No Way!

    If you watched last night's Yankee game, (7-5 loss) A.J. Burnett showed once again that he is completely unreliable. Now I was an early Burnett supporter, he won game 2 of the World Series last year when the Yanks were down 0-1. I've brought that point up to people countless times, however time and time again Burnett has been underperforming. In the playoffs you cannot expect to win when your starter goes 2 and a third giving up 7 runs in the process (Burnett did that last night.) Even with the Yankee offense, they're going to be facing other team's best pitchers at all times, your starter must keep you in the game. I think A.J. Burnett has never actually learned to "pitch." He has been a "thrower" his whole career, relying on his electric stuff, which just isn't as electric anymore. Early in his career he was able to get by with his 97 mph fastball and nasty breaking stuff. The guy has never had control. You combine bad location with his stuff being less electric, major league hitters are going to take advantage and that's just what's been happening. That is what has led him to 10-15 with an ERA in the 5s.
    Having said that, Phil Hughes looks to be the best bet at the second spot in the playoff rotation behind Carsten Charles Sabathia. Mr. Hughes won the second most games on the team, 17 to this point, and he has been pitching much better as of late. Mr. Pettitte is a lock for the third spot being the crafty bulldog veteran that he is. Will he be the Pettitte we all know and love, or the elderly looking Pettitte that the Red Sox tagged for 7 runs last Friday night? The average Yankee fan has to believe in the first one.
    Let's face it, the Yanks have question marks with their starting pitching. I would say their bullpen has a good thing going with Logan against lefties, Chamberlain/Robertson in the 7th, Kerry "I do not surrender runs, in fact I'm just going to K you" Woods in the 8th, and then Mo in the 9th. However, Mo has not been his automatic self since that series in Texas where he hit Francoeur to bring in the winning run. The weird thing about Rivera is that his control hasn't been on point which has been a staple in his career. It is Mo, he'll turn it around right? Hopefully he'll get a couple redemption chances before the postseason starts in just over a week from now.
     The Yankees have 5 games to play, two more against Toronto, (CC going tonight) and three up in Boston to close it out. At this point the Yanks' magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 1; any combination of a Yankee win and a Red Sox loss, and are a half game behind Tampa who lost last night to those pesky Baltimore Orioles in last night's action. The Rays play two more against Baltimore, and finish the season in Kansas City. Based on how things play out, the Yanks can either be opening at home against Texas next Wednesday, or going to Minnesota to battle the Twins. Who do you want to see? I know my answer.