Click here to read first Twins-Yankees Blogger BattlePosted by: Karna Bergstrom Yawn ... I'm sorry, I nodded off there ... were you writing about the series or whining about some of your players?
An entire blog about a series, between two teams, that hardly mentions the Twins is definitely a highlight of that New York City arrogance.
You'd think now would be the time to stand behind your players, not openly bash them, cause that's my job!
While your guys are strutting around town taking steroids, getting divorced and dating actresses (oh wait, that's just Alex Rodriguez), our guys are seen in commercials with their mothers, on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title "American Idol" and won another batting title (oh wait, that's just Joe Mauer).
Yes, the Yankees (see I will be talking the other team) did win Wednesday night ... they chose to start the series mere hours after the Twins played practically 1 1/2 games. I'm not going to delve into the excuses the team or the fans could make for why the Twins lost. We lost. Series is at 1-0. Let's move on.
Friday night we've got Nick Blackburn, our Joe Mauer look-a-like, facing off against ... who ... oh yes ... A.J. Burnett (how could I have forgotten?).
I'm surprised Burnett doesn't seem to fit the Yankee ideal ... he sure is getting paid like a Yankee, as you mentioned, with a 5-year $82.5 million contract. Blackburn, on the other hand, gets about $440,000 a year. Oh ... and remember Burnett's ERA is 4.04 while Blackburn's in 4.03.
And I'm sorry that your players have a problem with certain catchers. Guess we can't relate.
As you can probably tell, this blog has a bit more bite than the previous one. Maybe it was because I wrote first and then allowed the New Yorker to respond. Or maybe it's because I've got people telling me to get rid of the Minnesota Nice. You go ahead and speak for the "Yankee Universe" cause we all know that New Yorkers are soft-spoken.
So we'll take on A.J. Burnett ... we'll oblige to your request of scoring some runs FOR YOU. But we'll take it a step further. When you come into the Metrodome 1-1 don't get too scared of our fans. We get loud.
And when you come to the Dome, we'll serve you some Lutefisk. Maybe you can try to swallow that with the foot that will be inserted in your mouth once we beat you twice in the Dome.
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Posted by: Jeff Capellini An open letter to the fine people of Minnesota and the Twins:
I know we didn't get off on the right foot on Wednesday. You know, that whole ice fishing hole reference and my rant on "destiny" and all, but I'm here to ask a favor.
I know, I'm really not in position to ask for much of anything considering my apparent New York City arrogance and the Yankees' convincing 7-2 win in Game 1, but I'm here nonetheless on one knee asking you fine folks for your indulgence.
What many Yankees fans need on Friday is your best effort, not because we actually plan on losing Game 2, but because we would like it if you kicked A.J. Burnett around a little. I'll spot you the first three innings. Just put up a five-spot or whatever. We'll even be all right with Nick Blackburn throwing a handful of solid innings.
Why? It's simple really. Burnett is fragile and on some level needs to be spanked. He's made it no secret this season he doesn't like pitching to Jorge Posada, who by all accounts is one of the greatest catchers to ever wear the pinstripes (his butchering behind the plate in Game 1 not withstanding).
Posada doesn't have the greatest postseason numbers, but he's a warrior and can change a game with both his bat and his arm. The problem ... well, it's not really a problem per se ... is Burnett doesn't feel comfortable with Posada calling his games. He's much more at ease when Jose Molina is back there.
Now, don't get us wrong. We like Molina. We love what he brings to the team defensively, but we know better than anybody he's an automatic out with a bat in his hand. That leads to an interesting debate, one manager Joe Girardi has already settled but one that will be analyzed ad nauseum on Friday night and who knows how long after.
That's where you guys come in.
Do we want Burnett to go out there and spin a three-hit shutout? Of course. Is it prudent to give your starting pitcher every chance to win, especially in the postseason? Of course. Are the Yankees better defensively with Molina behind the plate? Yes.
But our problem is Burnett doesn't seem to fit the Yankee ideal. He went just 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA during the regular season. Those are not spectacular numbers considering his $80 million contract. But we know he's more than capable of winning 15-plus games and striking out 250 in any season. Why he didn't do it this season is anyone's guess, but I'm of the belief he's not mentally tough. The Yankees signed him because he has a power arm that is supposed to be lights out in Fenway Park. He carried something like a sub 1.00 ERA in his career in Boston with him the day he signed on the dotted line with the Yankees.
Yet, when he actually pitched there as a Yankee he went 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA in three starts. I don't recall if Molina was behind the plate for any of those starts, but I do know Posada caught him that day in August when he threw a 1-hitter over 7 2-3 innings in the Yankees' 2-0 extra-inning win over the Sox at Yankee Stadium, outpitching Boston ace Josh Beckett along the way.
So we have a dilemma here. Sure, the Yankees want nothing more than to be up 2-0 heading into what would be the final game at the Metrodome, but at the same time they want Posada in the lineup all the time, not just when Burnett deems it necessary.
So, on behalf of Yankees Universe I'm asking you fine people to give Burnett his comeuppance. Beat on him for three innings. Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto, whomever ... just smack him around a little so that both he and Girardi are taught the lesson that you don't mess with Yankee greats unless your case is rock solid.
Burnett did have plenty of good regular season starts with Posada catching. Maybe not as many as he had with Molina, but certainly there wasn't enough of a glaring discrepancy to warrant Girardi upsetting the Yankee Machine apple cart just to appease a pitcher who, if he'd just focus on the task at hand, could probably pitch to me or my 6-year-old son.
So, please, again I'm asking nicely on one knee here, light up Burnett a little. The Yankee players, though they won't admit it publicly, would be greatly appreciative because first and foremost a Burnett stinker with Molina behind the plate all but assures Posada will catch every game going forward and will teach the big right-hander the valuable lesson that he's not bigger than the team regardless of his mental shortcomings.
Now remember, I said you get three innings to do your thing. After that, all bets are off. Once Burnett is given the hook and Posada pinch-hits for Molina in around the fourth inning the series goes back to the way we expect: Yankees rally for 10-9 win, pies fly and they head to Minnesota poised for the sweep.
You do all that and we'll consider letting you get one more win at your old barn.
Sound good? I'll even throw in some of our finest bread from Arthur Avenue in the Bronx and pizza from Brooklyn.
Thank you as always for your time and courtesy.
Jeff Capellini
Senior News and Sports Producer
WCBSTV.com
