Yankees’ Burnett crushed again, continues depressing decline
Fresh off a spectacular 22-9 drubbing of the Oakland Athletics, the New York Yankees were looking to keep riding the momentum train into Baltimore, where they would take on the Orioles. They had high hopes that A.J. Burnett, who would take the mound, could be effective. It was a fool’s hope.
The veteran has struggled mightily this season, which is nothing new but increasingly saddening. On cue, he was crushed again, fueling sympathy, in spite of his $16 million salary, from this baseball fan.
It is entertaining to laugh at the failures of players on teams other than our favorites. As a Boston Red Sox fan, I couldn’t help myself as Burnett’s decline began after his signing with New York three years ago. But that amusement has come to a halt. His woes this season have been depressing to watch.
His recurring nightmare began in the second inning. He got the first out easy enough, but the rest of the frame went as follows. Mark Reynolds, homer; Ryan Adams, double; Nolan Reimold, rbi-double, Adams scores; Matt Angle, double, Reimold scores; Robert Andino doubles, Angle scores; J.J. Hardy, two-run homer; fielding error by Burnett, Nick Markakis reaches. In all, six runs scored, and the confidence of the 34-year-old had dwindled to a new low.
He kept going out there inning after inning, allowing run after run. A wild-pitch and two ensuing walks led to one in the fourth, and then he found himself in more trouble in the fifth. Helped out by a questionable call at home plate, but later squeezed by that same umpire, he allowed two two-out runs by way of a Reimold triple. His outing was over after he concluded the inning, having put his team in a hole once again.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi has been outspoken about Burnett in the past few weeks, stressing the importance of him returning to his old form. He expressed this desire when discussing how crucial it was for New York to stick with a six-man rotation:
“I think it’s really important, I do,” he said after the game. “I was asked earlier today about six-man going to a five-man. We might have doubleheaders the rest of the year, so may not be able to go to a five-man at the rate we’re going. But it’s important that he gets on track.”
There are no signs that he will. He threw some great pitches against the Orioles, and he was able to keep the ball down in the zone for a couple innings, but overall he couldn’t pitch where he wanted. His repertoire was often left up, put on a tee for Baltimore’s array of talent. In all, he allowed nine runs on nine hits in those five innings. In his previous start, he allowed seven runs on five hits and three walks in just 1 2/3 innings. This month, spanning five starts, his ERA is 11.91. His overall mark is 5.31, the worst among starting pitchers with 140 or more innings pitched.
I don’t envy Girardi here. In a heated pennant race with the Red Sox, which sit a game up on New York, the Yankees can’t afford to keep sending this Burnett out there in hopes that his former self will show up. But they have no choice; they have to keep him in the rotation, largely because of the tough September schedule. And it is the only way he can work out his many kinks. Skipping his starts or removing him altogether will only further destroy his psyche.
“I’m frustrated,” Girardi said. “Part of my job is to remember it’s a person out there struggling. It’s not just an employee of the New York Yankees. It hurts me to see someone struggling. We’ve got to try and fix it.”
Who they have is who they have to count on. And the other question marks in their rotation don’t help matters. Phil Hughes has been up-and-down, Bartolo Colon hasn’t pitched well of late after a strong start to the season, and though he’s pitched very well this season Ivan Nova doesn’t have big-game experience.
All signs point to Burnett at least struggling the rest of the regular season. He might not even pitch in the postseason. He isn’t holding out hope of turning his fortunes around quickly, though. And he isn’t the only one who thinks he can.
“It’s not acceptable,” he said. “But the bottom line is that I can’t worry about my numbers right now. I’ve got to get on a good track. I’ve got a lot of support in this room, and that’s probably the thing that bothers me most. You feel like you’re letting guys down a bit.”
It’s hard not to pull for him. He just can’t find the answers he is looking for. The Yankees need him to find them, and soon. If he doesn’t, they may be in for a trying September.
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