Burnett: “It would be silly for Hughesy not to start”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Oct 05, 2010 
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The Yankees have arrived at Target Field. The workout just started here in Minnesota, and our own Sam Borden is playing the part of photographer. The clubhouse was open to the media for a little more than half an hour before the players took the field.
In that time, most of the focus was on what’s not going to happen in the Division Series. Javier Vazquez is not going to be on the roster, and A.J. Burnett is not lined up to make a start. Burnett will be in the bullpen while CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes fill the rotation.
“Those three have been our horses all year,” Burnett said. “It would be silly for Hughesy not to start.”
As you might expect, both Burnett and Vazquez said they were disappointed but not surprised. Burnett obviously could still play a role this postseason, especially beyond this series. We’ve seen in the past that some managers, when they’ve made decisions like this one, have lost the player. Some players feel slighted, not taken care of.
“Joe’s the best manager I ever played for,” Burnett said. “He’s done more for me this year probably than any manager has ever done. He cares about me as a person and as a player. I’ll be down in that pen and be ready to get one out or two outs or whatever I’ve got to do for him.”
• There might be more, but I saw three non-roster players still with the team here in Minneapolis: Vazquez, Chad Gaudin and Chad Moeller.
• Vazquez on being left off the roster: “It’s nobody’s fault. It’s my fault.” Vazquez said he was only told that he won’t be on the Division Series roster. He’s still holding out some hope that he might eventually be active for a series.
• Hughes said he threw a bullpen on Sunday and he’ll throw another either tomorrow or Thursday. “I feel like that inning in Fenway helped,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be ready when the time comes.”
• The bubble players found out whether they made the roster on Saturday. Vazquez said Girardi called to give him the news.
• Brian Cashman is here. Butch Wynegar is also still here. Last I knew, he was fully expecting to go home after the Boston series.
• Girardi is addressing the media after the workout, so we should have more notes whenever the Yankees finish taking batting practice.
• Just to kind of set the scene right now: Alex Rodriguez just finished taking ground balls at third. Ramiro Pena was working on turning double plays at second, now he’s taking balls at third base. Curtis Granderson is in center and Brett Gardner is in left, both taking turns fielding bouncing balls in the outfield grass and throwing to a cutoff man behind second.
I gotta say -
AJ’s quote is making me cry.
Say what you will about Girardi, but it is obvious to me he has the respect of his players.
Love AJ! Love Girardi! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Love Kearnsie too, but also hope he remains on the benchie!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/ho.....China.html
This is why its hard to hate AJ Burnett. He’s a good guy.
There isn’t much left to say except good luck Team.
Wow-love AJ’s quote. I can’t help but like the guy.
I hope kearnsie hitsy onsy squaresy when he comesy offey da benchie.
Burnetsie soundsie realsy in proping Hughesy, who wilsy winsy in hisey starties.
Yankees Vote ROBINSON CANO for the 2010 Hank Aaron Award as AL outstanding offensive player! | http://bit.ly/adeDrk
don’t let his honey tipped tongue fool you Erin…
KenDavidoff #Yankees opted for Pena over Nunez because of coaching staff’s comfort with Pena (more versatile defensively).
KenDavidoff The #Yankees have sent Nova, Nunez and Ring to Tampa to condition for potential future usage.
Cashmoney -
Ease up. C’mon.
(But that WAS funny!!!!)
Cashmoney October 5th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
don’t let his honey tipped tongue fool you Erin…
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LOL
I actually do really like AJ (have ever since he became a Yankee). He hasn’t made it easy this year though, that’s for sure.
Burnett: “It would be silly for Hughesy not to start. After all he leads me in every category except for, wild pitches, hit batsman, walks. I’m here for pie. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”
Erin –
That’s pretty interesting. So, yeah, I guess they can tweak the roster in between rounds?
Erin
Cano should get Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards for AL 2nd basemen. Hope he gets AL MVP, but if he doesn’t WS MVP would be fine!
Kim said Girardi has not confirmed it but clubhouse feedback is Kearns will not be in LF tomorrow.
Yankee Trader October 5th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Erin
Cano should get Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards for AL 2nd basemen. Hope he gets AL MVP, but if he doesn’t WS MVP would be fine!
************************************
Preaching to the choir, my friend.
Doreen,
It’s a fairly new rule that clubs can do that between the ALDS and ALCS.
If you ever read this blog AJ, remember that everyone here loves you! And that you can do anything that you are determined to do! And if that means coming in from the bullpen and sitting ‘em all down via the K, then that’s what you’ll do! If you believe, it will happen! ♥
To add to pat’s point, Joe also noted the expansive Target field. Much ado about nothing if you ask me. Gardner gets the start.
