Game 109: Beckett – Burnett, take 3
ByThe night after a 13-6 thumping of the Red Sox, the Yankees will see a familiar matchup: Josh Beckett vs. A.J. Burnett. The two former Marlins have faced off twice this year, with Burnett bearing the brunt of the beating both times. Beckett disposed of the Yankees handily in the latter of those encounters, striking out eight and allowing just one hit over six innings. The earlier one was a slugfest which saw Beckett surrendering eight runs over five innings. Beckett also recorded a quality start, six innings and three runs, in a start against Joba Chamberlain, sandwiched between the two Burnett battles.
We all know who Josh Beckett is by now and how the got to this point. So let’s catch up from when we last saw him. After that eight strikeout appearance, Beckett was 7-2 with a 3.77 ERA, 76 strikeouts to 32 walks in 76.1 innings. Since then he’s been even better, going 6-2 with a 2.70 ERA, striking out 56 and walking just seven in 66.2 IP. This includes two complete game shutouts, one against the Braves and the other against the Royals. Opponents have hit just .237 against him in that span with a .262 OBP and .343 SLG.
Burnett’s been no slouch since his last duel with Beckett, in which he lasted just two and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs, three earned, and walking five. He’s pitched 58.1 innings in that span, going 6-2 with a 2.62 ERA, 51 strikeouts to 28 walks. Opponents are hitting Burnett even worse than Beckett, to the tune of a .218 BAA and .296 SLG, though his OBP is a bit higher because, well, Burnett walks dudes.
The hope in round three is that it looks like a reversal of round two. Since Beckett is pitch so well, a pitchers’ duel is the more likely scenario. After last night, I could use one of those.
Just in case you missed it, both teams made a few moves today. The Yankees swapped Anthony Claggett for Ramiro Pena, giving them another pinch running threat in addition to Hairston. The Red Sox predictably DFA’d Billy Traber, and then surprisingly DFA’d John Smoltz. It’s bittersweet to see his career end on a night like last. The Red Sox promoted RHP Junichi Tazawa to take Smoltz’s place, and claimed Chris Woodward off waivers in Traber’s. That’s because Jed Lowrie was hurt last night, though as of now he hasn’t been placed on the DL.
Lineup:
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Nick Swisher, RF
9. Melky Cabrera, CF
And on the mound, number thirty-four, A.J. Burnett
304 Comments
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Just hope Burnett’s better than last week…
Let’s go AJ! Let’s go Yankees!
Give me an O! Give an R! Give me a G! Give me a Y!
What’s spell? OFFENSE!
That’s Michael Kay’s world. Balls and bats having a go at eachother in a disgusting display of pre-Christianity hedonism with no regard for the younger viewers in the audience.
JUST GOT THE HUSTLING ORTIZ!
…my comments must be cursed. They never end up where I want them to!
We could really do without the walks from Burnett tonight. Seven innings would be so clutch.
Eh, it is what it is, he’s probably gonna walk some guys, it’s nothing new.
Well we really need some length from him. The bottom 4 of their order are pretty bad tonight.
I swear if I see a single walk in the first inning, shit’s going down.
How’s two?
Any time Melk is at 9 in the lineup you know we’ll score some runs. With Mo and Phil available, maybe Ace too, we should get the W. I’m not expecting Burnett to be spectacular, just to pitch well and keep us in it for 6ish innings, if he is spectacular it’s gravy.
To the Yankees (who, I have no doubt, will read this comment in the next 13 minutes), especially AJ Burnett:
Do not take the Red Sox bait! Do not fall prey to an inside fastball or a brushback pitch and start a war!
It is the Sox who are trying to make something out of the Pedroia / Melancon non-event. Like a good P.R. rep, they are trying to create a distraction.
Do not – I repeat – DO NOT give them a reason to get cocky.
Thank you. That is all.
Don’t walk batters. Throw strikes. Throw decent strikes.
Make it work.
/project runway’d
Alright, beer’s cold, threads up, let’s do this thing.
