Will the real A.J. Burnett please stand up?

After falling 8-0 to the Texas Rangers yesterday after a mystical performance by Texas ace Cliff Lee, the New York Yankees, who now trail 2-1 in the ALCS, will turn to one Allan James Burnett tonight to oppose Tommy Hunter, and to hopefully tie the series.

Did you hear that?

That was the sound of Yankee fans everywhere holding their breath.

A.J. Burnett? Playoff start? A few weeks ago, the thought was unbearable.

Burnett, 33, finished 2010 with a 10-15 record, a 5.36 ERA overall, completing his worst career season and giving Yankee fans little doubt that he would be valuable in the postseason. While effective at times, Burnett is erratic and inconsistent. A pitcher with ace caliber "stuff," he often tends to get lost on the mound, throwing wild pitches, plunking batters, walking hitters, and doing what he does best: give up lots of runs. After starting the season as one of the Yankees' best pitchers (4-0 with a 1.99 ERA through May 6), Burnett faltered, and became ineffective in the Yankees' rotation, leading to eventual skipped starts and boos from the crowd. Not one fan thought that the Yankees would trust Burnett with a playoff start.

But now, down 2-1, with a series in jeopardy due to inefficient starts by CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes, the Yankees will turn to Burnett to save their season.

Yankee fans are holding their breath.

Tonight we await to see which A.J. Burnett shows up for this postseason start: The 2009 postseason Burnett from ALCS Game 2 and World Series Game 2, or the 2010 consistently-inconsistent Burnett?

After getting destroyed last night by Cliff Lee and the Rangers, the Yankees will look for redemption, and hope to not only give Burnett some run support, but to save their playoff chances. It's hard to say what the outcome of this game could be, especially not knowing which Burnett will show up tonight.

However, there is a bright spot tonight. According to Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth,

"In three starts against the Rangers this season, Burnett is 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA. He's gone seven innings twice and has allowed just five runs and 16 hits. He's walked seven and struck out 17. He's whiffed Nelson Cruz five times in eight at-bats, and Josh Hamilton is hitless in five at-bats."

Don't get me wrong, A.J. Burnett is a fantastic pitcher, but he is also inconsistent and a question mark. I think A.J. will pitch the game of his life tonight, but that's just me being optimistic.

So will the real A.J. Burnett please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?

Preferably the one at the top of the screen :S

UPDATE: Obviously, we got bad A.J. in this one. A 10-3 loss is your final. We face elimination come tomorrow folks, Yanks better get it together and fast.