Burnett just focusing on what's ahead of him
As the playoffs approach, A.J. Burnett remains an enigma as always. (Sept. 6, 2010) Credit: John Dunn
The marks of A.J. Burnett's latest troubling episode are all but gone. The mysterious black eye he pitched with Friday night in Baltimore is barely visible now, save for the thin dark line underneath his right eye.
But the concerns over his mental toughness still remain, as the Yankees' $82.5-million righthander heads into tonight's game against Tampa Bay.
The Yankees gave themselves much-needed breathing room in the American League East standings last night, defeating the Rays, 8-3, at the Stadium to move 2 1/2 games ahead of Tampa. But Burnett's inconsistency threatens to derail the Yankees in the postseason.
The 33-year-old has been an enigma since the season began, toeing the line between masterful and maddening. The key to Burnett's success remains locked inside his own head, a secret both he and the Yankees are well aware of, yet can't quite tap into when needed.
"Once I got into somewhat of a rhythm - it took me a couple months to do that, but I think after every one of my games that were good I think I tell you guys that I was free upstairs," Burnett (10-13, 5.08 ERA) said before the game. "Part of the game, it is 90 percent mental. You hear it all the time so, obviously, it's not more focus, but the more at ease I am out there and not letting things bother me, the better I'm going to do."
For that reason, manager Joe Girardi held an impromptu meeting with the pitcher last week during the team's series in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"I liked the way he'd been throwing the baseball and I didn't want him to forget that I'm looking at what's ahead of us, not behind us," Girardi said. "Don't try to make up your season in your last few starts, just go out and pitch and be yourself and continue to work and continue to attack hitters."
It was against the Rays when Burnett was pulled after just three innings July 17 after suffering lacerations to his palms. He initially lied about the injury before disclosing the truth: In a fit of frustration, he slapped a clubhouse door and cut himself.
Those moments of frustration are behind him, he said. From now on, he said he plans to heed Girardi's advice and focus only on the future.
"To sit down with him and be on the same page and basically hear it from somebody else beside my head the whole time, to put everything behind and look at what's ahead and what's important, it was good to hear," Burnett said. "With what I'm going through this year there's a lot pressing and trying to overdo it, so that takes a toll out there. You try to do too much on the field and actually you do less. Confidence is huge, too."
