 million to throw pies and let a 25 year old buchholz out pitch him for the last 8 starts.
if he continues stinking up the joint and joba comes on, i’d give joba burnett”s playoff starts.
tonight burnett needs to show something or else it’s time for girardi and eiland to take a tough love approach with him and tell him to get it together or else he’s getting bumped.”
Excellent post, Randy. I agree 100%
I think AJ will turn it around, but it is disturbing that Pavano has more wins than AJ (12 vs 11) and Pavano has spent the year pitching for Cleveland and Minny.
If AJ bombs in the playoffs, his fate will be the same as Ed Whitson anyway.
It behooves the Yankees to fix him and fix him now. Unfortunately, no other pitching coach has been able to fix him in the last 10 years. His inconsistency can sink or swim us.
All you can really do is pray the good AJ shows up.
how far will Yankee’s get in post season?
It’s called “run support”.
It is a lucky break in regards to my previous statement. He didn’t “break” anything anyways, he has nerve damage.
What is needed first and foremost as Pete’s replacement is one who can continue breaking news. I live in Texas, and believe me, Yankee news is hard to come by. The New York papers are a day behind typically, and this site is where I routinely go to see what is up in Yankeeland. While I welcomed Pete’s opinions, we all have them. What we don’t have is access to the team and team information. So, I would like a reporter first and a pundit second.
“yankee diva-
if you put people you are quoting in quotes it’ll make it easier to read your posts.”
Thank you for that bit of advice Randy l. I will try and remember to do that. As for loyalty, yes I have noticed the lack of it in this country concerning jobs, teams and friendships. It’s a pity. Things were better when there was some.
Geez…i admit i’m hard on pete, and deservedly so…but some of you make me look tame.
“With Andy Pettitte dealing with a sore shoulder, Burnett’s ability to make a series of quality starts in October could be what determines whether the Yankees win, No. 27.”
thanks for the mention. if this is some sort of code asking me to take over the blog, i am in.
popping the cork…
if you don’t pop it when you clinch, theoretically, you could be sitting on a bunch of champagne if the Red Sox catch up.
i think its ok to celebrate clinching playoff birth and then celebrate when they get homefield OR the division.
GreenBeret7
September 18th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
DT – OPPC member
September 18th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Pete should write a book on his adventures as Yankee beat writer and blogger.
I’d buy it.
————————————————————
will it be in the horror, fiction or comedy section?
LOL… it would be like M.A.S.H.
so lots of comedy, mixed with drama.
maybe Ms. Roberts could write the forward. She’s a big time book celeb these days. It would give the book a little anti-Arod flavor too.
ps: a pic of Heidi W. or Kim J. on the cover would help sales too.
I don’t think there is any question that AJ has been a huge disappointment.
And please don’t bring up what his ERA was in July. Does the season end in July? If you use that criteria, I’m sure we could find many pitchers who were doing well into July, only to end the year badly. It doesn’t work that way. Season is from April-October.
Time for him to step up.
“Pete should write a book on his adventures as Yankee beat writer and blogger.
I’d buy it.”
The Lohud Years or: how i learned to stop worrying and love Alex Rodriguez.
It ends with Pete ontop of Alex’s SUV waving off into the sunset…
Grammar and spelling? Do you people really care about such things in the comments section of a blog post? Its nice to see all you have so much time during the day to really focus on the important things.
If AJ wins tonight – he’ll have as many wins as Carl Pavano this season.
randy l,
What “tough love” approach can they really give him though? He isin’t some kid who needs to be brought down to earth… he is a headcase 32 yr old pitcher. He is what he is at this point.
I’m watching a great program on the Military Channel, on the factual rescue of LTC Iceal Hambleton….better known as BAT 21. Amazing rescue. Especially for the two rescuers, Navy SEALs Thomas R. Norris (Medal Of Honor) and Nguyen Van Kiet (U.S. Navy Cross)
GB
“will it be in the horror, fiction or comedy section?”
Travel, as in fantasy airports I have pssed through.
Hi Pete,
Read the post yesterday about your new job. Happy to see get a new professional opportunity and that you will be closer to your family.
But I’m also sad, your post and insight into the Yankees team is one of the best, if not the best around. It will surely be missed, all those tidbits and insights into the players, the interviews, etc.
