In terms of my uncle, a self-proclaimed ardent Yankee historian, A.J. Burnett is only worth about one year of his contract (2009 World Series run) and a few chuckles when we remember that he has a no-hitter. His stint with Toronto proved he can strike people out and win games. His first year with the New York Yankees he won a respectable 13 games and lost only 9. Has A.J. been worth the contract he signed (5 years, $82.5 million)?
At the turn of the century, Burnett was able to establish himself as a strikeout pitcher on a more than capable Florida Marlins team that captured the 2003 World Series without him. This is a guy who I remembered for topping his fastball out at around 100MPH after coming back from injury. He’s a player who I remember wishing the Yankees had in 2008 when it seemed they couldn’t get an out against the Tampa Bay Rays. Never reaching All-Star level, I still wanted my beloved Yankees to bring a player to the team who knew the art of striking out batters. The offseason before New York’s amazing championship year, I got some early presents and a catalyst for headaches.
The signings of C.C. Sabathia, Mark Texeira, Nick Swisher, and my new favorite player, Burnett, made for an amazing Christmas – I celebrated by going to the premiere of Avatar. I had my reservations about C.C. being able to perform in a high pressure market like New York City, I was happy to have anyone at first base, and Burnett just seemed to be the perfect fit. The guy could seriously throw and would have tons of run support.
His first year was a success and he even seemed to energize the chemistry by giving a shaving cream pie to the face to all the walk-off hitters during their post-game interviews. He finally earned a World Series ring and had many Yankee fans satisfied that this would be the beginning of great things to come.
But…
Burnett took a turn down a road that people generally do not traverse unless it is because they get lost looking for that really unique restaurant on the south side of town. Every time I watched a game where Burnett took the mound last season, it seemed he would turn into Jekyll or Hyde. He was more so Mr. Hyde finishing the season with 10 wins against 15 losses and a career high 5.26 ERA. He also threw 16 wild pitches and hit a career high 19 batters. For the first time in my medically perfect life, I developed headaches.
I stocked my shelves with Advil at the beginning of this season to prepare for Schizo, as my uncle has affectionately called him. Burnett seemed to play the part of Dr. Jekyll for the month of April helping the Yankees maneuver another headache in Phil Hughes. After his first six games, he was 4-1 and looking like his old self. Since his last start in April, Burnett has only been able to manage 5 wins against 11 losses. He couldn’t even get out of the fourth inning in a 18-7 win against the Chicago White Sox.
Burnett showed he can still struggle through five innings with his most recent show against Boston in a critical game to help decide the AL East title race. To me, Burnett is just lucky to get no decisions now. I’m more than angry we’re spending $16.5 million on a guy who has never been an All-Star and is making more money this year than Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, David Robertson, and Ivan Nova combined (by $13 million).
Maybe Burnett’s best years are behind him. Maybe he showed he can bring it back with his average start against a not so average Boston team. I keep rooting for Dr. Jekyll, but we remember how that book ends. Schizo, please prove my uncle, Yankees universe, and myself wrong.