Burnett tough on himself, still wants the ball

BOSTON - After his rough start Monday in Toronto, A.J. Burnett said he still expected to start in the postseason.

He sought to clarify that comment before Friday night's rain-out, and in doing so, he said he understands the importance of his outing against the Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.

The Yankees moved into first place in the AL East by a half-game Friday night when the Rays lost to the Royals, 7-0. The Yankees and Red Sox, whose game was rained out at about 10:30 p.m. Friday night, will play a doubleheader Saturday at 4:10 and 9:05 p.m.

Meanwhile, Burnett, who comes in 10-15 with a 5.33 ERA - a season he described Friday as "rubbish - doesn't feel entitled to anything.

"I've broken every record in the wrong direction for the Yankees this season," said Burnett, whose ERA is the second-worst for any Yankees pitcher in history with enough innings to qualify for the ERA title (Terry Mulholland had a 6.49 ERA in 1994).

Referring to himself, he said: "It's not like we have a Cy Young on the mound. Then again, I can go out there and throw a no-hitter at any time, so I have that in the back of my head, too. But I know there's questions. I'm not oblivious to that."

Does he think he'll be pitching for a spot on the postseason roster Saturday? "I would think not," he said, but he thought it was a fair question. "I've given a lot of reasons where you'd think so," Burnett said. "I'm not going to look at it that way because I think that's going to put added pressure on myself. My goal tomorrow is go out and feel more like A.J. than I have."

Joe Girardi said Saturday's game is important for Burnett and the team. "It's a big start for him, and it could be a huge start for us," Girardi said. "We're tied with Tampa. It's a big start."

Burnett also raised eyebrows after his start against the Blue Jays when he said, "Everybody says the season doesn't matter here; the postseason does." That was a reference to his standout Game 2 efforts in the 2009 Division Series and World Series and seemingly downplayed his subpar 2010 season.

He tried to clarify that Friday. "I said the regular season wasn't important; I didn't mean it that way," Burnett said. "I meant once you make the playoffs, you kind of start over. The season's very important because you have to get to the playoffs."

And he knows he hasn't pulled his load this season in that regard. Other than in April, when he went 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA, and July (3-1, 2.00), Burnett cratered in June (0-5, 11.35), then again in August (0-4, 7.80) and September (1-3, 6.14).

"I do think about where we'd be if I pulled my weight [this year],'' he said. "But I tip my hat to Phil Hughes, CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte. Think if Phil didn't do what he did this year; he totally picked me up big-time. There's no erasing , but I can make it disappear for a few weeks, maybe."

His goal Saturday is "to give everyone in here the peace of mind that, hey, we'll be all right with A.J. in the postseason."

Burnett is very much in tune with fans who have judged his season harshly.

"I'm here for a reason,'' he said, "and I haven't done crap to help this team this year. That's my own opinion, that's how I feel. I haven't done what I'm supposed to do, so [it's been] rubbish. But that's what I meant the other night when I said the season's behind us. In my mind, I'm moving forward. Every start, I'm trying to move forward."

How many starts there are beyond Saturday remains a question. "I just want the ball, whenever it is," Burnett said. "I understand what's going on, I understand how I'm throwing, I understand I haven't been helping the team when I'm on the mound, and I get it. Do I want it to happen? Heck, no. I want the ball."