A.J. Burnett News: Pro Sports Daily

Burnett delivers pie for the new guys after New York Yankees win Game 6 of World Series

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November 5

New York Daily News

"The final pitch of the Yankees' season was delivered a few moments after the final out, in the midst of the on-field celebration and just before the Bombers hoisted the World Series trophy for the 27th time in franchise history. Acting on instinct and making good on a midseason promise, A.J. Burnett stalked Joe Girardi and delivered one of his patented whipped-cream pies to the manager's face, capping the Yankees' final "walk-off" victory that was never in doubt. "I got him finally," Burnett said in the champagne-soaked clubhouse after the Bombers clinched the Series with a 7-3 victory over Philadelphia in Game 6. "I got him when it counts. "Any time you think it couldn't get any better, ..."

Pitching A.J. Burnett on short rest backfires for Joe Girardi, New York Yankees in Game 5

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November 3

New York Daily News

columnist Filip Bondy

"Joe Girardi has all the patience of a hungry puppy. He can't sit back, let the natural order of things unfold in their own time. So he took another nervous chance Monday, starting A.J. Burnett on three days' rest, and now the Yankee manager has a serious Series on his hands. He has a Game 6, maybe a Game 7 back in the Bronx. He's facing a revived Phillies lineup, a Herculean Chase Utley. He might start two more pitchers on three days' rest. And he has only himself to blame. This isn't a case of second-guessing Girardi. There was a whole lot of first-guessing going on long before Burnett and the Yanks were beaten Monday night, 8-6, in Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park. Chad Gaudin was the ..."

Yankees' A.J. Burnett flounders on mound in Game 5, even with Jose Molina behind the plate

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November 3

New York Daily News

"With his team one win away from a World Series championship, Joe Girardi stuck with Jose Molina as A.J. Burnett's personal catcher, inserting the backup into the lineup for Game 5 Monday night. The move didn't pay dividends, as Burnett was rocked for six runs in two-plus innings and Molina grounded out in his only at-bat before being replaced by Jorge Posada in the fifth. Posada went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored, part of the ninth-inning rally that fell short. Molina had caught each of Burnett's first four postseason starts, three of which resulted in quality starts for the Yankees. Burnett gave up one run over seven innings in a Game 2 win against the Phillies, so Girardi ..."

Burnett embarrassed by Game 5 outing

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November 3

MLB.com

"From the tone of A.J. Burnett's voice, it hardly seemed as if the Yankees were still leading this best-of-seven World Series, 3-2, following his club's 8-6 loss to the Phillies on Monday in Game 5. The Bronx Bombers could have won the thing already, Burnett lamented. And they didn't because of him. "I try not to think about it too much, but you can't help it," Burnett said. "I had a chance to do something special tonight, and I failed. I let a lot of guys in here down and I let a city down." He couldn't throw strikes. He couldn't throw curveballs -- not good ones, anyway. Worst of all, though, Burnett could not keep his team in the game. Much as he did in his Game 5 start in the American ..."

For A.J., fear strikes out

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November 3

New York Post

columnist David Wells

"A.J. Burnett just looked plain scared last night. He had already allowed a three-run homer to Chase Utley in the first inning and seemed determined not to let the Phillies second baseman beat him again. So he walked him leading off the third, and you just knew Burnett was in trouble. He then threw a 3-2 curve and walked Ryan Howard, and the end was near. Base hit, Jayson Werth for a run. Then came an RBI single from Raul Ibanez. Burnett's night was finished. The Yankees lost Game 5 of the World Series and now have a day off to contemplate finishing off the Phillies back in The Bronx. This was not a clinic on how to pitch in big games. You've got to be aggressive and not afraid to fail. ..."

Burnett bombs, says 'I let the city down'

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November 3

New York Post

"By the time the Yankees got into the suspect Phillies bullpen late in Game 5 last night, the early ditch A.J. Burnett had driven them into was too deep to escape. With a chance to cop their 27th World Series title, the Yankees turned to Burnett on three days' rest instead of the customary four. Using talent evaluator language, Burnett was "short." Paired against Phillies ace and fellow Arkansas native Cliff Lee, Burnett didn't get out of the third inning, allowed six runs and four hits, walked four and hit a batter in an 8-6 loss that was witnessed by 46,178 at Citizens Bank Park. "I let 25 guys down. I let a whole city down," Burnett said of the miserable outing which he explained wasn't ..."

