Friday, February 17, 2012
If This Is It (for A.J. as a Yankee)
It feels counter-intuitive, but I will have mostly fond memories of A.J. Burnett’s time as a Yankee. He was a huge part of the 2009 World Series run, with Game 2 of the World Series being the shining moment, with an honorable mention to Game 2 of the ALDS and Game 2 of the ALCS. I actually even liked the fact that he lost Game 5 in both the ALCS and World Series since it meant the Yankees went home with two shots to clinch both series. The impact to the business side of that should not be ignored. If not for the extra revenue from those Game 6s, the Yankees might not have been able to afford Pedro Feliciano or Damaso Marte or Rafael Soriano. But I digress…
His pie-throwing after all the walkoff wins was also lots of fun, and I’ll also remember his seven shutout innings against Boston in the 15 inning 2-0 victory on August 7, 2009. Really, the more I think about, the 2009 Yankees may have been the second-best Yankee team I’ve ever watched, and Burnett was front and center on it.
Even when he struggled over the past two years he had his moments. He pitched pretty well in the ALCS in 2010 but was probably left in too long which likely cost them the win. Then last year in a game I was sure would end in disaster, he pitched 5.1 solid innings against Boston in Fenway on September 1. The Yankees entered that game with a record of 81-53, trailing Boston’s 83-52 by 1.5 games. The Yankees moved into first place the next day and their 16-12 September allowed them to finish well-ahead of Boston, who went a disastrous 7-19 in September. It’s easy to forget now, but heading into September the AL East was Boston’s to lose, which they did an admirable job of doing, and Burnett was a tiny part of that.
Then, with the Yankees’ backs against the wall in an elimination game on the road in the ALDS, Burnett held Detroit to one run over 5.2 innings which helped the Yankees win Game 4 and bring the series back to New York.
Yeah, it was frustrating to watch him struggle as much as he did throughout a large part of his tenure here, but I never got the feeling Burnett was doing anything but trying his best. He was always at his locker to answer tough questions, and as far as I can tell his teammates all liked him.
It’s easy to say “he should just throw more strikes” or “he needs to add a changeup”, but there’s no evidence that Burnett wasn’t trying to do either of those things. He just couldn’t do it in games and as his stuff diminished so did his effectiveness.
Burnett’s peripherals over the last two years were a bit better than his RA/ERA would tell you and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pitch pretty well in Pittsburgh, and I really hope he does. But I think trading him now was the right thing to do.
So I’d like to thank A.J. for 2009 and those nice moments in 2010-2011 and wish him good luck in Pittsburgh, even though I’m certain he’ll never read this.
Comments
“I’m certain he’ll never read this”
Maybe Pin can Tweet it at him, or whatever one does.
Seconded, this is exactly how I feel about Burnett. He seemed like a stand-up nice guy, but his on-field performance was frustrating as hell. I wish him luck in Pittsburgh.
I wish him well as well…
I wish him well….in Pittsburgh. Prior to 2009, he seemed to pitch well against the Yankees. If he does well in Pittsburgh, I suppose he’ll be mentioned frequently in the rumor mill come July.
So are the Yankees paying $10M of his salary the next two years, regardless where he lands, or do they owe that money to the Pirates, whether they keep him or not?
[4] That would be up to Pitt to negotiate with any future trade partner.
The Yankees owe Pittsburgh.
Yeah, agreed with [0] and [2]. He may have looked like someone who shop lifts from a record store but I really respect him. He was a great teammate (the pies were just fun as hell, especially in 2009) and chose to play for the Pirates instead of the Angels for his family. He had some great moments and I wish him nothing but the best.
Does this mean that the pie in the face tradition is finished?
You guys have all been smoking too much objective pipe.
The only thing to like about AJ is the fact that he looks like a shoplifter.
Here here!
As a counterargument, I’d like to present: June, August and September, 2010.
So how do we project sans Burnett et avec Ibanez and Chavez?
