AJ TERRIBLE AGAIN, BUT DON'T BURY HIM YET

AJ Burnett may never again be anything but occasionally strong again as a starter, but maybe he needs a change of role. The bullpen may be a way for the Yankees to not completely pull the plug on operation Burnett while helping the team at least a little bit.

Through the first three innings, his ERA is respectable at 4.07 and his strikeout total is 75, a little more then half of his season total. In innings 4-6 his ERA is 6.46. My point being, that if AJ pitches 1-2 innings every few days out of the bullpen, he would show a better side of himself then if he starts and is expected to go 5-6 innings.

Another positive, is that when AJ comes into the game out of the bullpen as a long reliever, the starter will either have already given up a ton of runs or the Yankees will have a big lead, so if he falters, the loss won’t be blamed on him, or if he gives up a few runs, he won’t have blown the game. This would help make Burnett more confident about the outcome of his appearances.

Being in the bullpen will work in AJ Burnett’s favor, both physically and mentally.