YankeesRedSox.com: Clueless

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As we all expected, AJ Burnett blew up on the mound yesterday. Staked to a 5-0 lead, he gave up a run in the 4th and then escaped a bases loaded jam. In the 5th he gave up a single, home run and a double before being lifted from the game. He pitched four-plus innings allowing nine hits, 1 walk and striking out 8. You can't fault Girardi for lifting him, but here are two AJ quotes from after the game.

“Joe does what he can to get this team a win, and we won. Heaven forbid I give up a couple hits. But you do whatever you can to get your team a ‘W,’ I guess.”

"I didn’t get through the fifth because I wasn’t allowed to get through the fifth. So it wasn’t that I couldn’t get through the fifth.”

If CC Sabathia made these quotes, it would be a minor problem (and completely out of character I should add) the fact that a pitcher with a 5.28 ERA made them should show the Yankees everything they need to know about AJ. Jon Heyman tweeted yesterday "If the yankees don't know by now that burnett should NOT get a postseason start, I can't help them" and he is absolutely right. This guy can't be trusted with the ball in a big spot. His quotes show that he is beyond salvation. Assuming the Yankees have clinched a playoff spot by this weekend, give him the ball against the Red Sox and make that his final Yankee start. If not, give the ball to Betances or someone else. This offseason, send AJ away to the NL by paying most of his contract. As AJ said, "you do whatever you can to get your team a 'W'" and that means getting rid of AJ.

Comments

in the NL (and out of NY) he would contend for cy young

Posted by: blmeanie | September 20, 2011 12:04 PM |

Agreed, after those words, he's probably done, at least I hope he is.

Yep - he'd be a rock star on the Pirates. Let's make that phone call ASAP.

Posted by: Mitchell | September 20, 2011 10:33 PM |

I am shocked -- shocked! -- at this turn of events! Totally unexpected!

Posted by: Greg | September 20, 2011 11:50 PM |

BL/Mitchell

I hope most NL GM's agree with you, but do you really believe that? I know he would be better from changing leagues, but I would be shocked to see him become anything more than NL average.

Posted by: Peter | September 21, 2011 12:08 AM |

Greg

Touche!

I guess the only question now is how does it end with AJ?

Posted by: Peter | September 21, 2011 12:09 AM |

If the Yankees were to eat the money or most of the remaining money a lot of teams would gamble on him.

His era would improve 1.50 or more in the NL and out of a major city would boost it even more.

How about him in San Fran as a number 5 pitcher for free?

Posted by: blmeanie | September 21, 2011 07:32 AM |

Peter,

The solution is obvious. We send AJ Burnett to the Hanshin Tigers in return for having taken Kei Igawa off their hands.

Posted by: Greg | September 21, 2011 10:43 AM |

I imagine the Yankees will probably pay $20 million or so to make AJ go away. That would leave the team that acquires him on the hook for around $6 million for each of the next two seasons.

But I just don't see how he is going to improve that much in the ERA department. He's going to be 35 and not the best at making adjustments. His fastball has slowed and yet he still tries to be a two pitch pitcher.

Posted by: Peter | September 21, 2011 11:25 AM |

I love it!

Posted by: Peter | September 21, 2011 11:26 AM |

Have you seen the average #8 and #9 hitters in the NL vs the AL?

There are two innings a start (assuming he goes 5+ innings) that he will get assistance in getting through the inning with weak #8/9 hitters.

Perhaps the Yankees/Sox could have a package deal for some NL team, Burnett and Lackey for a bag of balls (each)...

Posted by: blmeanie | September 21, 2011 12:02 PM |

I've been amazed at Lackey's implosion. I thought that was a great signing at the time. Can't figure out what happened to that guy.

Posted by: Peter | September 21, 2011 04:31 PM |