Thanks for all this time posting great things about my favorite team. Try and not do such a good job with those Damn Sox!!!
Sorry.
“passed”
No problem Pete, good luck at the Globe. We all know the real reason you are going there anyways – so you can work side by side with Amalie Benjamin. Can’t really blame you there bro.
Honestly though it’s a huge opportunity man. Big name paper, covering the 2nd best franchise in baseball, closer to family, hopefully more money? Good job big man!
Remember when everyone was giddy at the fact that Burnett fed the media some BS at his press conference about how he is a “changed” pitcher and Halladay taught him how to pitch and harness his stuff?
lol
He is the same guy he has always been. Actually… he is even worse. He is on pace for the worst stats in every category of his career. So much for being a “changed” pitcher. Well technically, he did change— he regressed.
Pete–Been working on a deadline so I’ve been away from the blog for the most part, but a big congrats for your new gig.
I knew with the success of this blog your time here was going to be short lived.
You will definitely be missed here. You’ve been a wonderful presence over the years and I’ll miss your sense of humor.
I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavor of chronicling and documenting the destruction of the Boston Red Sox that is sure to happen over the next few years as they transition to a perennial last place team.
Please promise to play mind games with Boston players in the clubhouse.
Please tell Theo he’s not sexy. That will hurt him more than mentioning the Gagne trade.
Please promise every time you’re close to Youkilis to ask out loud, “Does anyone else smell feet and onions?”
Please ask Beckett if that’s his girlfriend’s tooth he wears around his neck.
Please ask Papelschmuck what 3 times 3 is.
Please ask Varitek how long has been painting the top of his head to appear as if he still has hair?
Please ask Ortiz for his favorite Dominican milkshake recipe and if he’s planning on donating his fat clothes now that he’s strangely slimmed down.
And above all, please tell Gammons, “I’m gonna eat you old man. I’m gonna eat you alive!”
While I have a tremendous fondness for you, I truly hope this move to the Globe will go down as the “Abraham curse” that restored the Yankees to greatness and the Red Sox to futility.
Backbench
September 18th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
GB
“will it be in the horror, fiction or comedy section?”
Travel, as in fantasy airports I have pssed through.
————————————————————
See? If you had left the misspelling uncorrected, and it read “pissed”, it would have been both factual and hilarious. Never give up the chance for a cheap laugh.
G. Love-
LOL. Very well said
Simply put, the Yankees cannot achieve what they set out to do without AJ Burnett being a major contributor. Even worse than the 6 runs he gave up in his last start, his defensive attitude that he only threw one bad pitch reminded me of Ian Kennedy. It’s time for AJ to take responsibility and earn his money.
G Love,
Too funny LOL
And Pete, while youre at it could you ask Clay Bucholz to return my damn laptop?
The complaining about Burnett is somewhat laughable. His season this year isn’t much different than last years totals. The first thing people will complain about is the win totals….the same people that complain that you can’t judge a pitcher on win loss totals. He’s given up all of a quarter of a run per game over last year, with starts remaining. Home runs are up slightly, but, these complaints are coming from those that constantly yammer and whine about the YS homer haven. Wild pitches and walks are up slightly, but, those are the results of “Posada’s lack of catching skills”. WP and walks will always flucuate from year to year….up or down.
Randy, why are you comparing Bucholz to Burnett? Bucholz has done well against the O’s and the Jays – big deal. I don’t get why you are upset about the pies. Not throwing pies is not going to make him pitch better…and I’m not sure what you want him to do when he’s not pitching, be miserable?
No one can make excuses for Burnett… his numbers speak for themselves. Look at his monthly splits, they tell the story.
“Simply put, the Yankees cannot achieve what they set out to do without AJ Burnett being a major contributor. Even worse than the 6 runs he gave up in his last start, his defensive attitude that he only threw one bad pitch reminded me of Ian Kennedy. It’s time for AJ to take responsibility and earn his money.”
Yep. The excuses are getting old. For his own sake he needs to step up or NY is going to eat him alive.
I actually trust Joba more than AJ to be honest.