I don’t need alcohol to have a good time.
sometimes with AJ’s control, you do
Why? You plan a pretty nice little Saturday, going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, do you know, do you think you’ll have enough time?
haha
yesmichaelkay
Hey fans! I like to follow a “ball hit DEEP to left field” with a “caught by Jeter in shallow left.” OH I CAN’T READ THE BALL OF THE BAT!!!!
“I just want to tell you good luck. We’re all counting on you.”
. . .
. . .
“I just want to tell you good luck. We’re all counting on you.”
the hospital? what is it?
it’s a big building with lots of patients, but that’s not important right now
“I just want to tell you good luck. We’re all counting on you.”
Shirley you can’t be serious
Don’t call me Shirley.
any chance it was the yankees who claimed rios?
nope
Ugh, nothing like alternate jerseys in a yanks sox series. Save that shit for when you play b-more.
Good try Swish
I’m surprised Dustin was able to wipe the tears from his eyes in time to play this game.
well, this is not the way AJ wanted to start off
Don’t tell me we’re getting squeezed again.
checking now
Only first pitch of game was called wrong, everything else wasn’t close.
I’d be coo with that. What is it. 6 more years, about 60 mil? Not a great season this year but should be 20/20 with almost .300. And he’s what 28?
Lets pick up John Smoltz. I hear he is pretty good.
cmon AJ, get out of this man
THEY ARE CALLED STRIKES
DP!!!
haha, uno maas
Jeez I never would have believed throwing strikes would be so beneficial.
Forget this comment.
Pedroia setting himself up to be beaned again.
Lovely DP!
woot woot! one mo!
I don’t mind walk Puke to get to Pop-up.
This dude is supposed to own the Red Sox right? Well then freaking pitch like it man.
J Henry hasn’t pitched in years
Haha. Hasn’t tweeted in a while either. What a pansy.
All he does is complain when the Yankees sign someone. His crybaby nature rubs off on his team.
My heart skipped.
Yeah, after Posada’s non slide last night, I don’t think I could’ve handled booting that ball…even though it did take a…ahem a WICKED HAWP!
Oh. My. Goodness.
Good save Cano.
Holy shit. Good thing Papi runs like a cheetah. A dead cheetah.
haha…
You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar!
Red Sox FAIL
Ugh. Nice recovery though Robbie.
wow that was close
Good thing Ortiz is slow as fuck.
Whoo…2 walks and only 15 pitches?!!!!!!!
first inning is usually the best time to get to beckett. let’s get it
Nice recovery by Cano
Cano has a very strong arm.
Missed the pregame guys. No warnings were handed out before the game right?
Go Offensive Orgy
DESTROY this fucker.
NOT a good inning for Burnett. His fastball isnt even close to where he wants to throw it.
He usually struggles his first time in the stretch.
So Beckett sure does get calls off the plate…
i might have missed this, but who did the Yankees give away for Chad Gaudin?
player to be named later
damn damon
That almost hit the chalk in the other batting box.
i agree
ubelievable
Better pure stuff: AJ or Beckett?
Beckett. Better two-seamer, movement, and throws a tad harder.
probably AJ but Beckett commands his stuff much better, so Beckett is the better pitcher.
WTF
Beckett’s due for a loss and some homers.
/rubs hands together in optimistic & prognostic glee
Second and third strike to Damon were balls according to Gameday. SWEET.
Beckett is the only pitcher on the Sox I can’t stand. Seems like his head is up his ass too often, that cocky motherfucker.
Say what? Nobody is more of a douchebag than Paps. I don’t like Beckett but he’s not even in Paps’ league.
So, Beckett is getting the outside call to lefties, lets hope AJ does too.
God that guy looks like a fuckin douche.
Where there’s smoke there’s fire bro.
That’s something the Boston scouts look for in all their signings.
ietc
Im sure they are angry we got Gaudin and his squirrel and they didnt
We worked out a deal with the Sox. Gaudin’s shavings for Smoltz.
Just work the count and get Beckett out of there before 7/8/9.
Becks is getting borderline calls but it looks like he’s puttin them there. Umps reward control.
