A.J. Burnett Out Of Yankees Rotation For Playoffs

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi will announce his American League Division Series rotation on Tuesday and $82 million man A.J. Burnett is out. If you have been following the Yankees at all this season it isn't all that surprising. Burnett is 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA, and has overall be terrible for most of the season.

You have to wonder if this has to do with Posada catching him. They have had problems in the past, and Molina eventually had to step and catch for him. Burnett is a tough guy to figure out. At times he looks like a Cy Young candidate, and at others he looks like someone who is just waiting for implode.

He kind of reminds me of another former Marlin...Josh Beckett (and Brad Penny for that matter).

Here is how the pitching matchups will look for this series:

Game 1: CC Sabathia vs. Francisco Liriano
Game 2: Andy Pettitte vs. Carl Pavano
Game 3: Phil Hughes vs. Brian Duensing
Game 4: CC Sabathia (short rest) vs. Nick Blackburn

Yankees 0 Red Sox 7

The Sox have now beaten the Yankees 6 times in a row. You have to love with all there high paid players that they brought in they still can't figure the Red Sox out. A.J. Burnett was on the mound for the Yankees. Up until this game he had never lost to the Red Sox, but that changed quickly as he was chased out of the game after only 2 2/3 innings.

Boston had everything clicking yesterday, as Ortiz hit a 2 run HR in the 2nd inning. That HR marked the second homer in three games for the struggling slugger, who looks to be turning things around a bit as he now is riding a 7 game hitting streak. Drew kept the runs coming as he added another 2 runs with a double that scored Green and Kotsay.

That is really all the Sox would need, as Beckett continued to be unhittable. He only went 6 innings, but he could have gone longer if needed. He finished with 6 innings letting up 0 runs on 1 hit with 8 Ks. After the Sox scored runs in the 3rd, 4th, and 7th inning the bullpen took care of the rest pitching 3 scoreless innings.

Boston looked great last night, and now are tied for 1st place in the AL East.

A.J. Burnett Suspended

"The New York Journal News reports that A.J. Burnett has been suspended for six games by Major League Baseball for throwing at Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz Tuesday night (Sportsline)."

He deserved it. He definitely threw at him, but he will appeal this decision, and the Yankees will fit this suspension into a weaker part of the schedule. Anyways, Burnett had been a big disappointment up until the last 2 games where he has let up only 3 runs over 13 innings. Still, I am waiting for Burnett's token ride to the DL...

Rumors

Interesting news, a possible trade between the D-bags, i mean D-backs, and the Sox. Reported Byrnes for Lugo. This would provide needs for both teams being a second base option for the D-bags and a fourth out fielder for the Sox.

Also, the Nationals offered a 160 million offer over 8 years to Tex while the O's have offered a 6 year deal. While the majority of baseball followers see the Sox doing everything possible to obtain Tex, there is the possibility that he does go back home to help turn either franchise around, i dont know if I buy it thought. It is also reported that the Angels have made an offer in the ball park of the Nat's. As a Sox fan I am not optimistic of the signing of the first baseman, even though it would be awesome. However, Ken Rosenthal has reported on Foxsportsnet.com that the Sox are getting close to acquiring him. Saying that "Headway was being made earlier today, A rival general manager whose plans could be affected by the Red Sox's addition of Teixeira also indicated that a deal was getting closer. Teixeira is seeking a 10-year contract for at least $20 million per season. The Red Sox preference would be to sign him to a deal between six and eight years."

Burnett apparently got offered a 5th year from the Yanks who are doing anything and everything buying a new rotation cause they realize that their prospect pitchers are a couple of punk bitches. Damn i bet they are kicking themselves for not trading for Santana.

Lowe and Sheets has been circled around the Yanks too, but if the Yanks get Burnett I see only one of the two being signed. Lowe has been cited as saying that Boston is his primary choice, but is looking for a 3 year deal. Sheets is interesting because of his injury history. The way I see it, which ever signs first with the Yanks the other will be in a Sox uniform to counter their purchasing of a starting rotation.

As we know the Yanks are getting CC. But guess what I think this is a dumb sign for the money considering he has NEVER won 20 games in a season, while they lost Mussina who won 20 last year. Even with this signing, and the possible signing of Burnett, Lowe, and/or Sheets the Yanks still arent that great. They have gotten better, but their offense just isnt that great. A-Rod will have another A-Rod type season, Jeter has been on a decline, but is still consistant in output and leadership, and the only other name that really stands out is Swisher. Swisher might be the steal of the offseason in my opinion. He didnt have a good year last year but the guy flat out has raked previous to being dealt to the White Sox. What Im saying is that he is the typical type player that will be a Frank Catalano type, a Sox killer. But thats just a prediction.

Big trade went down with the Mets, Mariners, and Cleveland. Mets get JJ Putz, Jeremy Reed, and Sean Green. Mariners get Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, Jason Vargas and 3 minor leaguers from the Mets along with Franklin Guetirez. The Indians got Joe Smith from the Mets and Luis Valbuena from the Mariners. Pretty good trade all around I guess, only question is how many trades are the Indians going to make for a second baseman?

