Yankees vs. Tigers: Yanks' Bats Are More Important Than A.J. Burnett in Game 4

The New York Yankees took care of business rather easily during the regular season. Now, with their backs in a corner, they turn to the one man they had to pull from the rotation in order to survive.

But in reality this game isn't about A.J. Burnett getting the Game 4 start in a must-win scenario.

This game is about the nine Yankee hitters that need to make this game about themselves rather than their pitcher.

We know that manager Joe Girardi has a short leash on the oft-troubled, highly-priced pitcher. We don't need a quote to tell us that.

What we should talk about is how the Yanks can't leave runners on base in scoring opportunities.

Or how they don't deserve deserve to win when the heart of the lineup goes 1-14.

This game is about the nine guys that get to swing the bat three, four or five times a night and don't make anything happen in the biggest game of the season.

In Game 4 the Yanks will see Rick Porcello, the 22-year old New Jersey native that went 14-9 on the season and beat the Yankees 6-3 back in May in his only start against them.

A.J. Burnett might be on the hot seat, but the Yankees bats should be even hotter.

This ball club was second in the league in runs, seventh in batting average, second in on-base percentage and third in slugging percentage.

Even against Justin Verlander, it is completely unacceptable for Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to go 1-14 with six strikeouts.

The Bombers are a combined 1-15 with runners in scoring position in the last two games.

Everyone is going to want to talk about A.J. Burnett all day long and how he holds the keys to the Yankees' season.

But if they really want to win, and want to give Burnett the best shot to succeed, the have to capitalize on their opportunities at the plate.