It's not really a baseball analysis at all, it's just a measure of one's uptightness.

Stumbled on this article while looking at A.J Burnett's page at baseball-reference.com, just to confirm that Burnett's lifetime ERA is better than Josh Beckett's.

By a whole 0.01 earned runs per nine innings.

But it just reminded me of a lot of chatter I've heard lately:

"The rehab setback by Andy Pettitte could be just temporary, but the thought has to arise the injury could be more severe than initially diagnosed. There is also the possibility he may have to pitch with some level of discomfort the rest of the season. Will the Yankees even see the same version of Pettitte when he returns? Also, what if Pettitte can’t return in 2010 what will the Yanks do the rest of the season?"

Answer to question #1: Who knows?

Answer to question #2: Probably win the AL East. The "rest of the season" being less than 50 games.


"You could argue that Pettitte was statistically the ace of the staff. His 139 ERA+ led all starters and was his best since 2002. Only CC Sabathia has shown the same type of consistency this year, and he even had his down period. With two games separating the Yanks and Rays in the AL East, consistency will be paramount to success, especially in the starting rotation."

Do the Rays exhibit consistency in their starting rotation?

Do the Red Sox?

Does anybody?

For the millionth time, the 2010 Yankees are not being challenged by the 1998 Yankees. I think the chances of holding off the Rays are 50%-50%. The chances of holding of the Rays and the Red Sox for the wild card are probably about 90%-10%.


"Can you win a postseason series with both A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez starting a game? What about Phil Hughes innings? Can they win with a postseason bullpen sans Hughes? This small injury setback has so many ramifications."

You go to a three-man rotation if you have to, but, yeah ... the Yankees can win a postseason series with Burnett and Vazquez starting a game.

Just like they could lose a postseason series with Pettitte starting a game.


"It appears Dustin Moseley needs to be every bit Aaron Small if Pettitte doesn’t return this season. There just doesn’t seem to be any better options. Right now I am putting the 'cart before the horse,' but the injury setback to Pettitte is an ominous sign."

Yeah, I really don't understand the incessant desire to "worry" Yankee fans.

The Yankees are cruising to 100 wins, best record in baseball, and are the current champs. Pettitte has a slight rehab setback and it's time to get worried.

"Yankees are great" is just a boring story.