Comments on: Why the Yankees have to go with A.J. Burnett tonight

By: Counterpoints to starting Burnett tonight | River Avenue Blues

Counterpoints to starting Burnett tonight | River Avenue Blues — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:31:36 +0000

[...] morning Craig Calcaterra laid out the argument for starting Burnett tonight. Within he makes two main points and one side point. The first is that starting Sabathia tonight [...]

By: CC vs. AJ in Game 4: a rebuttal | HardballTalk

CC vs. AJ in Game 4: a rebuttal | HardballTalk — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:10:48 +0000

[...] Pawlikowski counters my Team A.J. post over at Fangraphs. He prefers CC Sabathia for a pretty basic reason: The overall point of using [...]

By: Counterpoints to starting Burnett tonight | FanGraphs Baseball

Counterpoints to starting Burnett tonight | FanGraphs Baseball — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:01:38 +0000

[...] morning Craig Calcaterra laid out the argument for starting Burnett tonight. Within he makes two main points and one side point. The first is that starting Sabathia tonight [...]

By: ribender

ribender — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:21:18 +0000

As I stated in a thread yesterday, if you start C.C. and lose game four, you then are facing elimination with A.J. on the mound (Hughes on short rest is not an option). Actually, another option exists that no one will offer — pitch Dustin Moseley instead of A.J. Sure looked good in game two in his two innings (sample size warning!). Just because he doesn’t have the raw stuff of Burnett doesn’t mean he will be worse. I’m not condoning this option, just saying it could be an option …

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:30:50 +0000

That’s all well and good, well planned as well. But the fact is, CC on short rest is going to be picked apart by texas IMHO. And if that were to happen, it blows everything out of the water with your plan. Done. You can handle that loss with CC, Hughes, an Pettite rested and ready. I’m afraid not the other way around.

By: lukehart80

lukehart80 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:19:09 +0000

i see that i used an “i” when i intended an “a.” i guess there’s a lack of capitalization too, i probably don’t know that in formal writing one uses an upper case letter at the start of each sentence and that “i” should be “I” because it’s a proper noun.

pisano, am i one of the most ignorant idiots to ever post on this site and a total moron for those reasons, or something baseball related? can’t we keep it baseball related? if it IS baseball related, could you expand on your thoughts?

By: Rangers relying on a shaky Game 4 starter of their own in Tommy Hunter | HardballTalk

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:49:52 +0000

[...] in the various teeth-gnashing over Joe Girardi sticking with A.J. Burnett for tonight is that the Rangers are turning to a less [...]

By: chipmaker023

chipmaker023 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:34:35 +0000

Pettitte pitched well, but the Rangers wore him down, 100 pitches in six innings. That wasn’t Andy on the mound in the ninth.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:26:16 +0000

I think it is an excellent debate, but the key to me is this…what is the most important game of the series right now? Game 4? Nah. Game 5? Nah. Game 6? Yes. Why? Well, if the Yankers get a break and win with Burnett, then it is 2-2 in the series. And if they win CC’s game 5, then it is 3-2. Now you have a MUST WIN and Hughes is on the mound. You like those odds, Yankers fans? Or would you rather have Petitte game 6 on short rest? I’d rather take my chances with Petitte on short rest over Hughes on full rest. He’s already been beaten up by the Rangers in Texas and as a Yankers fan, I’d be thinking…”I’ve seen this movie, and I didn’t like it much the first time.” It’s not like Hughes has a huge body of work and can be counted on to win game 6. He can’t. Now you have CC vs Petitte again in game 7…again…I’ve seen this movie and didn’t like it much.

So my point is this…I’d rather have CC twice and Andy on short rest over Hughes pitching game 6…even with regular rest.

By: Gobias Industries

Gobias Industries — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:25:45 +0000

Well, that was an absolutely fascinating response. I can’t wait to read what else this “pisano” character has to write. Ooh! He’s got a comment just below. I’m going to go check it out right now!

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:14:19 +0000

I think Joe is doing the only right thing he can do. He has to give the team the best chance of winning this series. How is running out everyone on short rest the best chance of winning? Say they do use CC and the Yankees score 10 runs? Then when it was an obvious waste you need to rely on tired arms for the remaining games? Naaa.

By: pisano

pisano — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:12:36 +0000

First of all you should go back to school and learn how to write , that aside you are one of the most ignorant idiots to ever post on this site. At first I figured you for a Red Sox fan , but they are at least respectful , you are a total moron .