I am actually looking forward to seeing AJ come out of the pen.
A bulldog mentality, with an amped up 96mph FB and an occasional knee buckler.
That’s the script, now if AJ will just cooperate.
Doreen,
I’m tearing up, too. That word Hughesy makes me want to cry.
Just kidding!
AJ’s a mess right now, but it’s hard to hate him.
Tar-
With AJ’s propensity towards wildness and meltdowns you want to see him come in out the pen to help ?
“Joe’s the best manager I ever played for,” Burnett said. “He’s done more for me this year probably than any manager has ever done. He cares about me as a person and as a player. I’ll be down in that pen and be ready to get one out or two outs or whatever I’ve got to do for him.”
********************
Nice sentiment, too bad you can’t do your job AJ.
Michael Kay, for what it’s worth, has mentioned all season that AJ pitched better from the stretch.
MLB trade rumors has posted their type A & B free agents.
Yanks type A:
Jeter
Mariano
Andy Pettitte
Type B
Javy
Berkman
Kerry Wood
It’s a pretty safe bet that the Yanks will not get a single draft pick out of this although they could conceivably offer arb. to Jeter and Mo without much risk.
Not that I can see them doing that.
I think AJ needs to completely redo his mechanics in the offseason. His pitching motion is like Granderson’s old swing.
“With AJ’s propensity towards wildness and meltdowns you want to see him come in out the pen to help ?”
MTU
A little bit of wildness is not always a bad thing.
In a post -season releif role he should not face enough batters to have a meltdown. He gets the job done, or you bring in the next guy.
So yes, I stand by what I said.
My attitude about AJ is that I do not want to see him near a mound in the ALDS unless it’s with a mop and a pail, and preferably not at all.
This is no time for tryouts. He is way too unpredictable to trust. He’ll just have to enjoy the view from the bench.
Bronx Jeers October 5th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
MLB trade rumors has posted their type A & B free agents.
———————————
where is Sergio Leone Mitre in this pic?
Alex and Swish:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
The Yankees will be offering arbitration to Pettitte too.
Sounds like AJ has the right attitude here. Was nice of him to say those things about Girardiie.
Obviously if he could throw the thing over the plate then he could be a weapon out of the bullpen….we shall see. I would guess if he’s used it will be in a long man role where he would give them some length….hopefully that won’t happen because it would mean either someone got shelled or injured.
MTU -
You might think I’m crazy, sometimes I really am, but, AJ coming out of the pen to pitch to 1-3 batters could work, like it did for Hughes. Think about it, he can come out knowing he’ll picth 1 inning, and throw as hard as he can to 3 batters or less. He will not throw the same as he would as a SP. Look how much harder Hughes threw out of the pen vs. being a starter. Hey, stranger things have happened, and as some one else said, it’s baseball, you never know.
Nice YES coverage right now folks.
OK, I’m out of here (lots of TV to watch!!)
Everybody have a good night.
AJ Burnett, the prototype for the ideal relief pitcher:
Mentally fragile, can’t hold runners close, throws fifty foot breaking balls in the dirt, hits batters, can’t throw strikes, poor mechanics, poor command, ERA over 5.
Yup. That’s the ticket!
Repost:
Also from BoDog, misc. over and unders.
Total Home Runs in Series
Over/Under 9.5
Total Strikeouts in Game 1 – CC Sabathia
Over/Under 5.5
Total Strikeouts in Game 1 – Francisco Liriano
Over/Under 6
Total Hits in Series – Alex Rodriguez
Over/Under 4.5
Total RBI in Series – Alex Rodriguez
Over/Under 3.5
Total RBI in Series – Robinson Cano
Over/Under 2.5
Total RBI in Series – Derek Jeter
Over/Under 2.5
Total Hits in Series – Joe Mauer
Over/Under 5
Total RBI in Series – Joe Mauer
Over/Under 3
Total RBI in Series – Delmon Young
Over/Under 3
Looks like you can bet on almost anything.
MTU
If the Yankees need a K, and circumstance dictates that it’s between Mitre, Mosely and AJ. I am all in on an AJ “tryout”.
Al-
You and Tar are entitled to your opinions. I’m just not buying it. AJ is just too erratic for my taste right now. He doesn’t have one thing Hughes always was noted for. Good control.
He might come in and do as you say, or he could just as easily hit a batter or not be able to find the plate. His stuff is good enough it’s the other parts that would concern me.