Sweeny Murti’s Yankee Report on Mike’d Up with Mike Francesa (YES):
http://bit.ly/KZjoc
Mr. Abraham,
I am not a Yankees fan (or a Red Sox fan). I am an Orioles fan. I hate the Yankees (sorry gang!), but I have read your blog absolutely religiously for the past two years and loved every second of it (except for some cracks at the O’s and any and all love for Mark Teixeira that you’ve thrown out onto the interwebs, but I digress). I just want you to keep up the quality and I promise to keep on reading in Boston. Hopefully I’ll be reading from the perspective of a fan of a team in the race, but either way.
Congratulations,
Andrew from Rochester, NY
“What “tough love” approach can they really give him though? He isin’t some kid who needs to be brought down to earth… he is a headcase 32 yr old pitcher. He is what he is at this point.”
i probably agree more than i disagree with you on that, but this is the big time and he’s not cutting it.
if it goes on another start, i think he needs someone to tell him to his face that he needs to step it up.
this isn’t miami or toronto, he letting down his teammates and the fans.
he’s basically pitching worse than his lifetime average, so maybe he’s not with yankees who he really is.
i’d like that 3.79 lifetime era guy show up.
randy – you finally have a legitimate reason to hate on cashman— for signing burnett lol
I do agree with Kev, though – do you as well, GB? If AJ does not do well in the playoffs, I really think he won’t be long for NY. He WILL get the Whitson treatment – which he doesn’t deserve (no one does).
I’m honestly sorry that it’s come down to this, to the point where people are starting to dislike him (everything he says is being analyzed to death and people are assuming the wost about what he says). Frankly, if he has to be traded, maybe it’s the best thing……Once the fans turn on you, it’s impossible to get them back.
What happens tonight or in the next 2 weeks really isn’t that critical.
Bottom line is, AJ Burnett has the stuff to shut teams down in the postseason. No one in the know cares about his ERA or win-loss record. He was brought here to unleash his potential in short series. Cashman knew that when he signed him. Pitching well in Seattle in mid september isn’t going to change anything, really.
What gives me confidence that will happen? Nothing really, but the mere fact that we know he has the capability of doing it should make people relax just a bit. Far worse pitchers than him (Kenny Rogers, Kyle Loshe, Jeff Weaver) have pitched great in the postseason.
We’ve seen pitchers pitch well going into the postseason and get absolutely destroyed in the playoffs.
AJ is the linchpin of the rotation. All we or anyone can do is gamble that he gets hot at the right time. No other way to look at it.
I think Swisher shold be our #3 starter.
This year is over ! We’re f’ed ! We’re not gonna make the playoffs ! Better luck next year, hopefully we can pull a 6 way trade and get Lincecum, Santana, Cliff Lee, and Greinke. Also, pull a Red Sox and get our entire schedule changed so we only play National League teams.
But Joba hasn’t let his teammates down? Sure, Joba will do great in the playoffs because he’s just had a fantastic year.
Bucholz has done well against the O’s
Didnt Burnett faced the Orioles? How come he did so bad? Pete I’m so happy that you are joining the Boston Globe. And yes we do want Pete to critisize Red Sox players when they are out of line. I do the same thing.
That may be the next step, randy l. If Burnett doesn’t start pitching well, they need to get tough with him. We’re too special of a team for him to screw it up with his inconsistency.
best of luck Pete! great blog, tried never to miss a post. You will be missed, but good for you — getting a job clsoer to home with Boston’s #1 paper. Well deserved!
Just to clarify, the last month or so, AJ has been very disappointing – there is no getting around that. I thought he would be very good for us and he was for awhile……but that was awhile ago. I’m not going to kill him because he is who he is – I reserve my bashing for players that aren’t trying.
As for letting the team down, they all let each other down last year…….(I’m not going to say the fans ,because I’m sorry, the fans aren’t owed anything other than effort by the playres). They also let each other down the last few playoff series. AJ’s not the only one who needs to look in a mirror.
Trade Burnett? lol
Good luck getting any GM to take that horrific contract, even if the economy was normal.
4 years and $69 million left for a 33 yr old inconsistent pitcher, who probably won’t age well?
We’re stuck with him.
Betsy, there’s a major difference between Burnett and Whitson, besides talent. Fortunately for Burnett, he doesn’t have a psychopath like Billy Martin torpedoing him in the papers. Not much you can do about the bridge jumpers that are ready to dump anyone that doesn’t hit four homers a game or strike out 25 batter during a perfect game.
Pete – Dont leave us!!!