Burnett: Less rest may lead to sleepless night

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November 3

Boston Globe

"You don't get many chances for immortality, to be on the mound with the chance to clinch a World Series for the New York Yankees. For that reason, his teammates and his fans feel bad for A.J. Burnett, a gritty competitor. Nobody wanted to end the Series any more than Burnett in last night's Game 5. He wanted to use his great curveball and keep the Phillies' hitters off balance and then blow his fastball past them."

Molina is likely to catch Burnett

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November 2

New York Post

"Manager Joe Girardi didn't surprise anybody who has been paying attention when he named A.J. Burnett as the Yankees' World Series Game 5 starter tonight on three days' rest against the Phillies. The Yankees grabbed a 3-1 series lead with a 7-4 victory last night in Game 4. Despite having to use Burnett's bat without a designated hitter, don't look for Girardi to ruffle the waters when it comes to who catches Burnett. Working with Molina, Burnett is 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA in four starts and was outstanding in Game 2 when Molina caught all seven of his innings. With the Yankees down, 1-0, Burnett allowed one run and four hits in seven frames."

AJ ready to be hero

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November 2

New York Post

"A.J. Burnett gets a chance to live every kids dream tonight. You know, winning the deciding game of the World Series and heading home for the winter as a conquering hero. "I'd lie if I said I wasn't going to think about [this] all night," Burnett said moments after the Yankees beat the Phillies 7-4 in Game 4 of the World Series. "You dream about it. This is what you talk about growing up. I'm not going to take it as just one ordinary game or another start." The Yankees have gotten to November riding the backs of three starting pitchers, so changing the formula now isn't an option. Burnett will go on three days rest, after the Yankees had discussed last week the possibility of using Chad ..."

A-Rod puts Yanks a win away

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November 2

New York Post

"The Yankees are nine innings away from returning to a place Derek Jeter and others firmly believe a season is a failure if they don't. Tonight at Citizens Bank Park, a gem of a baseball stadium, the Yankees will attempt to win their 27th World Series title and first since 2000 against the defending champion Phillies. Thanks to a gutsy effort by CC Sabathia on short rest and enough production from a lineup that produced two runs in the first and fifth innings and three in the ninth, the Yankees won Game 4, 7-4, last night in front of 46,145. The victory gave the Yankees a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Series. A.J. Burnett, the second Yankees hurler in two games to work on three ..."

Bombers nab edge by prepping CC, A.J. on short rest

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October 31

New York Post

"Advantage, Yankees. Can a team that hit .222 in the first two games of the World Series, is batting a putrid .200 with runners in scoring position in those games and has bullpen issues be the favorite in a best-of-seven Series that is tied 1-1 going into tonight's Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park? When the next three pitching matchups likely will be the Yankees' Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett against the Phillies' Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and Cliff Lee, respectively, the answer is "Yes." The moment Phillies manager Charlie Manuel opted not to pitch Lee, who dominated the Yankees in Game 1, on three days' rest in Game 4, the pendulum swung toward the Yankees. The Phillies needed ..."

Burnett aces the part

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October 30

Camden Courier-Post

columnist Sam Borden

"Everyone thought this game was going to be about Pedro Martinez against the Yankees, another chapter in a book that seems to go back forever. Only then the Yankees lost Game 1, got beat by Cliff Lee in front of a packed Stadium in the Bronx, and all of a sudden Game 2 wasn't about Pedro Martinez anymore. It was about A.J. Burnett. You talk about moments for the new guys on the team, about when they "get their pinstripes" and really, truly know about what it's like be a part of the biggest show in sports. This was that night for Burnett, a right-hander with tattoos snaking up and down his arms and legs, and an emotional volatility on the mound that can weave as wildly as the ink. This is ..."

A.J. and Lee put on rem-Ark.-able show

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October 30

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"The last time the World Series visited The Bronx, A.J. Burnett did, too. That's what he felt like in 2003: a visitor, an outsider, a stranger in the strange world of the World Series. This was across the street, the day before Game 1 between the Marlins and the Yankees, and Burnett reached a milestone that day: across the vast, historic lawn of old Yankee Stadium, he long-tossed with a teammate. It was the first time he'd done that in six months. His elbow, still recovering from Tommy John surgery, felt great. But Burnett, now 32, was equal parts brave-faced and bittersweet; even if he felt good for the kids he'd grown up with on the Marlins, for Josh Beckett and Miguel Cabrera, for Carl ..."

