Yankees Daily

When the Yankees went out to get A.J. Burnett a couple of years ago, I thought he would be great perhaps even dominant. The Yankees didn’t go out to the market to get a dominant pitcher, they just went out and got the best one. It didn’t mean that Burnett was supposed to come to the Yankees and dominate and win a lot. It’s what I thought however.

I was watching A.J. Burnett get rocked the other night and getting annoyed. After two days I thought, why get annoyed at the way he pitched? That’s what he is… inconsistent. When the Yankees signed him, I overlooked his 4.07 ERA when pitching with Toronto. I saw 231 strike outs.

Now we’re hearing things about him missing his pitching coach Dave Eiland because he knows Burnett’s mechanics, delivery and mental game better than any one. Like Joe Girardi said, AJ has been pitching in the league for 12 years, he should know how to pitch by now. I agree, if you’re lucky to pitch in the Major Leagues and face the best batters in the world, you should know what you are doing by now.

Here’s an idea that I’ll throw out. Maybe he’s not taking steroids like a lot of players in the league are and he can’t compete. Maybe a lot of major league players have masked the decline in age of a player by taking steroids. Maybe you start declining faster at the age of 33. Maybe the whole league masked the declining age of a player because every one was taking steroids and we now expect players to play longer and better?

Here’s something I read today that I didn’t like. It was from here by Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. “I don’t feel like myself,” Burnett said. “I’m not having fun right now. I mean, who would in a stretch like this? The game’s supposed to be fun. When you come out and take the air out of your team right away for a handful of starts, it gets quite frustrating.”

Attitude a long with natural talent is important in baseball. Attitude is not only important in baseball but in every day life. He can’t go around “moping.” He can’t feel sorry for himself. He has to get to the mound and psyche himself up. He’ll continue to fail if he doesn’t believe in himself. It’s all about believing in yourself. If he doesn’t believe then he won’t succeed.

What are the chances of the New York Yankees beating the Minnesota Twins with Jose Molina catching A.J. Burnett tomorrow night? I say good.

In A.J. Burnett’s last four games of the regular season, he pitched very well. In fact, I would go as far as to say that he dominated. If you go back to September 1st, he’s been inconsistent but that’s because he’s had two different catchers.

From September 1st to October 4rth, the most earned runs he gave up were two when he had Jose Molina catching. He pitched great against the Rays, Mariners, the Angels, the Royals and the Rays again.

When he had Jorge catching him, he gave up six earned runs twice, to the Baltimore Orioles. Maybe he doesn’t like pitching against the Orioles? I’m not sure but he did pitch well against the Orioles with Jorge catching him back on July 22 when he gave up only two earned runs.

Still, it’s what have you done for me lately and lately, Jorge hasn’t been catching Burnett very well. If you go back to August 22nd when the Yankees faced the Red Sox and Jorge caught Burnett, they got destroyed by the score of 14-1 and Burnett gave up nine earned runs.

I’ve heard the argument, “What about losing Jorge’s bat in the lineup for the playoffs?”

Well would you rather play a game where your back up catcher gives you nothing but your pitching excels or would you rather have a catcher that “might” give you a home run but have your starting pitching get rocked? I think the answer is pretty obvious. What you give up with Molina’s bat gives you a better chance at a great pitching performance than having to play catch up all game with your bats.

A.J. Burnett faced the Minnesota Twins once this year and that was on May 17, a long time ago. He only gave up two earned runs but got a no decision. Kevin Cash and Francisco Cervelli caught Burnett that day. I don’t think Joe is using that game as a reason “not” to use Posada, I think he’s using recent success by Burnett with Molina.

I think you can say that Joe Girardi is using common sense to use Jose Molina when Burnett pitches in the playoffs. The numbers don’t lie and if we used Jorge tomorrow night to satisfy his ego, the Yankees could lose the series. Joe is doing the right thing.

I really hope Joe Girardi uses his brain in the playoffs and realizes that Posada and A.J. Burnett just don’t click. It would be a wasted game if Jorge Posada catches Burnett. I’m wondering how much lower Burnett’s ERA would be if Molina or Cervelli caught him all year. The New York Yankees would be better off.

I personally feel that the Yankees are at a disadvantage with Posada on this team. We don’t need him. We have enough hitters and Posada is a terrible game caller. It seems to me that not a lot of pitchers like working with him. I’m even starting to think that the Yankees might of won more world series in the 2000′s if it wasn’t for Posada.

I can’t stand A.J. Burnett. He’s such a bitch. I’m not talking A.J. Burnett the person, but A.J. the player. You know what, maybe I am talking about the person. This guy just sucks. Why can’t this asshole pitch a decent game? He’s the most inconsistent pitcher on the Yankees and he’s pissing me off.

He doesn’t deserve to throw pies in people’s faces. What he is, is a fucking douche bag. He needs to get his ass in gear because I can’t take it anymore.

When A.J. Burnett signed with the Yankees, he was supposed to be the number two starter behind C.C. Sabathia. Starting from August 1st, he has allowed 31 earned runs in 43 innings. That’s a 6.48 ERA. The Yankees can’t afford to have him be the number two starter in the playoffs the way he is pitching especially in a short, best three out of five series.