Yeeeaaaah AJ is missing badly. Let’s hope he can correct it early.
What is the problem with AJ’s control? If he doesn’t find it fast, this could be a long night.
AJ’s just a little too pumped, i think he’ll get it together soon.
cmon AJ, today is the not day to not have control
So, AJ, how about throwing some strikes?
AJ getting his control back!
best pitch of the night right there
Glad to see Varitek is still toasty.
Alright, tell me youre locked in now.
Awright AJ – Nice K.
There we go, AJ settling down.
I think ONLY Cody Ransom looks worse at the plate than Varitek…. Maybe Pat Burrell.
God, Pat Burrell has been nothing but dead weight for my fantasy team.
Think he has been dead weight his entire career. Never understood signing him. Just personal preference.
the dude’s got 13 hr’s.
Who Burrell?
tek
Pesky Pole.
Like Varitek for his defense but he is just not a good hitter.
heh, no one said he was a good hitter. He’s also not Cody Ransom.
agree.
YEAH AJ DROPS THE HAMMER
Take that curve and love it, Captain C.
sit ya ass down supercaptain
AJ, remember when you gritted blood to get outs in Minnesota?
Can you do that again please?
That’s an All-Star calibur at bat by Jason Varitek.
AJ calmed back down.
And with the flyout to Reddick, AJ has now thrown more strikes than balls.
IETHI (i enjoyed this half inning)
Could we…COULD WE have a pitcher’s duel here? I’d like to see it and then have Beckett lose it on a grounder that makes it through a shifted infield ala Giambi last year.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
Great read.
gimme 5 more of those innings AJ
When Derek is in a garage full of Ford’s, he thinks, “get me out of Youkilis’s fuckin garage!!”
IETC.
Way to swing at ball four there, Alex.
that’s been called a strike so far so its OK
man backs is getting every corner
a lot of looking K’s lately for A-rod
Hideki swings at horrible pitches…
Beckett looks filthy today… unfortunately.
Agreed. Gotta try and wear him down. Get him out in 6.
I love Jorge, but he still can’t hit breaking balls.
I hate Josh Beckett with the fire of a thousand suns.
It’s hard to hit a 77mph curve after a bunch of 96mph fastballs with movement.
Well, yeah. That goes without saying.
Jorge just has issues with breaking balls, from my recollection. Fastballs and changeups, however . . .
Heh, through two innings:
Beckett: 28 pitches
Burnett: 27 pitches
yep, and Beckett is perfect so far
some of the yanks hitters are actually working the count, which is good. I expect to see some contact through the second time through
I would not have guessed that.
But A-Rod is responsible for 6 of Beckett’s! Clutch out there.
Beckett perfect through 2…
wow beckett looks NAZZZTY
Jeter will drop a bunt down his next AB, if Melk doesn’t do it first. Here is where Gardner would be good because of his speed. Just to get someone on base.
Michael Kay is commenting on the lack of hits so far. We’re through two innings, Michael!
AJ looks a lot better than that first inning.
attaboy swish
Struggling? He’s being Nick Green.
Nick Green? Struggling?
Surely not!
Remember how he started the season hot and people were pining for him over Ransom?
Yes, and that makes his return to the norm all the sweeter.
I love Nick “4th OF” Swisher.
Damn. the ump is like a foot taller than him.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Yankees pitches got their strikes called? I can understand a mistake here and there in a game. But not here and there in an inning. Last night was a travesty, but come on. It’s happening again.
4 out of 5 of those pitches to Pedroia were strikes. You can guess which one wasn’t.
his strike zone is ridiculous since he’s so small
When I played baseball that was one of my advantages. I walked a lot, never ever got caught stealing until the last game I ever played. I was basically a mix of Pedroia and Gardner
haha i’m jealous. When i played i was 6’2
never got that call
Yeah…same here. Its the one disadvantage of being tall in baseball.
Chris Davis is 6’8″. No wonder he strikes out all the time.