Free Agent Pitcher Updates

Here is the latest from what I have read.

Derek Lowe- D-Lowe has received offers from at least two teams. Only one of them is known, and that his the Phillies. Lowe is rumored to be looking for a 4 year deal worth about 60 million overall. Seems a little steep to me.

A.J. Burnett- Burnett is the big news of the day, it looks like he is close to signing with the Braves for 5 years for about 80 million. I really can't believe anyone would give this guy anymore then a 3 year deal. He is so injury prone, and seems to only play well during contract years. Then again, maybe a travel to the NL will make him the pitcher we thought he was going to be a few years back.

CC Sabathia - The Yankees are still waiting to hear if CC will take their 6 year $140 million offer. I don't think he will get anymore then that, and what really has to be scaring the Yanks is that he hasn't taken it yet. I mean it is a record deal, and CC doesn't seem giddy over it. Maybe he really doesn't want to play in the Bronx...

-BMack

Yankees Make Sabathia Record Offer

Not shocking, but the Yankees are going to make CC a contract offer, that will make him the highest paid pitcher of all-time, according to Hank Steinbrenner. I will admit I think this is a good move by the Yankees. Well, actually I think it is something they HAVE to do. The Yankees need a guy to anchor that rotation, and CC has shown he can do that. On top of that they have that huge new stadium opening this year, and what would make fan more excited then signing the best pitcher in free agency.

Anyways, the rumors are the contract will be bigger (possibly longer) then Johan Santana's $137.5 million, 6 year contract with the New York Mets. I think CC is going to have a terrible injury within the next year or two. The guy has just been over pitched, but once again, I think this is a deal that Yankees need and have to get done. They have the money to spend, so why not?

In other news the Yankees are apparently going to make offers to Lowe, and Burnett also. There is no word on what those contracts would look like, but I expect the Yankees to get Burnett (even if they get CC). He just seems like that typical Yankees free agent pickup. Meaning he'll probably play about 20 games over a 4 year contract. I think all this is great, because I haven;t heard the Yankees name once when it comes to Mark Teixeira, who I am still convinced is coming to the Sox.

-BMack

A.J. Burnett To Opt Out

Agent Darek Braunecker said he's filed the necessary paperwork with the players' association and that Burnett will be opting out of the final two years of his five-year, $55 million contract. Burnett had two years and $24 million left on the deal.

I don't know what it is but this guy just doesn't rub me the right way. He just screams out to me that he's a guy who will get a huge contract and then under perform. This year he was 18- 10 with 231 Ks and a 4.07 era which is good, but that era worries me. Burnett will probably get a huge contract worth about 80 million, but I have a feeling injuries and just being bad are going to haunt the team that picks him up. He was a former Marlin so I respect him, but I don't want him on the Sox.

Sox Beat Jays 4-3

Boston got the win tonight with timely hitting, and solid pitching. The Sox were down 2-0 going in to the top of the 5th, when they were able to score 3 runs, one came off a Youk RBI single to score Varitek, and then Sean Casey hit a deep double off the right field wall to add two more runs. Toronto didn't waste much time coming back as they tied it up in the bottom of the 5th, but the Red Sox were able to put the game away on a fielder's choice, hit by Jason Varitek.

The real story in this game was the pitching for both teams. A.J. Burnett has been one of the most underrated pitchers in the MLB this year, and is finally looking like the pitcher he was supposed to be when he got that big contract (a lot of that has to do with him staying healthy). Tonight, Burnett went 7 innings allowing 3 runs with 6 Ks. Byrd had a very solid outing for the Sox, as he went 6 innings allowing 3 runs (only walking 1). This is why I like Byrd, you know exactly what you are going to get from him.

The Sox bullpen was outstanding in this game, as Lopez, Delcarmen, Okajima, and Papelbon combined to go 3 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit. That is exactly what the Sox are going to need while guys like J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell are out. The Sox now have 90 wins, which 6 is 6th time in 7 years that the Red Sox have had at least 90 wins.

The loss ended Toronto's chances of winning the AL East. Another loss, or a Boston win and the Blue Jays would be eliminated from playoff contention.

-BMack

Sox Lose To Jays In First Game Of Double Header 8-1

Paul Byrd looked terrible, and this game got out of hand fast, as the Sox dropped their first game of a double header with the Jays 8-1. Travis Snider was the key to Toronto's success as he drove in 5 runs. Snider was just called up by the Jays, and he made an immediate impact going 2-4 with a HR and 5 RBIs. That would be all they would need as A.J. Burnett was dominant once again 6 innings letting up only 1 run (which was unearned) while striking out 6. Burnett has gone under the radar, but he has had a fantastic season, and now sits with a record of 18-10. The Red Sox offense looked horrible, collecting only 5 hits. To make matters worse Aardsma looked terrible in his first appearance since coming off the DL (3 ER in 1 inning). With the Rays beating the Yankees today the Sox are now 3 games back in the AL East. Sox will try to right the ship tonight, in the 2nd game of the double header vs. the Jays. First pitch is at 7:05.

-BMack