A.J. bests Martinez to even Series

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October 30

New York Post

"A.J. Burnett and Mariano Rivera altered the mood in the Yankees' universe last night better than any drug could have. Armed with a filthy curveball he was able to throw for strikes, Burnett earned his October pinstripes by allowing the Phillies a run and four hits across seven innings, and Rivera supplied two shutout innings of relief as the Yankees evened the World Series with a 3-1 Game 2 victory before a Yankee Stadium crowd of 50,181. With the best-of-seven Series tied 1-1, Game 3 is tomorrow night in Philadelphia, where Andy Pettitte opposes Cole Hamels, last year's World Series MVP the Phillies were wary of pitching in The Bronx. Instead they went with longtime Yankees villain Pedro ..."

A.J. brings 'em back

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October 30

Toronto Sun

"A.J. Burnett made 33 starts and won 13 games for the New York Yankees this season. He also took his shaving cream pie in the face post-game ritual with him when he left the Blue Jays. In all, he delivered 17 pies in the face this season after walkoff wins. The way he pitched last night, he should have loaded up a towel full of shaving cream and applied one to himself. Burnett pitched seven impressive innings, getting his Yanks on even ground with a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 50,181 fans in Game 2 of the 105th World Series. The best-of-seven set is tied 1-1 as it moves to Philly. "This means a lot. I wanted to set the tone after last night," said Burnett, who watched ..."

Yankees ride A.J. to victory

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October 30

Toronto Star

columnist Dave Perkins

"There was no patricide in the Bronx, after all. And the Yankees aren't quite dead, either. A.J. Burnett outpitched Pedro Martinez and the high-priced Yankee power arrived Thursday night, New York riding solo homers by Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui to a 3-1 victory over the Phillies that levels the best-of-seven World Series at one game each. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday in Philadelphia. New York manager Joe Girardi, with the front of his bullpen shaky lately, went to closer Mariano Rivera for a two-inning save behind Burnett's excellent start and Rivera dismissed the Phillies, although not easily. He required a smartly turned double play out of Chase Utley, the Game 1 slugging hero, ..."

Burnett, Yankees even World Series with a 3-1 win in Game 2

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October 30

Denver Post

"This was exactly the kind of night to not want A.J. Burnett. He was too inconsistent, flakier than Kellogg's. He was too lean on accomplishments, possessing more tattoos than big wins. But on a cool Thursday night in the new Yankee Stadium, Burnett was too much for the Phillies to handle. Burnett found the time and place for himself on the sport's biggest stage, suffocating the Phillies in a 3-1 victory that evened the World Series at a game apiece. Maybe now, Yankee fans can breathe again, hyperventilation a stranger after Burnett, of all people, came up clutch against the ageless Pedro Martinez. The 6-foot-5 right-hander has long been known as a pitcher just good enough to get managers ..."

Burnett squares it away

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October 30

Boston Globe

"Sitting on the chair in front of his locker, A.J. Burnett gathered in the small bodies of his two sons. "You did awesome,'' one said. It was hard to think anything else. He had done awesome, striking out nine - including Ryan Howard three times - as he chases a real World Series ring."

Burnett gets Yankees even in World Series

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October 30

Washington Times

"The New York Yankees arrived Thursday night for Game 2 of the World Series perilously close to a must-win situation. And with the variables that had to line up for them to even their series with the Philadelphia Phillies at a game apiece, it was worth asking whether they could pull it off. They had to beat old nemesis Pedro Martinez, rejuvenated as a second-half pickup and coming off one of his finest postseason starts in the National League Championship Series. They had to hope a lineup that included a pair of reserves could keep up with a fierce Phillies attack. And they had to count on starter A.J. Burnett at least to keep the game close. And they got it all. Riding a stellar start from ..."

Heat's on A.J.

