The Yankees

**hbcat** · July 25th, 2012, 08:08 PM

Burnett is an enigma. He had a good first year in NY, and a championship-caliber playoff run, and *then* wilted under the bright lights. The pattern usually goes the other way with big-name players. Even Clemens struggled his first few months with the Yankees.

**eddhead** · July 26th, 2012, 10:26 AM

I agree., although I did read earlier this year where the Pirates overhauled is delivery and really changed his mechanics. I wonder if that had anything to do with his success this year.

**ZippyTheChimp** · July 26th, 2012, 10:58 AM

Burnett's delivery and approach were tinkered with while he was here. What I think kept him from becoming more than a .500 pitcher was the blow-up inning.

All pitchers suddenly lose their command, most often in the first inning after a bullpen warmup. Hence the "get him early" philosophy. Also why so much importance is placed on the lineup, when it usually only happens at the start of the game. good pitchers recognize it, don't panic, and find something that works with minimal damage. It must be stressful though, when your game plan goes up in smoke.

You could see this happen frequently with Burnett. He's sailing along, and all of a sudden, he loses it. And the wheels fall off.

Hopefully, that won't happen in Pittsburgh if they make the playoffs.

**eddhead** · July 26th, 2012, 02:09 PM

True, but I don't think he embraced the change as enthusiastically as he did here. I think the most important thing is he now realizes and has come to grips with the fact that he no longer has 96 MPH stuff

**hbcat** · July 28th, 2012, 08:58 PM

from the 8th inning:

"it is high! It is far! It is g-- foul!"

One batter later:

"he sends a tex message! Oh, you're on the mark, Teixera!"

Can't take much more of this...

**hbcat** · August 12th, 2012, 01:45 PM

Sterling: "Happ wants to throw up. He's throwing up on Cano."

**eddhead** · August 13th, 2012, 12:32 PM

I know it is kind of annoying .... but it is also kind of funny in a way

**hbcat** · August 14th, 2012, 10:59 PM

That one was definitely funny and quite human & forgivable. What drives me nuts is his phantom home-run calls. He seems to go into a premature home-run trot on routine fly balls about once per game, and this, along with other blatant mistakes, can get really exasperating.

Great shut-out by Kuroda this time. If Pettite can get back into form, NY will have an excellent shot in October. Hughes and Nova are too unsteady to inspire such confidence though.

Jeter would have a good shot at a batting title this year but this kid Trout looks like the real deal and the next generation. I wonder how many other players have had so many 200 hit seasons and never once led their league?

**ZippyTheChimp** · August 14th, 2012, 11:34 PM

I wish they would either get rid of Sterling or transfer him to TV.

I wouldn't mind him on TV, because you could just watch the game. It would be not much different than the zany antics of the Scooter and Bill White.

But radio is different. Sometimes I just have a game on radio, when I'm busy doing other things. I've seen so many baseball games that I can just visualize it. Sterling destroys that.

Id rather it was broadcast plain-vanilla.

**ZippyTheChimp** · August 15th, 2012, 04:41 PM

From San Francisco:

**eddhead** · August 22nd, 2012, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by eddhead

This team is begining to remind me of the '98 team. I am not suggesting they are going to win 114 games, but at times they just seem like they refuse to lose. And everyone they stick on the line-up, From Ibanez/Jones to Nix to Stewart to even Garcia, makes a timely contribution. They don't miss a beat.

So much for that.

**ZippyTheChimp** · August 22nd, 2012, 03:17 PM

I thought the Ichiro Suzuki trade was a good move just based on defense. He's played all three outfield positions.

Offense has picked up after trade. Not as big a sample, but representative:

Seattle
402 AB .262/.288/.353

NY
93 AB .312/.333/.484