A.J. Burnett will start Game 4 of the AL championship series for the New York Yankees on 2 1/2 weeks’ rest.
General manager Brian Cashman said Monday that New York decided against using a three-man rotation against Texas or Tampa Bay, which would have required CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes to all start on three days’ rest in the latter part of the best-of-seven series.Cashman said they hope he pitches well for them,they believe in him every time he takes the mound,but he has struggled,no question about it,here in the second half,but that was then ,this is now,he is very competitive person,they believe that competitive nature will allow him to step up and do a great job for them.They look forward to that,butyou can not run away from how he pitched in the second half,he did not pitch well.

In the second season of an $82.5 million, five-year contract, Burnett did not appear against Minnesota in the division series and has not pitched in a game since Oct. 2. He was 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA during the regular season, including 4-13 with a 6.48 ERA over the final four months and 1-7 from Aug. 1 on. Cashman said he is got a very complicated delivery,but when he is on,he is as tough as they come.If the series against the Twins had gone to four games, Sabathia would have started Game 4 on short rest.
Burnett said when told he was being dropped from the first-round rotation. Burnett is not going to cause drama or be the bad apple.At the time, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he appreciated Burnett’s reaction.Girardli said he did not know how he would take it,but they talked about it and he seemed like he is on board,he is going to do whatever he can to help them
A.J. Burnett is a right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. Previously, he played for the Florida Marlins and the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the New York Mets in the eighth round with the 217th overall pick of 1995 amateur entry draft.On May 12, 2001, Burnett recorded a no-hitter in a complete game shutout against the San Diego Padres in his second start of the season.

Burnett was 1-1 with a 5.27 ERA in five postseason starts last year, beating Philadelphia in Game 2 of the World Series and losing on short rest in Game 5.Because on an extra off day during last year’s ALCS, Sabathia was the only Yankees’ starter who came back on short rest.Cashman said the schedule is different,instead of one guy going on short rest,you are going to also have Hughes and Pettitte,it is just not good to go with a three-man.