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October 29

New York Post

"A.J. Burnett doesn't have the luxury of a series lead or the leeway to struggle at all tonight. Last night in Game 1 of the World Series, CC Sabathia pitched well, surrendering just two runs in the Yankees' 6-1 loss at the Stadium. But Sabathia still took a loss, putting the Yankees in a 1-0 series hole and putting a sizeable amount of pressure on Burnett for Game 2 tonight. Burnett, who is facing Pedro Martinez, is working on an $82.5 million contract, so it's not as if the added pressure is an unfair burden to him. Nevertheless, it also is Burnett's first career World Series start. During the season, Burnett started 13 times after a Yankees loss, and he responded pretty well. Burnett ..."

Burnett takes heat for Game 4 loss

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October 25

Toronto Sun

"The honeymoon appears to be over for A.J. Burnett in New York. All season long, Burnett and Nick Swisher have been credited for injecting a bit of fun into the Yankees clubhouse; Burnett for his pie-in-the-face routine after every Yankees walkoff and Swisher for his general carefree personality. But after he failed not once but twice in Thursday's clinching game, Burnett is taking heat from fans and media. The New York Daily News ran a poll of 7,000 fans trying to find out who should take the lion's share of blame for the Game 4 defeat and 34% of them said it was on Burnett, edging out manager Joe Girardi."

Angels rough up A.J. and Yankees

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October 23

Toronto Star

columnist Dave perkins

"This one is on Joe Girardi, who kept trusting A.J. Burnett when he shouldn't have. The Angels blew a four-run lead Thursday night, but rallied against Burnett and the struggling Yankees bullpen to win 7-6 and keep this American League championship series going. It goes right across the continent to resume with Game 6 at Yankee Stadium Saturday night, Yanks leading 3-2. There was the obligatory ninth-inning drama, Angels closer Brian Fuentes facing Alex Rodriguez with none on and two out and manager Mike Scioscia ordering him walked intentionally. Hideki Matsui took it to a full count before walking and Robinson Cano was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Nick Swisher then capped on 0-for-5 ..."

A.J. Burnett takes hill, tries to pitch New York Yankees into World Series

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October 22

New York Daily News

"A.J. Burnett didn't come to the Yankees to be a cream-pie throwing sideshow. He accepted $82.5 million to complete a formidable 1-2 punch atop the starting rotation with fellow free-agent signing CC Sabathia and to pitch the Yankees back into the World Series for the first time since 2003. Sabathia did his part once again Tuesday night, improving to 3-0 this postseason with eight innings of one-run ball on three days' rest. And now Burnett, who has pitched well despite earning no-decisions in each of his two postseason starts this October, gets the first crack to win the pennant in Game 5 today at Angel Stadium. "This is why I signed," Burnett said before yesterday's off-day workout. ..."

A.J. Burnett is having fun with the Yankees

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October 22

Los Angeles Times

"If the stodgy old Yankee Stadium was the House that Ruth Built, then the glistening new ballpark next door is the House the Three Stooges Inhabit. Because in addition to changing addresses this season, the team has changed attitudes thanks to the winter additions of free spirits A.J. Burnett, Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira. And that, more than anything else, may be the best explanation why the newly relaxed Yankees find themselves a win away from their first World Series in six years. "On the field we're businesslike," captain Derek Jeter said. "And that's still today. [But] now it seems like people may have more fun." Adds pitcher Joba Chamberlain: "There's so many different ..."

Followin' CC's lead

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October 17

New York Post

"One of the toughest acts to follow in baseball is actually one of the easiest, swears A.J. Burnett. "I've had the pleasure of following [CC Satathia] often this year," said the Yankees' Game 2 starter. "There ain't nothing like going after him. "He sets the tone, he comes out and he attacks. He has that confidence, too. He works hard in between every fifth day. "That's what you want to see from your fellow starters. You want to see commitment and effort. He's non-stop through the whole season. To be able to throw that many innings and do what he does year in and year out, he's definitely an ace, number one. "He's had a huge impact on me." Actually, Burnett started the game after Sabathia ..."

Girardi says Yankees are considering using three-man rotation for ALCS

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October 13

The Times of Trenton

"Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that the team is considering going with a three-man starting rotation against the Angels in the ALCS. In a conference call with reporters, Girardi said Yankees officials will meet Wednesday morning to go over their scouting report on the Angels and discuss roster decisions. "We're definitely considering going to a three-man rotation in this round," Girardi said. "But we'll have to take a look at it and see how it goes." If the Yankees use a fourth starter, Girardi said it would be either Joba Chamberlain or Chad Gaudin, although he added, "We were happy with the way Joba threw out of the bullpen" against the Twins."

