Veteran A.J Burnett must step up after a previous lackluster season

A.J Burnett/ Flickr

A.J Burnett has been the New York Yankees most inconsistent pitcher in their rotation. Some games he can’t be hit and others he can’t throw a strike. His inconsistency cost the Yankees a place in the World Series last season. His playoff game against the Rangers was a complete disaster. He gave up five runs in six innings and gave up one home run. Last season, he had 10 wins and 15 losses with a 5.26 ERA and led the lead in hit batsmen. Statistically this was his worst season yet. The Yankees have paid too much to Burnett to let him off the rotation. Burnett must work on his signature pitch, the curve ball, which was lackluster last season.

His progress so far in the spring camp has been to hard to measure considering he has only pitched six innings. For him to get back to his Florida Marlins days, he must work on his control and maybe even throw in a change-up. This season could easily be a repeat of the last one or a return to previous form, depending on him working on his control. One thing is for sure, you never know with A.J Burnett.