I would like to see guys that are reliable. It’s the post season. No margin for error.
It would be tough to bring AJ in with runners on as bad as he is at holding them and as many wild pitches as he throws….
AJ will not throw one pitch in relief. He is on the roster only in case Sabathia or Pettitte gets hurt.
MTU & blake -
My thought was of bring AJ in at the beginning of an inning, or to pitch to 1 batter where you needed a strikeout. No breaking balls in the dirt, just hugh, hard, country fastballs.
Most likely never to happen any way. If we see AJ, it means we’re losing big, and he’s eating innings as a mop-up.
Good night folks, here’s to a new season.
I think AJ needs to completely redo his mechanics in the offseason. His pitching motion is like Granderson’s old swing.
————————————————————————————
AJ isn’t a young man…I don’t think that he can “start all over”. I would expect them to change his selection of pitches. Right now, AJ is a power pitcher who only throws 2 pitches (fastball and curve). If either of those pitches is “off” then hitters can sit on the other. Even with both pitches working, AJ must locate them perfectly because he is aging and those pitches are no longer overpowering.
I wouldn’t be surprised if AJ toyed with a splitter or a circle change in spring training to see if either would work out as a third pitch.
Al-
With AJ’s stuff the temptation will always be there to use him as you suggest. To get you a SO. Thing is his command is poor. That’s dangerous. Hit batsman, walk, FB that leaks back over the heart of the plate. Too scary for me. Maybe Girardi has nerves of steel, or maybe he has been staring into the Sun too long. It’s his call. I just hope he make the right choice at the right time.
Hughesy? LOL
Doreen, you should have heard AJ speak about Joe last year after the WS – I think the players, no matter what you hear in the media, really believe Joe has their backs and they respect him a great deal.
I wish Phil had been able to pitch more than 1 inning, but that one inning is better than nothing and clearly it helps even just his mindset. I think he was bored with plain old bullpens.
I gotta run too. See you all tomorrow. Have a good evening.
A clean inning would be best for AJ, but I don’t see him getting much action this round.
AJ makes me want to tear my hair out, but I can not get personal in my criticisms of him because he’s a good guy and a very good teammate.
I know he and Phil talk a lot; maybe he should learn from the kid, lol
Im starting to get the chills, baby! The journey begins! If Phil’s mother’s name was Susie, she’d be Susie Hughesie!
Girardiie, lol…………I like Girardio
Wally Matthews annoys Girardi as much as he annoys me.
“Girardiie, lol…………I like Girardio”
Joey Girardiie will makes the right calls.
LOL Yay CC!
Some jerk asked CC about the uncertainty after him in the rotation and CC is like “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Andy is the best 2nd starter in baseball” (or something like that)
Only the Yanks have ? in their rotation; no one else does, lol
AJ is going to have his contract sold so he can pitch in Japan. He will be in the spotlight there, in addition to having those fans try to read his many tattoos.
All those “I’s” are swimming in front of my eyes, lol
John Henry is making a bid for Liverpool AC.
Weren’t the Steins interested in an EPL team not too long ago?
Here are the current top headlines on nytimes.com/baseball:
Power Still Off at Twins’ New Home
Rays Run and Walk but Don’t Always Hit
Twins Have a New Field and Better Bullpen Choices
Giants-Braves Series to Show Off Pitching Staffs
Despite Playoff Drought, Reds Have World Series Experience
Mets Make Dismissals Official
————
Base on these, you wouldn’t even know the Yankees are in the playoffs .
Does the NY Times even cover the Yankees anymore ?
# Betsy October 5th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
LOL Yay CC!
Some jerk asked CC about the uncertainty after him in the rotation and CC is like “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Andy is the best 2nd starter in baseball” (or something like that)
Only the Yanks have ? in their rotation; no one else does, lol
Said he was the best pitcher in postseason history.
CC is the man for saying that about Andy. ( i mean he was great before he said that, but really that was awesome)
Jeers –
Yes. Yankees were (still are??) interested in Tottenham.
That would – I think be excellent – if Henry owned Liverpool as well. Perfect, there could be even less $$$$ for the Red Sox, because it’s not easy to turn a profit and win in the EPL and the UEFA CL. He may become more stingy than the little $170 million he spends on the Sox now.
Hank is interested in a specific split team.
Apparently you can lose alot of money though, so idk if that went through.
I’ve said this before Ruby but you’re really much more effective when you keep the comments short and light.
Carl, thanks – my father was making lots of noise and I couldn’t really hear the end of his comment
EPL not split. Damn android phone lol.
