"For A.J. Burnett, it always has been about his stuff, never about his pitching. That has been Burnett's fatal flaw.

Burnett has a chance to get it right this year, and here's why. In catcher Russell Martin and pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Burnett is letting others do his thinking for him, making him a pitcher with stuff.

If Burnett thinks, he stinks.

His performance yesterday wasn't spectacular, but it was encouraging, and there is a growing sense of trust in Martin, who has indeed had a spectacular start as Yankees catcher. Martin blasted a three-run home run in the 10-6 beat-down of the Tigers at Yankee Stadium.

And when Burnett needed him most, Martin was there for him, blocking the curve ball.

Burnett (three runs, five hits, one home run, one walk, six strikeouts over five innings) doesn't have to be perfect, just effective.

The right-hander gave up three straight first-pitch singles in the fifth inning. In the past, that would have been the beginning of the end, but he managed to finish the inning, getting his five-and-fly victory -- and getting his season off on the right foot, despite a bad sinus infection.

With two runs in, two outs, runners on second and third, and the Yankees leading, 6-3, No. 3 hitter Magglio Ordonez was at the plate. Burnett had the chance to blow up, but with two strikes on Ordonez, Martin called time and went to the mound."