[8] Agreed. Even though he’s getting paid like an ace, that doesn’t mean he has to pitch like an ace in order to have value. He is what he is.

Oh, and I’m firmly against putting him in the bullpen, as the rest of you would be if you had thought it through. If A.J.’s in the bullpen during a walk-off, he’ll have to sprint all the way across the field to get to the dugout, run back into the clubhouse, make the pie, run all the way back out onto the field, and — if he’s got any energy left — apply the pie. That’s just too much to ask.

You put him in the bullpen. His FB will play up in shorter stints, they can’t sit on it because he might loft a curve, and the Yanks’ bullpen would be a truly devastating weapon.

Besides, its not like the Yanks aren’t used to paying big money to relievers. Mo and Soriano both make a lot of cash and pitch in the ‘pen!

i agree with oyf – in [6] normally aj just fucks up at some point but has stretches of looking good. his stuff didn’t look good last night and he hasn’t gotten a game score over 70 since june.

also, i normally don’t give a shit about people’s “attitudes” – i believe in the heat of the competition it is understandable to be upset, not want to get taken out, etc – but it seems as if aj actually thinks girardi is in the wrong for pulling him from some of these starts – granted i don’t know this but if that’s so really fuck him. enough of his wack pitching.

Someone last night pointed out that you could expect about 4 WAR from AJ — I figure this year it’s going to be less. But he’s going to be well above Replacement, and I bet he’s better than Nova.

The problem with AJ is that he’s a so-so pitcher with a star’s contract. But you don’t just get rid of a guy like that, because you’re stuck paying the contract no matter what.

I think AJ must be one helluva guy to keep getting chances. I like him too, not sure why though. Maybe it’s the pies. He seems as much a spectator to his own greatness or suckitude as the rest of us. I can’t muster any anger towards him.

But you gotta minimize the damage at some point. Maybe that point is the playoffs. Meanwhile, they’ll limp along with him through the peaks and valleys.

I’ve never seen his stuff look that bad. Of 14 AL teams, the ChiSox are 11th in OPS and 12th in RS… and that’s WITH Konerko in the lineup.

If this continues, and both Phil and Nova are better going forward, will the Yankees blow their chances of taking the AL East just because of AJ’s salary?

I examined AJs 2011 splits and tried to look for patterns. His suckitude is pretty even. However, he pitches much better in innings 1-3, then in 4-9, although the first inning is the worst of the 3.

Would he have ANY value in the BP?