PHILADELPHIA -- The great state of Arkansas is not a hotbed when it comes to producing players.
It's behind draft areas like California, Florida and Texas, where scouts can find a possible all-star on every sandlot.
But last night, two strong-armed Arkansas lads, A.J. Burnett and Cliff Lee, who grew up less than 43 kilometres from each other and were born 630 days apart, faced opposing hitters at 60 paces, six inches.
Burnett was born in North Little Rock and attended Central Arkansas Christian. If you travel southeast on Highway 30 past Mabelvale and Alexander you come to Benton, where Lee grew up and attended Benton High School.
DIFFERENT GOALS
"They've got two country boys from Arkansas going out," Burnett said after the Yankees rallied to take Game 4 on Alex Rodriguez's two-out double in the ninth.
They may be from the same state and wear the same No. 34, but they went into the last night's game with different goals.
Burnett was trying to give the Yanks and owner George Steinbrenner the franchise's 27th World Series. Lee was trying to extend the Series and send it back to Yankee Stadium for Game 6.
"It's interesting," Burnett said. "We're represented by the same guy (Darek Braunecker). We talked in the outfield the other day and the first thing out of his mouth was: 'Look at that Budweiser sign in right, that's what I'm going to be aiming for.' I said: 'Go ahead, 'cause I can hit, too. I was in the National League for six years.' "
Burnett pitched with the Florida Marlins before former Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi gave him a five-year, $55-million US contract with an opt-out clause. After going 41-27 in 92 starts and compiling a 4.13 ERA, Burnett opted out, signing a five-year, $82.5-million deal with the Yanks.
"This is gonna be fun. It is one of those games you go out there and talk about it, but I can't worry about him (Lee) too much," said Burnett, working on three days rest. "I've got a tough lineup ahead of me and I can't worry about what Cliff does. I've got to worry about what A.J. does."
From Little Rock to the big bandbox in the Bronx and a chance to pitch the clincher.
"I'd by lying if I said I wasn't going to think about this all night," Burnett said moments after the Yanks beat the Phillies in Game 4. "You dream about it. This is what you talk about growing up."
It didn't exactly work out for Burnett, though.
He didn't retire a man in the third inning, and was hooked for David Robertson. Burnett allowed six runs on four hits and four walks.
In the 53 draft areas (50 states, plus Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and Canada) Arkansas ranked 30th. Canada ranked 11th this June with 42 players drafted, one selection behind Tennessee.
Arkansas has produced 149 majors-leaguers, 32nd amongst the 50 states, ahead of the likes of Colorado, Alaska, Montana, Nevada, Vermont and West Virginia to name a few.
Arkansas has produced six hall of famers in outfielder Lou Brock, right-hander Dizzy Dean, shortstop Travis Jackson, third baseman George Kell, third baseman Brooks Robinson and shortstop Arky Vaughan.
And Lee pitched one of the better games in Series history in Game 1, tossing a complete game, allowing one unearned run and striking out 10.
"A.J. congratulated me on how I threw Game 1. I congratulated him on how he threw Game 2," Lee said. "We talked a little bit about what made us successful in those games and asked how the family is doing and just general conversation."
Lee enters the final year of his contract next season. He'll hit pay dirt a year from now.
His next contract wasn't on his mind last night.
BOB.ELLIOTT@SUNMEDIA.CA
