Mark Feinsand is a sculptor and the English language is his medium.

"A.J. Burnett wasn't a member of the 2008 Yankees, yet he may have played as big a role as anybody in the Bombers' streak of 13 straight years in the postseason coming to an end.

Burnett went 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts against the Yankees, throwing eight or more innings in four of them. "

Oh.

It was those five games.

In fact, if Burnett was 0-4 instead of 3-1, the Yankees would have missed the Wild Card by three games instead of six games.

I didn't bother looking up the result of Burnett's no-decision because it wouldn't have made a difference in whether or not the Yankees' streak of 13 straight years in the postseason came to an end.


"But instead of gloating, the righthander is approaching the 2009 campaign as if he were a part of the first Yankees team to miss the playoffs since 1993."

It's probably the first team in the history of baseball that a player switched teams.


I will now list the people who were more important than A.J. Burnett in determining the success of the 2008 Yankees:

• Brian Cashman
• Anyone whose last name is Steinbrenner
• All the Yankee players
• Freddie Sez