Say it ain't so, Joe! Please Do Not Start A.J. Burnett in Game 4

Fact: A.J. Burnett hasn't pitched in 17 days.

Fact: A.J. Burnett hit two of his own teammates during a recent simulated game.

Fact: A.J. Burnett's stats in August and September = 12 starts, 2-10, 6.61 ERA, 76 hits in 65.1 IP, 28 walks, 7 HBP, 53 K, opponents are hitting .300/.380/.494.

Fact: The Yankees, who must win Games 4, 5, 6 if they want any chance of avoiding Cliff Lee in Game 7 and winning this series, insist on pitching A.J. Burnett in a practically must-win Game 4.

Knowing what we know about A.J. Burnett, is anyone else reminded of this Family Guy clip?



Look, we all know what's coming.  If C.C. Sabathia and Andy Pettitte were rusty from the ALDS, Burnett is going to be two-to-three times rustier.  His confidence is shot because he hasn't pitched effectively in months.  And the Yankees, who are down 2-1 but have been outplayed badly enough (aside from two innings in game 1) that it feels like 3-0, have their backs against the wall.  So why is Burnett pitching this game?  Why does the season practically rest in Burnett's shaky hands??  Don't push the AJ button, Joe, resist the temptation!  Don't even look at the button -- there's still time to change your mind!!!

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The Yankees Will Have to Go Without Marte and Aceves in 2010

Two important members of the 2009 World Series Championship team will not be back for the 2010 team. From the New York Daily News' Peter Botte:

Hughes will have his next start skipped due to innings limits (LoHud)

Phil Hughes will be skipped one start in the Yankees rotation to limit his innings, Joe Girardi said before Wednesday's series finale against Baltimore. Dustin Moseley will start Sunday in Texas, and Hughes will return to the rotation next Wednesday in Tampa.

Also, Girardi said Alfredo Aceves (back) will not return this season, and Damaso Marte (shoulder) will "probably not" be back in 2010.

The first bit of news is not surprising. Hughes is currently on pace for about 181 regular season innings which would probably be too many for him if he was also asked to start in the playoffs. Although Hughes almost certainly slots in as a start in the playoffs, it probably wouldn't hurt to give his arm some rest. Since they first skipped a start for Hughes in late June after Hughes was 10-1, Hughes is 6-6 in 13 starts (73 innings) since with a 5.55 ERA, 15 HR allowed and an .833 OPS against. Although the track record for skipping Hughes' starts hasn't been great, the results he's put up since June haven't been consistently stellar either so this makes a ton of sense.

The Aceves and Marte news is not great for the Yankees, though they seemed to be resigned to move on without them before this news came down today. Marte has not been a great regular season pitcher for the Yankees but his pitching in the playoffs last year was a big reason they won the World Series (5.2 innings of no-hit ball in the ALCS and World Series). Amazingly, Marte pitched in 30 games for the Yankees in 2010 (the last being on July 7th) which is tied with CC Sabathia for the 4th most on the team behind Joba Chamberlain (60 games), Mariano Rivera (52), David Robertson (52), and Boone Logan (39). The last guy on that list, Logan, is the reason the Yankees can probably be OK with Marte being out. Logan has stepped up in a big way to solidify the lefty specialist role in the bullpen (lefties hitting .194 vs. Logan with one XBH in 70 PAs).

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