How is a fastball at Pedroias belt not a strike, that’s the second one this at bat called a ball…
If you hit the strike zone, it should be a strike regardless of where the catcher’s glove is before the pitch.
God that felt good…thank you Jorge
Got em.Hell yeah!
Can’t grit your way to second.
PEDROIA SUCKS!
Get Thrown out… GET SOME MIDGET BOY!!!
Got em.
Take that midget!
O’Neil is trying so badly to be politically correct while talking about Midget…he is probably laughing inside..
haha. they thought they were running on tek
Not enough grit there.
For such a gritty team, their manager is a pretty boy.
gm… Theo
You mean their GM?
I’m not saying Francona is an unattractive man but…
Thank you Dusty!
Pedroia owned by his WBC buddy and that buddy’s BFF.
BETRAYAL FIVE!
YEAH BABY!!!!
CANO!
CANO!
Nice. Robbie!
Robbie is a good hitter.
sick. ha and damn, sometimes I wish Canobie was a little faster.
seriously..for all the doubles he hits.
AHH OMFG HOLY SHIT I MIGHT GET TO MEET TEH JESUS TOMORROW!!!
How so?
Cos I know special peeps
LUCKY! Im gonna have to wait until next year when the Scranton Yankees come to where I live…assuming he will make it to AAA at some point during the year.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA.
Rebecca…I don’t know what to say. I feel like I’m watching you go to find the Holy Grail while I’m held up by Nazis.
seems like when the Yanks hit around a lot….
orgasmic
I don’t even know if I should talk to him in Spanish or English!
Spanglish?
Did Drew think he was gonna get that? come on.
Robbie!
how the hell is he getting these calls?
This strike zone is nebulous at best.
Ok, this is why pitchers hate umpires. Lose consistency.
the yanks are finally effing making this man work
When Robbie leads off an inning, he is a beast!
I’m loving this crowd the past two days.
sick AB by Swish, come on man, just get em over
swisher is making him work
way to go Swish.
what an awesome walk by the swishahouse
BALL FOUR!!!
What a fucking at-bat by Swisher. Took an inning off Beckett’s night right there.
Swisher is lucky that the 1-2 pitch was called a ball. Pretty clearly should have been strike 3.
Gotta love Swisher. Just a terrific AB there.
attaboy swish
Nice 10-pitch walk by Swish!
No Sacrifices! No false idols!
wow! Nice walk/AB Swisha
no DP Melk
Hey fans! This might be hyperbole but Melky’s better than Jesus.
…Michael Kay just made a BR mention. Late and Close is a total BR stat. And I talk about it all the time.
I’ll be impressed when he mentions Leverage situations.
That PA by Swish totally pumped me up.
And that from Melky totally deflated me. Goddammit.
come on melkster u got this shit.
crap
Oy vey. Hopefully the Captain can drive in Robbie.
Dammit Melky, just pretend it’s the ninth inning.
Really need to bunt in that situation. In that situation in this kind of game it’s the right thing to do.
shit, hell of a pitch there. c’mon jetes, get em in.
ah fuck
Don’t want Beckett to get out of this inning unscathed. Time for the captain.
FML
“Time for the captain”…..to ground out.
Oh well….really made Beckett work that inning at least.
How wrong is it that I booted up MLB 09: The Show just so I could plunk Youk?
Not wrong at all. I’ve done Yankee-Sox games where I use Joba and I throw at everybody’s head until every single Yankee pitcher gets ejected.
There is nothing wrong with that…as long as you hit pedroia too
So close.
wow, i wish beckett was good, i wouldn’t be as frustrated…
He’s not good?
While he might be the most overrated pitcher in baseball, he isn’t exactly a slouch.
Beckett not-so-secretly loved the Jeter touching.
Looked like he was cursing on my broadcast.
That’s the way people from Boston moan.
FACK! I LIKE IT WHEN YOU TOUCH ME THAY-UH! OH GAWD!
damn
Looks like AJ and pitching Co. is gonna have to win this game tonight.
Well, fuck.
But that’s going to make for interesting picture in the game write-ups.