By: pisano

pisano — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:07:19 +0000

It’s all but over, this is why I wanted Burnett to face Lee . No matter who faced Lee it was most likely going to be a loss . I said make that piece of crap Burnett take the beating and have Pettitte most likely get a win tonight . In doing what they did they wasted a great game Pettitte pitched and now they’re going to take an ass whipping with this bum Burnett on the mound tonight. Pitching aside , Posada , and Jeter are finished as far as being able to count on either of them anymore . they both got old this year and are useless . Neither can hit , and the fielding of both is far from what it was . These two need to be replaced before next year . Another poster said he thought Posada could come back as a DH ,but why would you want a DH that can’t hit to a 250 average . They need an overhaul in the off season . The core four is now the sore core . Cashman , get some new blood , you’ve rode this bunch into the ground ,

By: BC

BC — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:02:33 +0000

God’s honest, I think they’d be better off starting Nova tonight than Burnett. I sense epic fail.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:57:02 +0000

“going from maybe 55% to 65%” If you think this, then Burnett is a no-brainer I agree. However, I think the chances go from 50% to 85% with CC tonight. And in that case, to me, CC is a no-brainer. But it is an excellent debate.

After all this debate, we all know that Burnett is going to go 7 strong, giving up 6 hits and 2 runs while the Yankers score 8 and win 8-4.

By: lukehart80

lukehart80 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:50:57 +0000

“you CAN’T risk going down 3-1 in this series.” – BC

um, as soon as they take the field for game 4, the yankees will be risking that they go down 3-1 in this series, whether it’s burnett, sabathia, or whitey ford pitching.

if the options were: sabathia pitches tonight and wins vs. burnett pitches tonight and loses, then sure, send CC out there, because there isn’t any scenario in which being down 3-1 is better than being tied 2-2, but, but that’s a false choice.

i think sabathia on short rest gives them a somewhat better chance of winning tonight (going from maybe 55% to 65%), but it decreases their chances in game 5… and game 6… and game 7.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:44:37 +0000

The main reason I’m for starting CC tonight is to get the horse 2 starts. He’s just as good, sometimes better, on short rest. If you think the Yankers are going to hit Hunter, then yeah, it makes more sense to start Burnett tonight. But if you also think the Yankers offense is struggling, you have to get the horse out there twice in case the offense doesn’t show up and take your chances with Petitte on short rest and Burnett/Hughes in game 5, don’t you?

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:40:06 +0000

The choices are really:

Burnett, CC, Hughes, Pettitte
or
CC on short rest twice, Hughes on short rest once, Pettitte on short rest once.

Putting everyone on short rest is just a bad idea, especially since one guy has a balky elbow and the kid’s never pitched on short rest before.

If you’re going to go with Burnett/Hughes fingercuffs action (sorry for the mental image), you’re still pitching everyone on short rest. And you’re not even getting to skip Burnett in that deal.

Although Craig is kind of silly to put up the tiny sample of Hunter against the Yankees, he’s right that even Burnett has a great chance to win tonight, at home, against a rookie who’s allowed 20 homers in 120 innings and doesn’t strike anyone out. No reason to handicap your starters in all four remaining games to avoid one pitcher against an equally bad pitcher.

By: BC

BC — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:34:55 +0000

Your Option 1 is spot-on. You CAN’T risk going down 3-1 in this series.
Game 5, start Burnett. Have Hughes ready and waiting in case Burnett goes supernova.
One thing I will mention is that a Game 7 with Lee is winnable for New York. Lee has been WAY better on the road than at home. He’s beatable in Texas.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:34:29 +0000

Yeah, I saw that. I just don’t see how they can keep CC from getting two more starts in this series. He’s their horse. I’d rather have Petitte on short rest with Burnett and no Hughes so long as CC gets two starts. You pitch Burnett tonight and your horse only gets one start the rest of the way. As a Yanker hater, I’m glad they are pitching Burnett.

By: lukehart80

lukehart80 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:30:51 +0000

pettitte wouldn’t be on regular rest for game 6.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:28:13 +0000

Amend one thing…Petitte on short rest in game 6…still not a problem in my opinion.

By: lukehart80

lukehart80 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:27:57 +0000

as i yankee-hater, i want them to skip burnett and bring everyone else back on short rest, so i can only assume that is NOT what they should do.

i think they’re making the smart play.

…bastards.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:25:29 +0000

I disagree, but what else is new. Starting CC tonight makes sense on alot of levels. First, he gets 2 more games instead of one. Second, Burnett can pitch tomorrow, but you can also use Hughes for 3-4 innings as well. You throw Burnett for 5, then back him up with Hughes. Then you have Andy on regular rest Game 6 and CC on short rest in game 7, if it gets that far.

The question is what would you rather have…

CC, Burnett/Hughes, Petitte, CC or
Burnett, CC, Hughes, Petitte

Ill take option one. If CC stunk on short rest, I would think differently, but he is just as good on short rest as he is on regular rest. And Hughes can pitch a couple innings on short rest…I don’t think that’s alot to ask if Burnett struggles. I would think Yankers fans would rather Hughes pitches a couple innings on short rest than game 6, down 3-2 in the series, on full rest…assuming the Rangers beat Burnett tonight.