The Milestone

Watching the Yanks/Jays game right now. A couple things to note before I get to A.J. Burnett.

1. Phil Hughes looks filthy. Curve ball is moving.

2. Notice how Jeter and A-Rod are out. People playing in the finals with those guys on the roster must love that the Yanks are officially eliminated.

On to the reason that I am tempted to post something for the first time in a while. A.J. Burnett tonight would be taken out of this game in the 7th inning in virtually every other start. He was over 100 pitches after that time. He has a history of arm problems and generally the Blue Jays have done a good deal to protect him. Tonight was different as Burnett went 117 pitches. What made it different?

Well first of all Burnett is probably not going to be back with the Blue Jays. J.P. Riccardi has said he would like to resign him, but after the last 6 weeks of the season other than CC Sabathia, Burnett appears to be the most sought after free agent (I'm going to guess that Scott Boras will not turn sentimental on us and exercise the out clause) on the market. Thus, much like the Brewers have driven CC into the ground since trading him, the Jays had nothing to lose by dangling his arm for another inning.

Second, is the milestone issue. With 18 wins heading into the start and with the Jays not leading the game Burnett needed to stay in to get his 19th. If he got his 19th he would have had the option according to Cito Gaston to start on 3 days rest Sunday and get his 20th. So he came back out. And when the Jays didn't have the lead in the 9th inning it appeared that after 117 pitches Burnett still wasn't done. Gaston was really just being classy and brought in Jessie Carlson and let the fans give Burnett one last Canadian cheer.

The issue at this time of the year is interesting and certainly debatable. For anyone who argues the numbers don't matter to these guys, you are lying. Numbers bring contracts and ultimately dollars. Sure, I believe that John Elway wanted to win when he had reached the end and that Karl Malone signed with the Lakers to get a chance at the ring. But that is AFTER these guys have already had their best years and contracts behind them. Just goes to show that sometimes fantasy managers and their players are pulling for one another.