Who is going to post “inside” information from the celebration (what AJ did, what Swisher did what wasn’t on camera etc.) plus postgame audio for games with no postgame?
Who is going to announce the playoff information (roster, rotation) immediately after the final game? Who is going to announce the dates/times of the games? The lineups? Injury info?
Don’t leave!!!!
GB7,
You & I agree on most things but I have to part ways with you when it comes to Burnett. He’s already walked more batters in 29 starts than he did in 35 last year. AJ’s strikeout to walk ration is the lowest since 2001.His WHIP is the highest of his career. For all his talk about learning how to become a pitcher from Roy Halladay, he’s clearly regressed.
Burnett isn’t getting any tough love. He just needs to man up and get it done. He’s a vet, not some kid the Yanks can push around. At this point his motivation has to come from within. To be quite honest, the type of performance he has right now is exactly what many feared when the Yanks signed him.
It’s a roll of the dice on whether or not he does well in the playoffs. He could be great, he could be awful. The only bonus is, the Yanks have a great bullpen and lineup to try and soften the blow in case he has a bad start.
I’d like to shift the conversation a bit. What do you all think of the Cy Young race? I was just looking at the top pitchers in the AL and there is no doubt in my mind Zach Greinke deserves the award. He is so much better than the next best guy (Hernandez) that he should honestly win by unanimous vote.
Then King Felix is alone at #2, nobody is really that close to him. After you get past him I’d go Verlander/Halladay (can’t choose) then a grouping of other guys which include Sabathia.
Hey Pete, does going to another city affect your MVP vote? Isn’t it divided up into 2 votes for every Major League city? Hoping you have a nostalgic Jeter moment when filling out the ballot!!!!
Well, it didn’t take long for “The Gerbil” to show up to spout her (I assume it’s a her) stupidity.
I’ve got a question related to Pete leaving. does he still have his vote for MVP? He was one of the 2 NY writers to have one, right? if he’s bailing before the end of the season, will he forfeit that?
wsr – we were trying to figure that out last night, too…no idea
Drive,
Exactly. His stats this year are probably going to be the worst (or 2nd worst) of any year in his career in every category.
All his talk about changing as a pitcher was hogwash. He is the same guy he was in FLA and TOR. Drives managers and fans crazy because you never know what you are going to get.
Drive, I’m not hanging Burnett on an unfinished season and on just the first year. David wells and Roger Clemens weren’t exactly sterling in their first years with NYY, either.
Pete, when Jeter robs the MVP from Mauer you have to go to the press conference and pull a Kanye on Jeter.
Are we allowed to put in requests for new beat reporters?? I nominate Sam Borden!!!!!!! He BETTER be taking over this blog!
Maybe Hank can take over this blog.
Actually, I think Chad Jennings would be a great successor to Fredo Abraham. If he is that dedicated to his work when it comes to the AAA team, I think he would be terrific doing a Yankee blog.
Geez, Uncle Ellsworth, I appreciate the vote of confidence but right now I’d settle for ANY job.
Damn you Pete!
I’ve been following your blog since it was a few months old. Back in the days when I was still in the baseball desert called Australia and then China. I am in Taiwan now, and you know what? The fans here translate your articles on daily bases to Chinese in a yankee forum. Your blog means a whole lot to us. Even though I am half way around the world, and may never see you in person, but I still shamelessly consider you as a “friend” and wish you the very best.
You are the best beat writer out there for me, it’s a huge loss for us fans. So please come back to say hi from time to time.
GB7,
I can appreciate where youre coming from. I know it may not be fair to expect AJ to get totally acclimated to NY in his first season. But this team is a horse hair away from being World Championship caliber. He was brought here to help accomplish that and placed in an important role. They aint winning it without him. Fair or not fair, he has to produce big time in his first season. To your point, there’s still time for him to do exactly that.
hey patrick-
make sure to click on my username to get my email address just in case the blog implodes upon pete’s departure .
i want to make sure we can continue insulting each other
Ray, I agree about Sam; I hope that works out.
If Hank did take over the blog maybe he could cut Pete’s representation out of the discussion and negotiate an extension for Pete at LoHud that makes Pete the highest paid guy in the industry. Pete sticks here and realizes his dream to buy us all beer for life: I think it’s a win/win!