AJ's 1st playoff outing solid, short

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October 10

New York Post

"A.J. Burnett's night: One run allowed and one cream pie delivered to his first baseman's face. The veteran right-hander had long retired to the Yankees' clubhouse and was watching on television as Mark Teixeira stepped to the plate in last night's 11th inning. But because the broadcast was on a delay of several seconds, Burnett wasn't sure why he felt the Stadium shaking. "We're in here, 'What happened? What happened?' " Burnett said after Teixeira's home run gave the Yankees a 4-3 victory over the Twins in Game 2 of the ALDS. "The next thing you know, I'm running down the tunnel throwing a pie." Burnett also did his part on the mound, allowing one earned run on three hits over six ..."

Pie is topping for A.J. Burnett in Yankees' ALDS win over Twins

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October 10

New York Daily News

"Five innings after he was lifted from Game2 of the American League division series Friday night, A.J. Burnett delivered his final pitch, rearing back and nailing Mark Teixeira in the face with a whipped-cream pie following the slugger's walk-off home run at the Stadium. Sitting in the clubhouse and watching the game on TV with Joba Chamberlain, Burnett heard a thunderous applause erupt in the bottom of the 11th inning, but didn't know right away that Teixeira had lifted the Bombers to a 4-3 victory because of tape delay. "This whole placed started shaking, and we hadn't seen the pitch yet," Burnett said, looking up at the clubhouse ceiling as he spoke. "I'm hugging with Joba, there were ..."

A.J. Burnett gets advice from Andy Pettitte as he prepares for first playoff start

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October 9

Newark Star-Ledger

"As he watched the Yankees pull away from the Twins in Game 1 of the division series Wednesday, A.J. Burnett couldn't help but look ahead to Friday night. He wondered what it would be like when he makes his first career postseason start. Turns out he was sitting next to the right guy to ask. Andy Pettitte, who was seated alongside Burnett in the Yankees dugout, gave him some words of advice -- words Burnett will no doubt keep in mind when he takes the mound at Yankee Stadium. "It was more about pitching in a postseason environment than it was about [Game 1]," Burnett said of his in-game chat with Pettitte. "It's another start. It means a lot, and it's the postseason, and it's my first one ..."

Molina handles A.J., controversy in stride

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October 9

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"Jose Molina looks like a man who's been falsely accused of a crime. The doors of the Yankees clubhouse have just swung open, a quick workout awaits, and in a few moments he will be surrounded by a pack of people with notebooks and cameras who ask the same question a hundred different ways. And it goes something like this: How does it feel to boot a beloved player to the bench? He knows the questions are coming. He's heard the buzz surrounding Joe Girardi's decision to use him as A.J. Burnett's personal catcher tonight in Game 2 of the Yanks' ALDS matchup with Minnesota, a move that will shove Jorge Posada, one of four inner-circle Yankees left from the Dynasty Years, out of the lineup ..."

Burn-ing for postseason success

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October 9

New York Post

"A.J. Burnett owns a world championship ring, but the only line of his postseason resume reads: "Drank champagne with the Marlins to celebrate a wild ride through October 2003." Tonight will be something new for Burnett -- not to mention a first opportunity to make everyone forget the solid, yet unspectacular regular-season he had. The right-hander will have his preferred catcher, Jose Molina, behind the plate and nearly 50,000 fans on his side. Now Burnett just has to handle the Twins in Game 2 of the AL Division Series. "I have to go at it as another start and not overdo it and just be me," Burnett said yesterday. "It's going to be crazy. It's going to be loud. It's going to be ..."

Yankees' Burnett gets first big test

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October 9

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"A.J. Burnett has never been on the mound at Yankee Stadium, or any stadium, in a postseason game. But he has been near the mound at the old Yankee Stadium after a postseason game. Burnett was an injured member of the Florida Marlins when they won the World Series against the New York Yankees in 2003, with the clincher coming in Game 6 in the Bronx. Burnett, who will face Nick Blackburn and the Twins tonight in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, traveled with the Marlins in the 2003 postseason even though he pitched in only four games that season because of elbow surgery. So when the Marlins celebrated their series-clinching win, a 2-0 gem thrown by Series MVP Josh Beckett, ..."