A.J. Burnett looks run down and tired and he is having trouble with his command on his fastball and slider. His arm angles have changed and he is forcing the ball into the glove which is a sign of a tired pitcher. Maybe Joe Girardi should have Burnett skip a start or two in the upcoming weeks because A.J. looks like a number five starter more than a number two starter.

We all know that great pitching beats great hitting in the playoffs and we need A.J. to right the ship and soon. The Yankees can’t have his inconsistencies in the playoffs.

Then you have the problem of Jorge Posada catching him. It’s obvious that Burnett doesn’t like Posada catching him. If Joe Girardi had some common sense, he would have Molina or Cervelli catch Burnett in the playoffs. You have to do what’s best for the team and not worry about Jorge’s ego.

A.J.’s whole career has been inconsistent but he’s known to dominate at periods of time so let’s hope he gets hot just before the playoffs.

Today I went and ate at Wendy’s around 6:30 PM and I felt bad afterwards because I didn’t get what I really wanted to eat. I wanted to eat a chicken salad but instead I ate a bacon cheeseburger and it wasn’t that good. The fries were good though. I then came home and relaxed in the sun that was still out.

I was surprised A-Rod came through with the winning hit. It was a bomb. I’m used to him not coming through. It was a well pitched game too. I was wrong about Burnett. He pitched well.

I’m tired now.

I have a porch in the front of my apartment and I’m going to sit on it. Then maybe come in and eat something after about 15 minutes. It’s nice and sunny out. I need sun because it makes me feel good. I’ll let it hit my legs a little and then bend forward on my chair and feel it on my head. Good times.

About the Yankee-Red Sox game tonight. I have a bad feeling about it and I don’t have a good feeling with Burnett. He’s basically a fastball pitcher and the Red Sox are a great fastball hitting team. Mostly all mlb teams are but especially Boston. Then you have Beckett. I don’t like the Yankee chances tonight. I believe the Yankees are going to lose.

and I’m going out to eat with my family because it’s my birthday. Here’s what I observed so far…

I didn’t realize that Cano’s best month of his career was this past July.

This Danks guy had a good change up.

The ball that Burnett threw that walked in a run looked like a strike.

The second inning really stunk. Burnett stunk. 5-0. I’m never going to win my fantasy league with Burnett as one of my starters. He’s too inconsistent this year.

I’ll be back later to do my best with a wrap up.
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The Yankees stunk this one to high heaven. Whoa.

The New York Yankees beat the Tampa Rays by a score of 11-4. A.J. Burnett started and got the win.

At the start of the game, I realized how much Carl Crawford really does make things happen on the base paths. He went from first to third base on a bad throw by Burnett in the first inning. I was impressed by his speed.

I was surprised Jamie Shields gave up three early runs in the second inning.

A.J. Burnett’s breaking ball was awesome. How about his nice play on Tampa’s catcher in the bottom of the second? I was hoping he didn’t hurt himself.

Robinson Cano was out by a mile trying to steal second base in the top of the fourth inning. He stopped like he didn’t know what was going on. Cano sure made up for it with his offense.

There was no way Alex Rodriguez should of struck out looking in the top of the fifth with two men on base with one out. The ball wasn’t even close to a strike. It was below the knees. He had a right to beef about it.

In the top of the sixth,  Cano and Swisher both hit bombs. They were amazing shots. It was also amazing to see so many Yankee fans celebrating in the stands.

A-Rod made a nice stop at third base and threw the ball off line to Tex but Tex made an awesome play on the ball. It was a nice stretch.

It was just Jeter’s night. He had three hits and scored twice.

When A-Rod doubled in the top of the eighth, I thought it was a home run but it was a double. It looked like a home run.

I didn’t like the fact that Albaladejo came in the game and made a mess of the situation.

In the eighth and ninth inning, the Yankees just poured it on. They were too much for the Rays. It wasn’t even a game anymore. It was destruction at it’s finest. I saw a cute girl in the stands too.

Player of the Game: Nick Swisher. Even though I don’t like Swisher and I would like him off the team, he made the biggest impact in my view.

The New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 6-4. A.J. Burnett started and got the win. Mariano Rivera got the save.

This game was interesting. The score really wasn’t as close as the box score indicated. The Yankees seemed to beat the Orioles pretty easily.

Even though the Yankees didn’t score in the seventh inning, Gardner showed why he is a terror on the base paths. You hit him and you’re going to pay. He should of scored on Damon’s single but the third base coach held him up.

I thought the eighth inning was going to be easy for Brian Bruney just because of the momentum the whole bull pen was carrying but it wasn’t too be. He didn’t feed off the rest of the pen and stunk up the joint. This guy could be a big problem when or if the Yankees make the playoffs.

A-Rod continues to hit well.

I’ve been on Jorge Posada’s case for a long time saying how he’s not a good defensive catcher. Well I have to give him credit for today. He called a great game at the wind tunnel stadium and he caught a game almost as good as Cervelli could of caught.

Posada had a great game at the plate too.

A.J. Burnett is wowing me. When he goes out there “now” I expect a great performance whereas not too long ago I expected not so good things.

The “formula” of Hughes to Rivera is automatic. I expect them to dominate as well. I’ve never felt that way with Hughes before. As soon as he comes in, I expect domination and I usually get it.

Player of the Game: Jorge Posada. I know Burnett pitched a solid game but Jorge caught him and was a big part of the offense.