tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

AJ & ARod

There has been plenty of rumblings in the blogsphere and twitter world that the Yankees should keep Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes in the starting rotation and banish AJ Burnett to the bullpen. Flash Alert: It ain't happening!!!! There are $82 million reasons why it will not happen. I think it is safe to say that AJ Burnett is an $82 million bust. I'm tired of hearing about his awesome stuff. I'm tired of hearing how nasty he is to face. The bottom line is that he is totally unreliable when it comes to pitching in a big game. In fact, he's totally unreliable when he has a twelve run lead!!!!

This guy is a total head case. At his age, he should be able to control his emotions and think through a game. He is not capable of doing that. He's not capable of doing what CC Sabathia did on Monday night. As a result, when you look at October, Burnett is a number 4 at best. I'd probably go with Nova or Hughes before I went with Burnett. Ask me who would you rather have right now: Garcia or Burnett?? I'll take the crafty 85 mile an hour fastball Garcia and that's not saying much.

As the Godfather of sports talk radio, Mike Francesa would say, "there paying him $82 million to throw pies".
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The news that Major League Baseball wants to speak to ARod about his alleged participation in an underground poker game in Califronia has caused mixed emotions for me. One part of me is saying: why do you put yourself in this predicament??? Especially when it's been reported that ARod was warned to stay away from such games. It almost makes it seem like ARod can't help himself.

The other part of me is saying: Selig, are you kidding me??? You have nothing else to be concerned about??? This is the same guy and league that turned a blind eye to performance enhancing drugs which actually effected the game. I was reading an article this morning which said that its common knowledge that professional athletes participate in such poker games. The names mentioned in the article were not other major league ball players but I find it hard to believe that ARod is the only baseball player to drop down cash on a poker game.

Baseball's aversion to gambling has been extremely stringent. We all know about Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson. Both of them were believed to have bet on baseball games. But, Major League Baseball also prohibited Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle from any official major league baseball activities because they became spokesman for an Atlantic City casino back in the 80's. Seemed over the top to me then and I still feel the same way.

If ARod is suspended for this it is a total joke. His playing poker in an underground game has nothing to do with baseball. If Commandant Selig is concerned about such activity will he further investigate to determine whether other ball players have participated in such games??? Will he prohibit players from participating in fantasy baseball and fantasy football leagues??? How about March Madness pools??? In the mean time, what is the Commandant doing about testing for HGH???