A.J. caught up in drama

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October 9

Toronto Sun

columnist Ken Fidlin

"In New York, come playoff time, there are no innocent bystanders. It is all about the drama and you can't have drama without conflict. So, that's why A.J. Burnett finds himself an unwitting Brutus to Jorge Posada's Caesar. On a night when he is about to realize one of his goals in life, at long last to pitch in the post-season, Burnett has found it necessary to mount an "it wasn't me" defence on the decision to sit Posada, the venerable catcher, who has been at the centre of most of the important Yankees moments of the past dozen years. This is touchy stuff. Derek Jeter is the captain of the Yankee family, but Posada is its CEO, the man whose opinions are sought and valued, the man whose ..."

Jose Molina enters spotlight as A.J. Burnett's personal catcher

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October 9

New York Daily News

"Forging a relationship with pitcher can be tricky for a catcher, a delicate process loaded with trial and error, with shouting and the occasional joke. When John Flaherty became the personal catcher for Randy Johnson in 2005, Joe Girardi, then the Yankees' bench coach, said to Flaherty, "Can you yell and scream at Randy for nine innings? He needs it." Jose Molina, who will be in the spotlight in Game 2 Friday night as A.J. Burnett's personal catcher, has tended the volatile, sometimes-brilliant righthander with a mixture of psychology, quiet urging and humor. One day earlier this season when Burnett's pitch count ballooned quickly, Burnett moped and told Molina, "Jose, I (already) have 50 ..."

A.J. Burnett and Jose Molina set to connect in Game 2 for New York Yankees against Twins

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October 9

New York Daily News

"Based on the cloud of controversy hanging over the Yankees as they head into Game 2 of the AL division series, you would think Jose Molina was the most important guy on the field. But he's not. That title falls on A.J. Burnett. Molina will be behind the plate Friday night when the Yankees play host to the Twins, but Burnett remains the key figure who will help determine whether the Yankees will travel to Minnesota with a chance to sweep or if the Twins will head home with things all tied up. Burnett acknowledged that he and Molina "seem to click" as a battery, but when the righthander takes the mound tonight for the first postseason start of his career, the pressure to perform will fall ..."

With Burnett Pitching, Posada Is a Reluctant Spectator

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October 9

New York Times

"Jorge Posada tried to answer the question, but he kept stammering and stopping. Asked how he would feel about not being the starting catcher for the Yankees on Friday night, he used phrases like "I can't really" and "I don't know," and "I mean" and "you know." It was only on Posada's fifth attempt that he was able to offer a complete thought about what it will feel like to be watching from the dugout when Game 2 of the division series begins against the Minnesota Twins. "Friday is going to be different for me," Posada said on Wednesday night. "I don't know. I can't, what can I tell you? I'm going to approach it like a regular-season game and be ready when they need me. To tell you the ..."

A.J. Burnett: Don't blame me for Jorge Posada not starting in Game 2

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October 8

New York Daily News

"A.J. Burnett will make the most scrutinized start of his career Friday night in Game 2 of the American League division series against the Twins. It will be the first postseason appearance for the righthander, who was given an $82.5 million contract for moments such as these, but that's only part of the pressure. Burnett, 32, will be throwing to backup catcher Jose Molina instead of postseason veteran Jorge Posada, which is supposed to increase the pitcher's comfort level but leaves the Bombers with a weaker bat. Speaking in the dugout before Game 1 last night, Burnett insisted the move "was totally" Joe Girardi's call, and tried to clear the air with an unhappy Posada, who on Tuesday ..."

Burnett: Doesn't matter who is behind plate

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October 8

New York Post

"For A.J. Burnett, his batterymate is irrelevant. Burnett will take the mound for ALDS Game 2 tomorrow night, and, if necessary, he'll do the same for Game 5 next week. When he does, he won't be pitching to Jorge Posada. Instead, Jose Molina will catch him, since Joe Girardi likes their "rhythm." "It's something that Skip made the decision on and I had no part in," Burnett said yesterday. "The bottom line is, when my mind's right, Jose can catch me, [Francisco Cervelli] can catch me, Jorgie can catch me." In fact, pitching coach Dave Eiland went even further, telling The Post that when Burnett's throwing well, "I could catch him." It's been Posada, though, who's done almost all the ..."

