You miss the point (and I already mentioned that most of Becketts injuries were blisters). The point was that everybody considers Burnett to be more fragile than glass but the reality is he has pitched just as much as Beckett.
Oh, and here is what the only "real" experts have to say about Boston, NY and the rest of the world for next year. "If the acquisition of Sabathia is reason to question the Yankees' judgment, it also makes them more hate-able than ever. A few days ago, Sinisi had the Yankees at 9-to-1 to win the 2009 World Series. After signing Sabathia, they're even with the Red Sox at 6.5-to-1. If they sign A.J. Burnett, they'll drop to 5- or even 4-to-1. "If they add two front-line starters you've got to make them the favorite," said Sinisi. Some casinos weren't even waiting. The MGM already had the Yankees at 4-to-1." http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8930962/Yankees-the-only-high-rollers-in-Vegas
No, the point here is, if there's a pitcher you'd consider more likely to be two throws away from the DL (or the end of a career, even), of the two, it would be Burnett. The point is all about prognosticating going forward, not assigning away differences of the past.
The comparison between Beckett and Burnett is even closer than I thought. This came as a total surprise to me: Over the past three seasons (when both were in the AL East): Burnett 174 innings per season 3.96 ERA 3.3 BB/9 9.1 K/9 Beckett 192 innings per season 4.12 ERA 2.3 BB/9 8.2 K/9 Over the past four seasons (which includes their final year with FLA in the NL): Burnett 183 innings per season 3.80 ERA 3.32 bb/9 8.89 k/9 Beckett 190 innings per season 3.94 ERA 2.45 bb/9 8.19 k/9 Comparing the last two seasons (in case Beckett fans want to complain about his lousy first year in the AL East): Burnett 193.5 innings per season 3.93 ERA 3.53 BB/9 9.46 K/9 Beckett 187.5 innings per season 3.62 ERA 1.78 BB/9 8.8 K/9 I'm not saying Burnett is the better pitcher... but they are a LOT closer than I would have thought. Both in performance AND in durability. If you compare their reputations, everyone talks about what a stud Beckett is and how Burnett is a walking infirmary (which I would have agreed with). But this breakdown really surprised me.
But why should the Mets be brought up just because a Mets fan posts in a Yankee thread? It seems to me by your comments that you are one of the trolls that you are constantly complaining about.
Yeah, I would prefer Sheets and Pettitte too unless we can make a trade for Peavy. His agent is going to speak to him about other teams next week (mainly the Angels). One of those links I posted earlier said the Yankees really aren't interested in Teixiera and that another said the Cameron deal is almost done (with the Yankees throwing in another player). We still need a bat. At least bring back Abreu who hits .300 and gets 100 RBIs.
Well, you certainly can't say that when last year he led the league in SOs and pitched 221 innings. It would be easier to say it about Beckett after last year who pitched only 174. He has had his Tommy John and that only made him stronger. Don't get me wrong, I don't want him.
Hahahaha, okay there smart guy. I'll just stop having this "conversation" before I go and say something to earn myself a vacation. Have fun in perpetual second place. I don't want Peavy at all. I've said it before that I don't think he'll be anywhere near as good in the AL East. (Of course, I wouldn't cry if we got him either, but it will probably cost us too much.) I know the Yankees supposedly aren't that interested in Teixeira, but if we get Pettitte to sign for 10, and Sheets on a 2-year deal, I think we go after him in earnest. If we get Cameron, count Abreu gone for sure. I actually think the Yankees have zero desire to bring Abreu back at all, which kind of bothers me. That's a lot of RBI to sacrifice. Definitely though, with Cameron here, there's no way we carry Nady, Cameron, Damon, Matsui and add Abreu into that mix. Not with Gardner already on the bench, and Jackson approaching. As I said earlier today, I'd rather scrap the Cameron deal, especially if it involves additional players. I mean, if they add in Fielder, I can see upping the trade, but an additional player for a one-year rental? No thanks. And I know you're against Fielder, but he'd hit a lot of homers in Yankee Stadium.
Yes, but Burnett has had his Tommy John surgery and it is behind him. They say most people become stronger than ever after it and it appears he may have too.
