The fans and the Pirates were riding high after an emotional win over the Reds on Tuesday. It was their year. It was “Buctober.” Not a thing in the world could stop them going into the series against the Cardinals. They had their de facto “ace” taking the hill in A.J. Burnett, and the world would once again see how mighty these Pirates are.
Well, that sounds all well and good, but that’s not how it went. The Cardinals took it to the Pirates and Burnett on Thursday afternoon, to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Yes, I think the Pirates win today’s game and come back to Pittsburgh tied at 1-1. As the esteemed columnist Joe Starkey said yesterday on his afternoon show on 93.7 The Fan, of the last 35 road teams to split the first two games on the road, 24 of them have gone on to advance. Win today, and the numbers are in the Pirates favor.
But what if the Pirates and Cardinals split at PNC Park, as well? It would bring up a big Game 5 in St. Louis. Adam Wainwright — who was unhittable yesterday — would be in line to toe the rubber in the deciding game for the Cardinals.
Then there is Burnett. After Burnett’s latest blow up in the playoffs and latest blow up in St. Louis, is he the one you really want to trust? Maybe it’s just me, but it seems as if he’s getting a pass for his struggles.
Maybe it’s because of the way the fans took to him for his in your face, this is my team, STFD persona. It’s great. Each team needs one of those guys. But if Gerrit Cole or Charlie Morton — even Francisco Liriano, to an extent — would’ve had one of those days on the mound, would they go blame free?
Usually, I throw then numbers out the window in the playoffs, because they don’t matter. Sorry, state geeks, but they don’t. But for Burnett, it’s different. With the loss yesterday, he’s now 2-3 in eight career playoff starts, with 27 walks, 31 strikeouts, a 1.59 WHIP and a 6.37 ERA. Couple that with his dismal numbers against St. Louis — they’re even worse when Burnett plays in St. Louis — and you have to think if he’s really the guy you want to give the ball to in a deciding game.
For me, the answer is easy — no.
Fortunately, I’m not the one who makes the call here. If and when Hurdle has to make the decision, it’s time for Burnett to step up and be the pitcher that he claims and wants to be.