AJ gone means they should project a bit better with his innings going to Fuse and The Scorpion King, no?
I really liked the guy. Going from NYY to PIT has to be pretty rough.
[8] +1
[10] What’s the value per win if we take the entire $80-whatever million and allocate it over June-August-September 2010 ?
I don’t hate him so much as really let down by him. And if he pitches well in Pittsburgh, and in particularly against us if Mo forbid we ever face him again, I’ll be really pissed.
[13] give me $30 million for moving expenses and I’m sure I’d make do.
I’ve just never bought into the fact that Burnett was a pitcher worth that kind of scratch. And maybe he was at the time they signed him. But I always felt that Burnett wasn’t going to be the pitcher he was in 2008. Cashman overpaid for a starter because he had to.
Now that chapter is over.
AJ has still done more in this game than a whole lot of people, so I don’t think he’ll hang his head in Pittsburgh. And like SG wrote, I wouldnv be surprised to see him in the running for an AS spot and the talking heads shitting on the Yankees for bailing on him.
Oakajeemer’s physical was busted due to the MRI on his shoulder, per Twitter.
For some reason my inner voice cannot process this pitcher’s name except as pronounces by Remy.
Maybe Pin can Tweet it at him, or whatever one does.
I tweeted @AJBurnett: “So long AJ. Thanks for the pie, and don’t let the doorknob hit you in the ass on your way out.”
Turns out this is “April Jai Burnett”, an 18-year old aspiring musician somewhere in Belgium. I expect the same response as from Buster. Or to be banned. Either way.
““April Jai Burnett”, an 18-year old”
I started to think about a melish joke about jail bait but 18 ruins it far as I can tell.
Dudes. AJ will also be remembered as having the worst Yankee haircut ever (c. Aug 2011). In OGR (Oscar Gamble over Replacement) it was a (n.p.i.) sterling -2.6, as opposed to, say, the ‘98 Jete Flat-top (3.2) or the 2006 Sal Fasano (facial hair bump, 1.4).
But really, as FA Yankee pitchers (starters) go, we’ve done way worse. On that topic, Moose still the best (sorry, Jim Hunter fans)? Or has CC taken the crown in his brief 3 years? Don’t talk to me about Rocket.
[19] Tommy John. The pitcher, not the surgery.
Rocket was only a FA for that second tour, the one that made waldmann nearly faint.
[19] Catfish has to be in the mix, no?
Late to the party, but I really like your write-up of AJ’s tenure as a Yankee, SG. Thanks!
Game 2 of the 2009 series didn’t pay for the whole 82.5m, but it is a very fond memory for me.
I saw him pitch at the stadium in 2010 and 2011. The mood of the crowd seemed to be that it was waiting for AJ to derail, which he did, unfortunately.
Man I have been to some of the worst games ever at the new stadium. I was at the game in the stadium’s first year where Wang and crew gave up 22 runs to the Indians in April 2009. Last year I went to the game where the TWN and Becky shut out the Yankees.
For many reasons, Mel should be banned from DNYS.
Or jailed.
Didn’t they try that?
AJ’s physical is tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.
[27] Thank Mo it’s a physical and not a mental.
You folks aint got no pity on an inmate of a correctional institution.
I’m wondering who the 25th man will be if the Yankees sign Hugo Chavez and Ibanez/Damon, a late-inning defensive replacement outfielder/pinch runner like Dickerson, who is out of options, or a 12th pitcher? Additionally, why did we sign Branyan? Was it plan B if we couldn’t free $$$ from the A.J. deal to sign one of the virtually indistinguishable other DH options on the market? How do he and Mel’s son Bill fit into the pitcher?
Maybe this is why the Yankees signed Branyan tree:
Sherman tweets, Hear current Hal Steinbrenner #Yankees budget even after AJ trade has room only for Chavez or LH DH (likely Ibanez) not both.
