Boland: A.J.'s outing part of a positive trend

It's an old saying that coaches and managers use on occasion: Things are never as good or as bad as they seem.

And so while pitching coach Dave Eiland acknowledges the problems of the Yankees' rotation, he said the situation isn't all it seems.

"I've been saying it for the last two weeks that we're going to be fine," Eiland said Wednesday.

The rotation twice received a boost that day. Before the game, Andy Pettitte got through a second straight intense bullpen session without any pain in his left groin (the Yankees announced before yesterday's game that the lefthander still is on schedule to throw a simulated game Saturday).

And on Wednesday night, A.J. Burnett earned his first victory since July 28, allowing three runs in six innings in the Yankees' 4-3 victory. A quality start has never provided more cause for celebration.

"Of course he needed it," Eiland said of the victory possibly lifting Burnett's confidence. "Everyone needs it, especially this time of year."

The Yankees' rotation, the unquestioned strength of the team the first part of the season - "They've been carrying us the whole first half," Alex Rodriguez said at the All-Star break - had not been that in the second half, instead developing into their biggest question mark.

The Yankees reached the break second in the American League in ERA (3.68) and average length of start (61/3 innings).

According to Elias, the Yankees were the third team in AL history to have three pitchers with at least 11 victories at the break: CC Sabathia (12-3), Pettitte (11-2) and Phil Hughes (11-2).

But only Sabathia maintained that pace.

Pettitte went on the disabled list with a strained left groin July 19 and Hughes, although he is a more than acceptable 16-6, is 5-4 with a 5.03 ERA since the All-Star break, perhaps feeling some fatigue as his innings creep into uncharted waters.

Burnett has always been enigmatic, though his peaks and valleys this season have been among the most severe of his career.

He went 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA in April, 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA in May, 0-5 with an 11.05 ERA in June, 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in July and 0-4 with a 7.80 ERA in August.

Just about everyone agrees that whether Burnett can rediscover his April or July form is going to be key in September and, of course, October.

"When A.J.'s throwing the ball well, he can dominate, I don't care who he's pitching against," Derek Jeter said. "Whether it's a first-place team or a last-place team, he's got that kind of stuff. We [saw that] when he pitched against us."

Said Eiland: "We've said all along he's going to win some big games for us down the stretch, and [this] was one of them. Hopefully, he can build off of this one and keep it rolling for us, which we all think he's going to do."

Eiland's optimism also revolves around Javier Vazquez, who pitched well in two relief appearances after he was sent to the bullpen; Pettitte's apparent impending return and Hughes' ability to limit the damage when he doesn't have his best stuff.

"You hear some people talk, you'd think we were 10 games out," Eiland said. "We're right where we want to be and we're not playing our best yet. With Javy coming off those two good relief outings, CC doing what he's doing and Hughesie battling through his problems [Tuesday] and still hanging in . . . and getting the win, and A.J. [Wednesday], we feel really good about it. So there really was never that big of a concern because as long as we're healthy, the talent is there. And these guys will get it done."