Alex sounds so completely at ease……
Yeah I’m sure Sox fans would love to see Henry dump near a half billion into a soccer team.
So, my husband’s in Chicago and called and then my mom called,and I missed the press conference. It was on and I could see it, but heard nothing.
All I can say is – ARod looks great! Relaxed, for sure.
Anything interesting said?
SamBorden Interesting: Now A-Rod is rolling balls on dirt of the 3b line; trying to see how balls curve (whether they stay fair or go foul) #Yankees
Do little things right and big things happen.
If Burnett wants to help himself, he can spend some time with Dave Eiland working on a changeup to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball and sometime erratic curveball in the dirt.
Jeers – I meant good for us. Reading some of the comments on Extra Bases blog, the
peopleidiots seem to be Liverpool fans as well and want Henry to take them over and bring them out of their current phase of gloom.Be careful what you wish for, sox fans.
And they have the audacity to call Man United and the Yankees “the evil empires.”
SamBorden Also taking extra work: Robinson Cano, who is doing a hitting drill with Kevin Long (and raking balls over the RF fence) #Yankees
Andrew Marchand
A-Rod just said the Yankees are David in this matchup. Ha Ha Ha. #Yankees
Andrew Marchand is gonna lie and act like A-Rod said that?
Damn im missing whole YES conference.
Trip to new Jersey with no YES feed on this lame cable provider.
If anyone can summarize, I’d be appreciative of that.
Just had a Carl’s cheesesteak and fries.
Getting myself in game shape for the postseason.
Obviously, I missed CC’s comment.
I love this team.
Carl
Selective quoting.
Alex did say that but the question asked of him was about being the underdog this year so David is a fair reference.
Carl, he did say that
“I love this team.”
As you should
Doreen, CC ripped into a jerk reporter who asked him about the uncertain rotaion behind him……
Will they relay this presser later?
Just so you guys know….My lucky green sweatpants that remain unworn and unwashed since the 2009 WS are ready to go for tomorrow night. Fear not
Leave it to Andrew Marchand to act with a lack of professionalism. Trying to create bulletin board material – if such a thing exists – for the Twins.
pat is right
Alex is so smart……………..
# pat October 5th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Carl
Selective quoting.
Alex did say that but the question asked of him was about being the underdog this year so David is a fair reference.
Alex said if people want to call us the underdog to win the world series, we don’t mind playing the roll as David.
He didn’t say the Yankees are the underdog against the Twins.
Blake, we can’t lose now, lol
lol blake! Ive got my unwashed and untouched “Hot Stuff” T-Shirt ready to go!
Alex is so smart……………..
———————-
His IQ is 220 !
Betsy -
Good for CC.
we don’t mind playing the roll as David.
———————-
except this David is equipped intercontinental Missile instead of a sling … Where is the Goliath at?
Doreen, but he only mentioned Andy, not Phil……….down with CC
LOL j/k
Cash, you’re kidding?
Yes Betsy, I got too excited while counting a lineup of Gardy, timmy, Hughesy , Roddy, Texy , Jetees and sadies , I mis-read Alex’s IQ.
Kruk, Valentine, and Nomar were asked which of the postseason pitchers they would take in a must win game 7. Two of the three took Sabathia (Kruk and Nomar)…Valentine took Halladay.
Wow -
I missed a lot.
You guys are crazy sweatpants and t-shirts, like that will really work. Sheesh
Of course as long as I am in my lucky chair sitting just right, we have nothing to worry about.
Tar,
How can we expect the Yankees to step it up a notch if we don’t
I have my lucky koala bear, lol. My uncle gave him to me when I was a year old and believe me …………that was a long time ago. I figure that since I’ve made it this far, he must be good luck.
I can see the OCD really kicks in around the playoffs. Fear not, I’ll do everything in two’s during the games to ensure victory!
Sounds like the guys are very protective of each other — like that a lot.
take note
Gotta say: AJ’s being really stand-up about not pitching. He could have been a jerk and caused some tension. I like this group a lot. Now, if they can just hit with RISP and stop the other team from scoring.
I’m guessing Joe has probably been somewhat of a therapist for AJ this season with all this issues on and of the field. Nice for AJ to acknowledge that. Both of them are softies, really.
I am really rooting for an upset by the Reds starting tomorrow, I think it’s imminently doable.
Volquez has better pure stuff than Halladay when he is right.
‘Wang’, I have to agree. The missing piece the last few weeks has been the inability to get the big hit.
I’m HAPPY Vazquez and Gaudin didn’t make it.
I did want to see Nova and Nunez but I understand Moseley and Pena over those 2.