Jorge Posada miffed as Jose Molina to catch A.J. Burnett on Friday in ALDS

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October 7

New York Daily News

"A veteran of nearly 100 playoff games and owner of four World Series rings, Jorge Posada is not happy that he won't be starting Game 2 of the American League division series. A.J. Burnett clearly prefers pitching to backup catcher Jose Molina, and in making his first postseason start on Friday, the righthander will get his wish. "If A.J. is comfortable with Molina there's not much I can do," Posada said Tuesday after a workout at the Stadium, where he gave terse answers on the subject. "I just hope they go out there and win the game. That's all I've got to say." Joe Girardi told Posada Sunday of his decision to start Molina on Friday. "That was a decision that I made," Girardi said. "As ..."

Big three plus Swisher add spark to title quest

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October 7

New York Post

columnist Kevin Kernan

"EVERYONE gets blinded by the money ($423.5 million) when it comes to Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. That's understandable. But leave it to Derek Jeter to make it clear why the Big Three have been successful in their Yankee debuts this season as free agents."They can play," Jeter said. "They've pretty much done what they've always done," added the king of baseball common sense. "That's why we got them." Of course, ultimate success comes only in the postseason in The Bronx. That's when free agents earn their pinstripes and their cash. All this can still blow up in the face of the newcomers. It all starts with Sabathia's Game 1 performance today. "I think CC's been that true ..."

Girardi: A.J. gets Game 2

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October 7

New York Post

"Joe Girardi named A.J. Burnett to start Game 2 Friday night at Yankee Stadium and Andy Pettitte to work Game 3 Sunday on the road. "We looked at a lot of different things, home and road splits," Girardi said of the decision. "We looked at match-ups against the teams. It was a combination of a lot of things. We thought that was the best way to do our rotation." Burnett was 5-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 16 home games and 8-6 with a 4.59 ERA in 17 games outside The Bronx. Pettitte was 6-4 with a 4.59 ERA in 16 home games and 8-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 16 road tilts. Pitchers Brian Bruney, Sergio Mitre and infielder Ramiro Pena were sent to the Yankees' complex in Tampa to stay ready in case they are ..."

Molina to catch for Burnett in ALDS

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October 6

ESPN.com

"The A.J. Burnett-Jorge Posada tandem performed to less than rave reviews during the regular season, so Yankees manager Joe Girardi is giving Burnett a different batterymate in the American League Division Series. Before the Yankees took the field for a pre-ALDS workout at Yankee Stadium, Posada told reporters that Jose Molina will be the catcher in Burnett's first start in the series. Posada said Girardi told him of the decision Sunday. Posada kept his reaction to a minimum, but the tone of his voice and the brevity of his responses were clear signs of his disappointment. "I just hope we win that game. That's all I've got to say," Posada said. Posada later added, "It's not like I didn't ..."

A.J. delivers third straight strong start

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September 30

New York Post

"Joe Girardi might not have pulled A.J. Burnett in the seventh inning under normal circumstances. But the righty was at 108 pitches, and with the playoffs around the corner, that was sufficient. "The prize is next month," Girardi said, "and that's what I told him." The race for the prize starts in just a few more games, and last night Burnett was again terrific for the Yankees. He delivered his third straight superb start, harnessing the Royals on just three hits and two runs (one earned) in 6 1/3 innings in the Yankees' 4-3 walk-off win. The Yanks, who've won seven straight, earned the victory on a two-run rally in the ninth, their 15th walk-off win highlighted by Juan Miranda's ..."

Burnett helps exorcise Angel demons

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September 24

New York Post

"They finally buried the Halo Hex yesterday on the shores of the Pacific. Now, the Yankees will attempt to flush the Red Sox into the Atlantic tide this weekend at Yankee Stadium. Until the Yankees, behind solid pitching efforts by A.J. Burnett and Mariano Rivera and timely hitting from Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera, eked past the Angels 3-2 in front of 35,760 at Angel Stadium, it had been five years since the Yankees won a series in the 714 area code. That ended when Rivera, who posted his 42nd save in 44 chances, retired former Yankee Juan Rivera on a lazy fly to center and enabled the Yankees to jet home with two out of three wins over the AL West-leading Angels, potential ALCS foes. ..."

