AJ In Game 5
Joe Girardi just announced that AJ Burnett is going in Game 5.
This is a real gamble by Girardi in some ways, but it makes a ton of sense in others. It is a gamble because Burnett may get rattled by the crowd, the surroundings, etc.. Also, it means you have two huge holes in the bottom of the lineup if he starts Molina. And finally it almost assures that Pettitte is going in Game 6 on short rest, something that he may not be up to do.
But, it makes sense because Girardi is basically telling you that he believes Burnett on short rest is better than Gaudin. I don't think you can argue that. Gaudin has been used for a total of one inning over the past month. The Yankees stated that Gaudin can probably go 75 pitches or so in a start and how far does that get you? So what Girardi is doing is giving the Yankees the best chance to win Game 5. It's hard to argue with that.
Comments
Girardi seems to like "going for it"; this is similar to bringing Mo in the top of the 9th in a tie ballgame - he assumes that we'll walk off with it in the bottom of the inning. He's not thinking of the 10th inning when he does this - and it may be the case that Girardi is not thinking about a 6th game with this decision about AJ in the 5th game.
Andy would concern me going on short rest - but we'll worry about that if there's a 6th game, I guess.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 1, 2009 07:48 PM
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