Burnett hoping for bounce-back start
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, left, takes starting pitcher A.J. Burnett out of the baseball game during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. (June 16, 2010) Credit: AP
LOS ANGELES - A.J. Burnett says starting pitchers generally agree on one thing - particularly when things aren't going well. "I bet if you asked all of us, we wish we were everyday players," Burnett said before Friday night's game.
When Burnett starts Saturday, he'll be trying to break out of a horrible slump. He has lost his last four starts, allowing 23 runs (all earned), 29 hits (including nine home runs), 11 walks and three hit batsmen in 20 innings.
"You wish you could come back the next day, especially when you're struggling," said Burnett, who allowed three homers and five runs in the first inning against Arizona Monday after getting the first two batters.
On the other hand, he said, the time between starts isn't a bad thing, either. Burnett said he had an excellent bullpen session, throwing it with pitching coach Mike Harkey, bench coach Tony Peña and manager Joe Girardi watching.
"Just getting ideas from everybody," Burnett said. "There's a reason things are going on and it's good to hear different views from everybody."
Burnett said he's watched video from some of his good games from last year and 2008.
Jorge Posada indicated after the bad start in Phoenix that there might have been an issue with Burnett tipping his pitches.
"We looked at all that, too," Burnett said. "The only tip I can say is that my front side comes open so fast, maybe they can see what I'm throwing. So we're really working on staying closed. If I swing out of it too quick, I'm sure you can pick up the ball pretty easily."
Pointing at the field, Girardi said, "I've always said it's one thing there , it's another thing here. But I believe he's going to have a good day tomorrow."
Shocking birthday
Derek Jeter turns 36 Saturday, a birthday Girardi can't believe. "I'm not going to look at him tomorrow as being 36, I'm going to still look at him as a kid, because we expect him to play every day," Girardi said. "But it's hard to believe. It blows me away."
Girardi, 45, was 31 when Jeter became his teammate as a 21-year-old rookie in April 1996.
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