Moseley throws strikes. He’ll mop up and get outs. Even though he’ll give up runs he doesn’t impode.
Pena is a plus defender anywhere you put him.
I think this is going to be a very close series. I do believe that playing the Twins represents the Yankees best chance of advancing to the ALCS.
0 Days, 23 Hours, and 50 Minutes until Game 1 of the ALDS
EST? Erica
Thanks Erica…now I can be nervous!
Cashmoney October 5th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
EST? Erica
**************
Yes-
Well, the game starts at 8:30 EST. I am in EST- but even if I were in CMT, the time between that point and now would still be 23 hours and 50 Minutes
Noreaster October 5th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Thanks Erica…now I can be nervous!
***********
I am SO excited
Although, this is causing havoc on my Tv viewing schedule
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play......d=12745889
if anyone wants to see the fistpump at home plate/gum chewing jeter moment i was talking about this morning, its on this video ( Yanks/Twins ALDS highlights…pretty cool)
I like that Javy is with the team and that the Yankees are letting him.
lol Tar! You sit in that chair, baby!
We need some newsy!
Seems pretty clear to me that Burnett has had some fairly major off field issue(s) — remember the black eye? — Girardi knows all about it and has “taken care” of him on the professional side. That’s a great thing and it could pay dividends next year (assuming it clears up for Burnett).
Barry Zito for AJ Burnett
Yay or Nay?
IMO, our biggest failing as a team at the plate is the inability to “keep the line moving”. We depend too much on the home run and getting the “big hit” with RISP. More singles, doubles, patience at the plate and walks leading to three and four run innings – without depending on one player to beat the odds with two men out.
“Those three have been our horses all year,” Burnett said. “It would be silly for Hughesy not to start.”
translation: i sucked so much this year that cashman would have had girardi committed to an insane asylum if i’m allowed to even come close to touching the baseball – let alone start a game in the playoffs
================================================================
“Joe’s the best manager I ever played for,” Burnett said. “He’s done more for me this year probably than any manager has ever done…
translation: what else was girardi going to do? give me the ollie perez treatment. i got another 3 yrs left on my contract and joe better be kissing my ass come next couple of yrs too. and to all the yankees fans who booed me this yr i have this message for you – suck it!
pat -
I agree.
Javy worked hard, even if the results weren’t there.
Cashmoney
October 5th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Barry Zito for AJ Burnett. Yay or Nay?
*********
You think Javy Vazquez was a mistake? Try Zito and his 85 MPH fastball in the AL East.
Some of the people who post here are real tools.
So what if Javy worked hard, of course he worked hard, he was paid $11 million a year to work hard. Everyone works hard. That’s what it’s come to? Applauding athletes that makes tens of millions of dollars for working hard?
Burnettsey finally said something I agree with.
WCYF =
I don’t think that was true for the entire season.
Try Zito and his 85 MPH fastball in the AL East.
—————
I got nothing on that . I was looking at similar magnitude of failures.
“IMO, our biggest failing as a team at the plate is the inability to “keep the line moving””
Yet they lead MLB in OBP.
I have no doubt Javy will have a bounceback season next year. In the NL.
But I want to know how he fell off the table like he did? Did all those years and innings catch up with him?
I’d like to see improvement in one particular area: bases loaded, less than two outs.
Rich in NJ
October 5th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
“IMO, our biggest failing as a team at the plate is the inability to “keep the line moving””. Yet they lead MLB in OBP.
*****************
Statistics are very misleading. OBP% doesn’t communicate how many of those guys getting on base are doing so in a row.
WCYF -
STFU.
I’d like to see improvement in one particular area: bases loaded, less than two outs
—————–
NY 48 percent of runner scored when calc with total PA. the league average 50 percent, so Yes.
The Yanks are at the bottom of that.
“Statistics are very misleading. OBP% doesn’t communicate how many of those guys getting on base are doing so in a row.”
The Yankees also lead MLB in runs scored, so one way or another, this is a very potent offense that gets a lot of runners on base and scores a lot of runs.
Doreen
October 5th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
WCYF – STFU.
***********
Nice. What a poor excuse for a lady.
How typical of some “internet fans”. They have never played the game and think stats mean more than they do. Makes you wonder why pro teams have so many scouts, you would think they would just gather the stats and make decisions that way.
Going back to the original post and the comments from our non-starting starters, we have a classy team, and that means a lot!
Makes you wonder why pro teams have so many scouts
–
Most scouts are just people that watch baseball, only some of them are ex-major leaguers.
test ♥
• Mickey Mantle
• Yogi Berra