When the Yankees went shopping for redemption in the off season, caveat emptor was the order of the day. Three big ticket mercenaries have infused the roster with pennant caliber talent but there is a dark side.
CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira deliver as advertised. All Star caliber, ready for prime time performers provide the Bombers a healthy return on over-the-top investment. It didn't take shrewd baseball judgement to pluck CC or Teix. Their notable skill sets matched perfectly with the rickety roster's gaping holes. "Pay the man his money."--(Rounders)
The third purchase, A.J. Burnett wasn't from the no brainer file. Paying $82.5 million for a 10 time veteran of the DL was ominous. There was no denying A.J.'s talent, nasty, eye-popping stuff was intoxicating. The marriage was made.
Burnett's enigmatic '09 performance is a snapshot of his career: stellar stuff, shaky command, mediocre record. Tuesday night in Baltimore, Burnett attempted to stop a skid of six consecutive starts without a win. It didn't work. Six innings pitched, six runs, 11 hits, frustration festered.
A mediocrity mired 10-8 record for the best team in baseball isn't good enough. The injury history speaks. The future is now. Frustration rules. You get what you pay for.
*This post was written by Mark Serio of Baseball Hot Corner*
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