Well that sucked.
ah damn, get em next time guys
On the bright side, Beckett’s up to 51 pitches.
Per Kenny’s B-R page, the answer is Eck.
oh snap, AJ pulled out the changeup
Not one of those rich people in those seats behind the plate to the left were watching the first pitch of this AB.
Yeah it’s obnoxious. I feel like if you sit in that area of the stadium you should be required to check your cellphone to prevent the morons who are constantly talking on their cell phone and waving to the camera.
I was there when Pedro struck out 17. That was incredible.
Ofcourse burnett doesnt get the inside call on youkilis…
Could there be just one game that Paul O’Neill calls in which they don’t discuss food?
And where the hell did that pitch miss?!
I could have sworn I heard the word “boner” somewhere in there…
Can we get a fuckin’ call tonight?
SERIOUS????!!!11!1!!
MOTHERFUERfaqutahotgwjoer I HATE THESE UMPIRES.
Burnett got squeezed on 1-1 and 2-2…BULLSHIT
horrible fuckin call. nothing new.
strikezones are different for each pitcher.
should be strike 3 there but instead its ball 4…but Swisha got it too so Im good
Good effing Lord. Nice “walk” Youkilis. Such unbelievable horseshit.
Umpire worked a walk.
Curse you UMP!!! HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN K’ED UP!
AJ, maybe you should relax on Battle Mode and just throw strikes?
It’s so nice not having Manny behind Sloppi
Cmon AJ… It PED hitting, strike his ass out.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!
That was pretty.
What a turn.
HOLY COW!
DP!
Jeter and Robbie are awesome. Ortiz is the slowest man on the planet.
Wow, Ortiz’s OBP is down to .308? Holy crap.
That was a fanfuckingtastic double play.
He was awesome in June (.320/.409/.653), but other than a SLG-driven July during which he OPSed .845 (.539 SLG) he’s been terrible.
I would like to have a word with this umpire.
GREAT DP there.
I’m not gonna beat around the bush…I’d like to punch him very hard somewhere in the face.
But then again I am more violent than the average man.
GOLD GLOVES FOR EVERY YANKEE INFIELDER THIS YEAR… GET SOME!!!!
berroa gets one at 3b!!
cano is having an amazing season with the glove
Cano, you can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him.
Wow…well turned DP
I am loving Ortiz’s decline WAY too much!
Awww Whats wrong Ortiz? Somebody took ur “eye drops”
Wha happen to me protein shakes?
BE-A-U-TI-FUL double play there
Niceeeeeeeeeeee..Brandon Tierny style..
Yay Papi! Thanks man!
Futile Big Papi is futile.
I think at this time last night we were still in the third…
I love the win and all…but last night was a BRUTAL game.
Not too many people start the double play better than Robbie.
Now I understand what people mean when they call Ortiz lovable.
He has girth. Girth = jolliness.
Universal healthcare could beat Papi in a race.
So I just sent an e-mail to PeteAbe to complain about how the strikezone hasn’t been fair (citing Pitch f/x data) this series to EITHER team and I was wondering if there was any talk of it in the clubhouse, in the press box, etc.
In response:
Jordan: They won the game and this game is scoreless. You’re reaching. Just enjoy the game and stop searching for conspiracies that don’t exist.
And I’ve read Pete Abraham since his beginning and tonight I am officially finished. I can get the lineup on Twitter and I can get his analysis from Mike Francesa.
I realized this. A year ago.
2nd time through the order…time to mash!
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-517779
My search skills RULE!
I just flat out guessed.
Ok who looks more finish? Ortiz or Smoltz?
I still think we should pick up Smoltz. I hear he is good.
How did a comment from the 1990s get here?
Either Al or Swish will be the difference in this game.
Hey, who thinks the Yanks should pick up Vicente Padilla?
I don’t think so but what do you think.
Only as Tex’s personnal whipping boy.
This
I would say that Mick Kelleher is one of the biggest offseason additions to this team.
Beckett gets every single call. No surprises there.
A-rod normally hits Beckett well (.300+) so lets go!