SERIOUSLY BUMMED
Pete -
As much as I am happy for you for the new opportunity with the Globe and that you’ll be closer to family, I will greatly, greatly, GREATLY miss this blog.
Yes, to your point, it will be maintained. But it’s your voice that makes it special.
It has been part of my daily reading for the past 2 years. Everyday, several times a day. It’s an amazing blog and your absence will not go unnoticed.
GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING…
Chris
randy l.
September 18th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
hey patrick-
make sure to click on my username to get my email address just in case the blog implodes upon pete’s departure .
i want to make sure we can continue insulting each other
————————————————————
Never fear, Old Geezer. I shall curse your every breath every day….if not in fact and deed, then, surely in spirit.
“He just needs to man up and get it done. He’s a vet, not some kid the Yanks can push around”
i totally disagree. gee , what a surprise right.
playing tournament two man v-ball i used to get in the face of a partner, a former nfl tight end who was 6’5 and 245lb when he coasted on his talent.
yeah he got ticked off. that’s kind of the idea. burnett not ticked off hasn’t worked well has it? there are veteran players on the yankees who don’t want to be playing golf early because of burnett underachieving.
some of those really should get in his face and let him know that.
“Never fear, Old Geezer. I shall curse your every breath every day….if not in fact and deed, then, surely in spirit.”
gb7-
i just have one question for you.
is it hard typing in a hazmat suit?
randy l.
September 18th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
“Never fear, Old Geezer. I shall curse your every breath every day….if not in fact and deed, then, surely in spirit.”
gb7-
i just have one question for you.
is it hard typing in a hazmat suit?
————————————————————
Yeah, it is. it’s so bad that it’s eating the chrome off of the kitchen appliances. It’s so bad, even the dog has ordered a special suit.
I’ve posted on this blog only a few times, and only when I’ve been irritated enough by something you’ve had to say–whether it be a grammatical error (those “Grammar police” posts) or a particularly anti-Yankee (or anti-arod) sentiment.
But I’ve visited the blog constantly throughout my day ever since you started, and the fact that I was only moved to share criticism on a few occasions hopefully speaks to how much I’ve enjoyed your work and what a great job you’ve done.
There has simply never been a better source of Yankee information, frequent updates, breaking news, friendly banter…
So, I felt that I should at least once post just to thank you and compliment you on a great job. Good luck. You’ll be missed.
And remember…prepositions take objects.
Soap Box Man:
How many times were you dropped on your head as a child?
Yes, I’m going to vote for Ortiz. Exactly right. You guessed it.
I hope AJ gets a pie to the face at the end of today’s game.
What the hell is everyone’s problem with grammatical errors on a Yankees blog comment board. Maybe we have uneducated people on this board, so what…, maybe we have young posters, people from other countries, or people who just plain don’t give a crap, I can’t say that I blame them. If you have problems with grammatical errors on a comment wall, don’t post here. Its as if you are all auditioning for Pete’s job. Shheeeeesh! Cut some people some slack, and lets just talk Yankees Baseball.
Hey Pete, you said about doing another Q & A with a player. You should think about doing a Q & A for yourself before you leave. Have people write and ask you questions about your stay and experiences with the blog. I think it would be a good read and would give you a chance to remembrance a bit. Well think about it and good luck where ever you go (even if it is the enemy). I loved every thing you did on here and wish you luck.
Pete, I must say I’m selshishly disappointed. Having read your blog daily for about 2 years now, you became my source for all news Yankee. And after awhile, you forget the ‘journalism’ side of it, and you had me convinced you were a diehard like the rest of this.
The rational side of me completely understands the need to be closer to family, as well as a bigger opportunity. I wish you nothing but the best, and that really is the only priority.
…But, the Red Sox? I think I’d rather starve. I think someone said it earlier, at least the hours will be better with your shorter season and all.
Go Yanks!
I can’t tell you how sad I am, for myself, that you will be moving on, but I’m very happy for you. I guess being close to your family and writing for a bigger market far outweighs having to cover the hated (by us) Red Sox. I will miss your wit and common sense, as well as your fine coverage of the Yankees. I am only sorry that I didn’t find your blog before this year, thanks to Jane Heller’s book. Good luck in the future, and please share your wisdom with Sox nation, and, if possible, treat the Yankees kindly in your writing.