I agree Fielder would probably hit at least 50 a year at the stadium and I am not against him as much as you think. I just don't know what the obsession with fat is lately. I really know how much that rubs Giaradi the wrong way so it will be interesting to see if he can get Sabathia in shape. Fielder too if it came to that.
I wouldn't say Burnett is the better pitcher, but he certainly has better stuff. He doesn't have close the command or control that Beckett does, and I can't see him as the leader of a staff at all, but when healthy he's a top 5 pitcher in the game easy. The difference in rep comes from a few different things IMO, those being demeanor, playoff performance, and most importantly, severity of injuries. As has been mentioned, Beckett's had blisters. Burnett's had severe shoulder and elbow injuries. There's a HUGE difference there.
Ahem...... 3rd place Devil I am not basing Sabathia getting injured on anything other than the amount of work he has put in over the last 2 seasons and his being completely out of shape. I keep hearing David Wells comparisons about the weight. David Wells was an above average at best pitcher, is that what the Yankees spent 160 million on? He's not Mo Vaughn or Cecil Fielder who can DH. This guy is expected to throw over 200 innings for the next 7 years. I just think at some point he is going to break down. It's just a guess but I say by late in year 2 or early 3rd year of the contract. I don't know if Alio was referring to my injury report on Burnett as trolling but I am just posting what is out there if anybody does a little research. I never mentioned the words Mets or Yankees suck, just opinions. If somebody has an issue with it, tough shit.
Yeah, I mean I'm actually more concerned about Fielder's weight than Sabathia's. Fielder has to play first and run bases. It would be pretty funny though if the Yankees got Sabathia, Fielder and Manny all in the same winter. That's like a "Buy 3 players, get a 4th one free" deal! EDIT: Where did the Fielder talk come from anyway? I read that blog you posted, and there was no mention that Fielder had anything to do with discussions. The conversation, while amusing, is probably highly irrelevant.
I'm getting tired of Pettite and his posturing. What happened to the notion of just wanting to play with the Yankees next year or retiring? The guys a fucking merc he's not even worth 10 million based on his awful season last year and his elbow problems.
RBIs aren't a great stat for production. They're more a function of who hits in front of you (and how often they get on base). I'd say the upgrade from Molina to Posada, the upgrade from Gardner/Melky to Cameron, and the hopeful upgrade from shitty Cano to decent Cano will more than offset any production the Yanks lose by kicking Abreu to the curb. Well, yes and no. He's had elbow issues since the surgery, and he's had shoulder issues, as well. I agree. But I still found it interesting, and very surprising that their stats were so comparable (especially the innings) when their reputations are so different (right or wrong). I would chalk up most of the difference in reputation to the 2003 and 2007 playoffs as opposed to any sustained performance. If you go back and look at Beckett's career, 2007 is his best season, by far (ERA+ of 145). The only other one that comes remotely close is 2003 (ERA+ of 138), but he missed 10+ starts that year. He's been good, but not great, in some years (2004, 2008), and was mediocre in 2006. With Beckett, everyone expects him to be one of the best pitchers in the league, but the reality is that he's been down as often as he's been up, and has a very good (but not amazing) ERA+ of 116... just behind Andy Pettitte's career ERA+ of 117 and tied with Ben Sheets and Barry Zito (!!!). (Of course, "down" for Beckett is still around league average or better.) Now we can explain it all away with rationalizations about how he was throwing too many fastballs in 2006, or was out of shape in 2008, or whatever. But the results of that comparison just took me by surprise.
His name was in there a a possible person the Yankees could talk about in the future. Of course it was written when the Cameron trade was off. Now that it's back on it probably won't happen. It was in that link at the time. I worry about Sabathia's weight not because of his arm but his back, knees and legs. Wasn't that what eventually caught up with Wells? Wells had a bionic arm but everything else went and Sabathia is twice his size.
Yes, that is what caught up with Wells... starting at age 38. Four years after the contract with Sabathia will expire.
He is one of only 3 people in baseball who have at least 100 RBIs in each of the last 6 seasons. The others are Arod and Pujols. That's pretty good company. Even Manny hasn't done it. He must be doing something right. He has also batted near .300 over that same period. He will probably only get a contract for 9 or 10 million tops with the way things are going. I can't see why the Yankees wouldn't want him back if they can't get anyone else. There must be some reason other than production that we don't know about.