Can’t put it any better, SG, except to say that if the Yankees didn’t sign him for 2009, you-know-who would have and, as most Yankee fans know, he was a Yankee killer… It is not a coincidence that he is being traded to the minors…ehhh, I mean the Pirates and the National League.
So, I will miss him and agree that it was time for him to go…
[30] Otoh, the Yankees could be leaking this info to Sherman to drive down Damon’s price.
nomaas is having a look back at Burnett’s Yankee tenure, and this one is utterly hilarious:
It seems to me that it’s been a long tie since Nomaas was clever.
Yeah, the analysis is pretty lame and the jokes are getting repetitive.
[35]
RAB: prospects
Nomaas: interviews
RLYW: SG tempered by the peanut gallery.
[35] “tempered?”
Tempering, in the sense of being ruined, and at times distracted by the annoyance of.
I’ve been kicked off nomaas three or four times. Yes I am an incorrigible lout, but the guy who runs the place is a petty dictator and is responsible for its decline.
What do you get when you cross a penis and a potato? A dicktater.
NYUK NYUK NYUK!!!
The Yanks have signed lefty reliever Clay Rapada.
[40] That’s a Townie name if ever I heard one. I say put him in the chum bucket.
Edit: By “chum bucket”, I mean send him to languish in Scanton and/or Wilkes-Barre until he loses all hope and sense of humanity. I don’t mean he should be chopped up into puree and fed to sharks. Not literally, I mean.
That’s mighty broad-minded of you, Pin.
MLB reports @MLBreports
More baseball questions. More!!!!!
Pin Striper @Pin7Striper
@MLBreports Is it true that Fox interns make up goofy stuff to put on Buck’s screen to see if they can get him to say it ?
MLB reports @MLBreports
@Pin7Striper Nothing would surprise me with Fox. That’s a new one. My heart says yes but brain says no.
Validation. Finally. At Last.
Edit: Thank Mo for the Edit button !
Edit: Also, I’m drubk. Again. Or still. Either way.
I’m a jugganawt that cahn’t be stawpped ! Page 3 guarantees the AJ physical !
Pin you better lay off that narcotic cuz that shit will make you null and void.
OK, quick poll. What is the most badass thing about Uma Thurman in the Kill Bill films ?
1) The way she handles Vernita Green.
2) She carries a straight razor in her boot for chrissakes !
3) Black MF-ing Mamba.
4) Spanking the naughtly Crazy 88 kid with her blade.
5) Them jeans is TIGHT !
The only badass film worth talking about is Bad Lieutenant.
Mel, what got you kicked off nomaas? do I want to know? what is your screen name?
Nomaas started out an egalitarian place. If I recall, I was one of the founding members. Rob, who used to call himself Sensei John Kreese, unilaterally arrogated power. He booted me off for calling him on it. He’s a small-minded douche. This all happened maybe five years ago or so. My screen name probably was Mel Hall Jr., not sure if I remember exactly.
The first thing that happens after every revolution is the revolutionaries are eliminiated.
[47] It definitely wasn’t the 20-minute shot of her gnarly feet.
CC: “Then in my closet, I have a couch with a PlayStation and a big TV, and we play there all the time.”
If that’s in his closet, WTF does he have in his living room? An actual NBA stadium?
WTF does he have in his living room? An actual NBA stadium?
10 Ooompa-Looompas and a pair of hoops set at 4’ off the deck.
And strippers, of course. But they’re clean.
[52] Right. What the heck was that?
[51] That’s the problem with America—we should have strung up George W. after Yorktown. Constitution? Forsooth! The Articles were all we needed!
i got to go to the Friars Roast of tarantino last year. he was ALL UP in those feets.
drank Moet out them heels.
it was incredibly gross.
I mean send him to languish in Scanton and/or Wilkes-Barre until he loses all hope and sense of humanity
I’ve been languishing in the greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area for a decade now. Hope disappears 6 months in; humanity isn’t far behind.
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