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jimimou
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Burnett seeks revenge vs. Red Sox
New York (66-42) vs. Boston (62-45), 7:05 p.m. ET
By Jared Diamond / MLB.com
08/07/09 12:19 AM ET
NEW YORK -- A.J. Burnett sauntered into the clubhouse about an hour before Thursday's game and a horde of reporters immediately made a beeline to his locker. Burnett saw them there, armed with their notepads and pens, and knew exactly what they wanted to talk about.
"If it's about tomorrow, I'm good," Burnett quipped as he brushed past the increasingly anxious group.
The Yankees' right-hander was staying in character and joking with the media, not wanting to make too much of an outing that was still more than an entire day away. But there was a degree of truth to his wisecrack. Burnett vowed to put his two disappointing performances against the Red Sox this season behind him and has lived up to the promise. No need to rehash the past on the eve of his next try against his team's archrival.
After allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings at Fenway Park on June 9, Burnett emphatically proclaimed he would turn his season around from that point forward. Since then, he has gone 6-2 with a 2.62 ERA and lived up to the lucrative free-agent contract he signed during the offseason. Now he'll have the chance to redeem himself on a grand stage, when he squares off with Boston ace Josh Beckett on Friday at Yankee Stadium.
"I looked at those tapes and I've done my homework," Burnett said. "I don't stew over them. I don't worry about that. I have a job to do tomorrow."
The Yankees are hoping the Burnett who shows up on Friday is the one who has looked dominant for the past two months, not the one who struggled against the Red Sox earlier in the year. Burnett surrendered eight runs in five innings and squandered an early 6-0 lead in his first start against Boston on April 25.
In the weeks following that game, Burnett rattled off an impressive streak of eight consecutive starts working at least six innings, never allowing more than three earned runs.
Burnett downplayed the significance of Friday's outing and denied that he was looking for revenge against the Red Sox, instead pitting the game as simply another start. Manager Joe Girardi, however, acknowledged that beating the Red Sox would be "important" for Burnett mentally and emotionally.
"I've had great starts since then," Burnett said when asked if he was confused by his poor showings against the Red Sox thus far. "It's just a matter of repeating those."
How Burnett fares could hinge on seemingly the simplest -- but arguably the most vital -- aspect of pitching: the ability to throw strikes. The Red Sox have a powerful lineup laden with veteran power hitters and are considered one of the most patient teams in baseball. Last time out against Boston, Burnett walked five batters and struggled with his command throughout the night.
During his current hot streak, Burnett's control has improved, and his ERA has dropped a full run since the last time he faced the Red Sox.
"For A.J., the key is location of his fastball," Girardi said. "When he can locate, he's extremely tough because his curveball is so good."
Even if Burnett brings his best stuff, beating the Red Sox will likely be a challenge with Beckett pitching against him. Though the Yankees have historically hit Beckett well since he was traded to Boston, he is one of the top pitchers in the American League and is 13-4 so far this year.
Nevertheless, Burnett is excited for the opportunity to pitch against the Red Sox again. He signed with the Yankees anticipating games like the one coming Friday, in front of large, rowdy crowds in the middle of a pennant race. He had never played for a winning team while with the Marlins or Blue Jays and surmised he had never been on a squad more than seven or eight games over .500. New York is currently 24 games over that mark.
But when Burnett takes the mound, he has to block those thoughts from his mind. Burnett believes his recent success is a product of keeping himself in the present. No matter how important Friday's start may seem, he will at least try to continue practicing what he has preached.
"The past is the past, the future is the future," Burnett said. "We got to go at it as one game at a time, one start at a time. The more we think about it, the more worried about it we are, we're going to get out of ourselves and try to do things we're not capable of doing."
Pitching matchup
NYY: RHP A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.89 ERA)
Burnett stumbled in his previous start, issuing a pair of bases-loaded walks and exiting in the fifth inning of the Yankees' 14-4 loss to the White Sox. He was rapped for seven runs and a season-high 10 hits, turning in his shortest outing since June 9 at Boston and losing for the first time in six decisions. Burnett has faced the Red Sox twice this season and the Bombers lost both times, suffering a 16-11 decision on April 25 at Fenway Park and the 7-0 drubbing on June 9. The latter was Burnett's first career loss to Boston, against whom he is 5-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 10 starts.
BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27 ERA)
The right-hander continues to give the Red Sox machine-like dominance. In his last start, he fired seven shutout innings in a win over the Orioles. Opponents are hitting just .234 against Beckett this season. He has 132 strikeouts in 143 innings. Beckett has faced the Yankees three times this season, going 2-0 with a 5.82 ERA. In 11 road starts this season, Beckett is 6-4 with a 3.93 ERA. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his last 16 starts.
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8/1/2009 9:39 PM
