Big Game Burnett

I was holding off on this blog post until AFTER tonight’s Yankees/Sox game, but seeing how this one is still going, and going, and going (and how I have to GO HOME eventually), the time has come to opine on the brilliance of AJ Burnett.

What a game from AJ. He stepped up huge tonight, matching Boston ace Josh Beckett inning for inning. AJ tossed seven and two thirds scoreless ball, while striking out six.

But most importantly, and seemingly for the first time this year, a Yankee starter didn’t just “keep my team in the game.” Instead Burnett dominated, giving the Yanks every chance to blow the game open.

All I’ve been hearing from fans this season is how the Yankees’ top guns - CC, AJ and (to a lesser extent) Joba – haven’t been dominant this season, rather being complacent with just keeping the game within reach.

That’s been true. CC and AJ have been good this year, but not the shut down studs Yankee fans were expecting when they were added to the mix during this off season. But tonight, you can finally put Burnett in that dominant column.

AJ finally showed that nasty stuff that he exhibited last season with the Blue Jays – often times at the expense of the Yankees.

It’ll be interesting if the rest of the Yankees’ “ace” staff will feed off this stellar start and follow AJ’s lead.

Fans no doubt have been waiting for a performance like this from at least one, if not all of their studs. Will it rub off?

Next up is CC tomorrow afternoon. More so than anyone, CC is supposed to be the work horse of this rotation – and lets face it, he hasn’t been. He’s been good, but that’s not good enough for a guy with those expectations.

Hopefully for the Yankees CC will follow AJ’s lead and finally spin that dominant performance.

Check back with this space tomorrow.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle