A.J. Burnett, who is the the Yankees' version of Susan Lucci at the Emmys-- because it seems like he has one win in 23 tries-- faces the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium tonight. The struggling righthander is winless in his last six starts and the fan's cries for rookie Ivan Nova to take Burnett's spot in the rotation are getting ominous. Now, they're basically just screaming. Tonight's game is Burnett's version of One Life to Live.
For all the fans of the soaps and the impending disappearance of the dying format from television, the Yankees can always be counted on some bring drama in to your mundane lives. Even if you think Peyton Place plays for the Colts or Lever Brothers are the Jewish siblings who played on the 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers, things are never dull in Dallas--I mean the Bronx.
The spirit of Jock Ewing (played by George Steinbrenner) has been passed down to the unscrupulous J.R. (Brian Cashman) and earnest Bobby (Joe Girardi). TV Guide says tonight's episode should be a good one:
'Burnett is trying to rebound from an almost disastrous last outing, when he didn't get a win after the Yankees batters fronted him with a 12-run lead against the weak hitting Chicago White Sox. Burnett proceeded to allow seven run and didn't qualify for the win because he was pulled from the game before five innings. He was last seen ripping the jersey off his body while hitting the locker room.'
Yesterday, Burnett told the New York Post he vowed to reverse his fortunes on the mound and said, " I have to find a way to have fun."
Wait...did he just say, " I have to find a way to win one?" What?
Sounds like the erratic No. 2 pitcher, Burnett, is living in Another World because he hasn't seen a 'W' in 40 days, after starting the season 4-0. The only thing bigger than Burnett's ever-growing ERA is his $82.5 million contract and, as every one who follows their daytime stories knows, the rich always get away with murder.
Right now, if Joe Girardi had to fill out his rotation in a five-game playoff series, Burnett would be lucky to be throwing out of the bullpen in a game five.
In reality, Girardi would open with CC Sabathia, then Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Nova-- with Phil Hughes waiting in the wings.
Tomorrow, 24 year-old Nova gets the start against the Angels and a chance to make a statement. Call him The Young and the Restless.
The rookie is having a breakout year, since his return from the minors to make room for Hughes in July. Nova's last outing was an outstanding 7.2 inning, 10-strikeout win. He gave up one run and no walks and has won six straight. Nova is 10-4 with a 3.81 ERA this season.
Only on the sound stage that is called Yankee Stadium could a pitcher with Nova's fine stats be fighting for a job in the rotation against a pitcher with Burnett's losing numbers.
Hughes and Nova are like the Luke and Laura of this whole drama-- two young faces the fans really want to see together in the rotation. Will they, or won't they. It's been a long and heartbreaking journey.
The 25 year-old Hughes looked like future ace they Yankees protected from trades since his arrival. Last year's breakout 18-8 season put him in the rotation until-- cue the downward-turn-of-fate music-- an undiagnosed and debilitating "dead arm" injury (it even sounds like a soap opera ailment) put him on the DL after losing his fastball early in the season. He has lowered his ERA to 7.11 from a sky-high 13.94 before going on the DL.
Hughes' comeback had been slow and steady until, finally, a brilliant (six innings, three hits, no runs) outing last week brought his recovery full circle. Cue triumphant music. But then, a failed relief appearance and game-winning hit against rivals, the Boston Red Sox, made his future unsettled again. Cue doom-and-gloom music then cut to commercial.
Hughes thirteen-pitch outing cost him a start this week and, now, Nova is the pitcher who takes his place.
The irony. Wow, General Hospital couldn't have scripted it any better?
As a sub-plot, there is the resurrection of Bartolo Colon in some sort of Dark Shadows theme. We're talking about Barnabas Collins-like mystical shoulder and elbow treatments in the Dominican Republic and Colon's incredible resurgence. He even has a goth haircut.
The 38 year-old Colon made a miraculous return to the majors, after missing two years and still, no one knows the circumstances. Spooky stuff.
Now Girardi has to solve the mystery of getting six pitchers into five rotation slots or risk upsetting Sabathia's rigid five-day throwing schedule.
Cue announcer Macdonald Carey: "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives."
Stay tuned for The Bold and the Beautiful starring Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly.
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