Sweeny Says: AJ Burns Yanks...Again

By Sweeny Murti
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Last year A.J. Burnett was the Yanks number two starter in the postseason. The pecking order was not challenged, Burnett pitching well enough to get the ball and be part of the three-man rotation the Yanks rode all the way through the Canyon of Heroes last fall.

But it's a different kind of canyon that Burnett is starting to lead them into now. It's more like an abyss. As much as he tries he just can't seem to get back any of the dominance that he displayed in 2008, at times in 2009, and even at the beginning of 2010. Burnett's ERA over his first 11 starts was 3.28. Over his last 21 starts, it's 6.67.

Here's the key stat: the Yankees have won only 5 of Burnett's last 21 starts. Now it's not a matter of whether Burnett is the number two option. The question is, is he an option at all?

If Andy Pettitte struggled through a year like the one Burnett is having, his postseason history would probably allow you to forget the struggles and believe that a great postseason start is possible. Does it feel like that with Burnett? He doesn't have the same level of trust built up over a decade's worth of postseason experience. Burnett has one great game—Game 2 of last year's World Series—that will be a game he can remember as one of his best forever. But is that enough to trust him again after the team has lost 16 of his last 21 starts?

The Yankees thought they were plenty deep enough for a four-man playoff rotation when this season started, but the Yanks have lost faith in Javier Vazquez and they can't be too thrilled with Burnett right now either. They may not have a choice but to use a fourth man, because this season isn't like last year when they coasted through September and backed off their starting pitchers. It's true that CC Sabathia, Pettitte, and Burnett all threw fewer innings than normal this last turn through the rotation, but that's because of how badly they pitched and has nothing to do with lining them up.

Looking at it realistically leaving Burnett out altogether probably isn't going to happen. The Yanks aren't paying him $16 million to shag flies during batting practice. But remember, the Yankees won World Series titles with Kenny Rogers and Denny Neagle as 4th starters. To me, that's what Burnett has become this year.

The Yankees best option right now is a 3-man rotation of Sabathia, Pettitte, and Hughes. Should circumstances dictate the need for a 4th starter in the ALCS or World Series, I think Burnett's your guy there, otherwise he is a long reliever, which in a postseason game could also be a very important role. If he does start, there is a chance it could be no more than two starts, rather than the five he made last year.

The Yankees have to be very careful not to look like they're giving up on Burnett. He's signed for 3 more years with $49.5 million guaranteed. They've done everything they can this year to try to get him straightened out, but every five days you realize that whatever they're doing just isn't working right now. While it might be possible to try and move him down the road when the money becomes less of an issue, you can pretty much assume the Yankees will not be able to move him for at least another year.

But that's for another time. For now, the Yankees must think about the postseason. Joe Torre used to say that you couldn't worry about hurting one player's feelings in the postseason at the risk of the other 24 guys on the roster. There is a goal in mind, to win the World Series. And right now, A.J. Burnett does not look like he can help that cause.

*While the Yankees felt invigorated by Sunday night's win over the Red Sox, they were all dragging a little bit after a late arrival in Toronto, many saying they didn't get to sleep until 5AM or later Monday morning. They looked like they were still sleeping over the first few innings against Blue Jays starter Mark Rzepczynski.

The still sleepy bunch included Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada who shared their thoughts on the 4-steal inning produced by the Red Sox Sunday night. Rivera took it in stride as he does just about everything else. Sometimes I think he could get struck by lightning and react as if it's just a minor nuisance. Posada, meanwhile, chalked up the Runnin' Red Sox inning—in part—to the fluky nature of September roster flexibility and the right guys being on base. Listen to both here:

Joe Girardi, for his part, thought the stolen bases were mostly on Rivera (what did you think a former catcher would say?) indicating that the closer needed to be a little more aware of varying his rhythm to home plate so the runners wouldn't get as good a jump.

I would think, given the chance, teams will test Rivera and Posada in the postseason, but the situation needs to be right.

*The chances of the Yanks gaining home-field advantage are still quite slim, especially with Tampa Bay closing things out with 4 games against the Royals, but hey…anything is still possible, right? While Posada admitted Monday that the way you finish the season "does matter, you can't turn it on and off," the difference between playing at home and playing on the road is very little according to the great Rivera.

As for the on/off switch, Mark Teixeira isn't a big believer. He considers this September swoon just a road bump…

If there isn't an on/off switch, then perhaps there is a reset button. Five games left in the regular season. Anywhere between 3 and 19 to go in the postseason.

Sweeny Murti
Yankees@wfan.com

www.twitter.com/YankeesWFAN

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• Mariano Rivera