Yankees' A.J. Burnett is running out of starts, and catchers, to right himself

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September 13

New York Daily News

"With each A.J. Burnett implosion of late, more and more Yankee fans surely envision a frightening October scenario: what if Tigers ace Justin Verlander throws a gem in Game 1, and suddenly it is up to Burnett to keep the Yankees from going down 0-2 in a five-game series, heading for Detroit? We're still a long way from any of that, of course, and the championship form the Yankees have displayed the last couple of months should supersede any nagging fears about another early exit in October. But for the moment, anyway, it's hard to ignore the potential ramifications of Burnett's second-half slide. At the very least, after a feel-good week of celebrating Derek Jeter's hit record at the ..."

Orioles keep Yankees at bay

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September 13

Boston Globe

"It's hard to know what to expect from A.J. Burnett come the playoffs. Will it be the dominant pitcher who went 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA from June 27 to July 27? Or will it be the struggling starter who is 1-5 with a 6.19 ERA since? "You do want him to get on a roll. It's important for us,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said following Burnett's latest fruitless outing, a listless 7-3 loss yesterday to the Baltimore Orioles in New York. Burnett (11-9) allowed six runs and seven hits in seven innings."

Birds batter Burnett, Bombers

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September 13

New York Post

"The Yankees weren't the only club working Yankee Stadium yesterday with tombstones in their eye sockets. They were, however, the one that played like they were dead. The Orioles danced between the rain drops into the wee hours of yesterday morning with the Yankees. But the AL East leaders have much more to play for these days than the morbid Birds, who nest at the bottom of the tree. With amphetamines barred several years ago, energy drinks and coffee are gulped to provide jolts to tired bodies. So the exhausted Yankees asked A.J. Burnett to put a shot of adrenaline in the river of Red Bull that raced through the clubhouse. Instead, with a brutal second inning, Burnett delivered a case of ..."

CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett make for dominant one-two punch

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September 8

New York Daily News

"It's pretty hard to blame CC Sabathia for the fact that he and A.J. Burnett haven't posted wins in consecutive games for the Yankees since mid-July. After all, the big lefty hasn't suffered a loss in any of his last eight starts. Monday, the $243 million pitching duo teamed up to lead the Yankees to a doubleheader sweep of Tampa Bay, even though the back-to-back wins drought continued as Sabathia didn't get the decision in the opener. Sabathia was plenty strong in allowing just a solo homer by Evan Longoria and a pair of singles in seven innings before the Yankees scored three in the eighth, while Burnett halted a six-week winless skid with six innings of one-run ball in an 11-1 win last ..."

A.J. Burnett's emotions on the mound a control problem that's hurting the Yankees

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September 2

New York Daily News

columnist John Harper

"The more you see of A.J. Burnett, the easier it is to understand why he has never parlayed his dazzling ability into similarly dazzling results during his 11 years in the majors. Command of his fastball is one critical issue, as in the one he piped for a Luke Scott three-run home run at Camden Yards last night, but more than that, Burnett seems to let his emotions get in the way of his own brilliance, and doesn't do the little things to help himself when he's not at his best. Two starts ago he let his frustration over Jorge Posada's pitch-calling show so blatantly, with his "Why, why?" gesturing after a David Ortiz home run, that you have to think it affected both his thinking and his ..."

Yankees waste solid effort from A.J. Burnett in 7-2 loss to Texas at Stadium

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August 28

New York Daily News

"A.J. Burnett's lone blemish on the afternoon is a three-run blast to Ian Kinsler in the 4th inning. For three innings, A.J. Burnett was perfect. By the time the day was over, it was anything but perfect for the Yankees. The Bombers lost the rubber game of their three-game set with the Rangers, dropping a 7-2 decision to Texas that snapped their streak of six straight winning series. A.J. Burnett rebounded from last weekend's Fenway Park disaster with six innings of three-run ball, giving up two hits and three walks while striking out 12. But the Yankees' offense failed to take advantage of a seven-walk performance by Rangers starter Dustin Nippert, leaving Burnett without any run ..."