Yankees: Burnett Will Start Game 4 Regardless of Game 3 Outcome

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi plans to stick with right-hander A.J. Burnett in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday, no matter the result of the previous night's matchup between Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte.

Before the Yankees' workout at the Stadium on Sunday, Girardi said CC Sabathia -- who would have been the alternative, working on short rest -- would proceed with his normal between-starts bullpen session. Girardi added that using Sabathia in Game 4 would require Phil Hughes to pitch on short rest in Game 5 on Wednesday, something the 24-year-old right-hander has not been asked to do in his career.

"We set up our rotation for a number of reasons," Girardi said. "We're just staying with it. Phil Hughes has never thrown on short rest. We have Andy Pettitte, who is coming off an injury. There's a lot of things that go into making up your rotation. We believe in A.J. I know it's been a tough year for him at times this year, but we believe in A.J."

Burnett last appeared in a game on Oct. 2, at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. He threw a simulated game last Wednesday in the Bronx between rounds, before the Yankees departed for Texas. During that outing, Burnett hit teammates Greg Golson and Austin Kearns with pitches.

"It's different when they're our guys," Burnett said after the simulated game. "They know I didn't mean to do it. But it's still not a good feeling."

During his final 22 starts of the regular season, Burnett was 4-13 with a 6.48 ERA.

"A.J. hasn't questioned -- and I haven't heard any rumblings from the clubhouse -- 'Am I starting Game 4 of not?'" Girardi said. "...Maybe other people have talked about it, but my message has been clear that we're on rotation."

Wisniewski Suspended Two Games for Obscene Gesture

New York Islanders defenseman James Wisniewski has been suspended for two games for making an obscene gesture to New York Rangers forward Sean Avery during Monday's game in Long Island.

"A lot of actions on the ice are regrettable," Wisniewski said. "I've been given a suspension from the league and I'm going to accept it and move on from here."

Wisniewski and Avery jostled in front of the Islanders' net after the play was stopped in the first period Monday. Wisniewski made the gesture with his hand and mouth at Avery as the two were separated by officials.

Wisniewski will miss the Islanders' game on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals and Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Before the season started Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nick Boynton was suspended for a regular-season game for making a throat-slashing gesture during a preseason game against Tampa.

While playing for Anaheim last season, Wisniewski was suspended on March 17 for eight games after he knocked Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook out of a game with a hard check into the glass.

Wisniewski is now considered a repeat offender under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Because of that he will lose two games' salary worth $79,268.30 instead of two days' salary.

Yanks Shut Down Marte, Surgery Likely

To the surprise of exactly no one, the Yankees have pulled the plug on the attempted rehab of lefthanded reliever Damaso Marte and now believe shoulder surgery is in his immediate future. The Yankees were hoping that Marte, who missed a chunk of time in 2009 with shoulder soreness but returned to play a key role in last year's post-season, would be able to recoved in time to help them this October, too.

But Marte, who has been on the DL since July 17 with a similar case of left shoulder inflammation, has not responded to treatment. "He's attempted to come back but it just hasn’t worked out,'' GM Brian Cashman said. "We’ll have to go the more aggressive route. That could involve surgery, and most likely will.''

Cashman said Marte will fly from Tampa, where he has been rehabbing, to New York tomorrow to be examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad, before a final determination is made. In Marte's absence, Boone Logan has emerged as the Yankees left-handed specialist out of the pen.

Ryan Says He Would Have Convinced Favre to Return Had Team Not Drafted Sanchez

Technically, Brett Favre was Rex Ryan's quarterback for 23 days in the winter of 2009 -- from Ryan's hiring by the New York Jets to Favre's "retirement" announcement.

They spoke only once, and it wasn't until the day Favre quit -- an "uncomfortable" phone conversation, according to Ryan. The perception was that Ryan wanted to start fresh at quarterback, that he wanted no part of the interception-prone gunslinger.

On Monday, Ryan added a new twist to the coach-quarterback relationship that never made it to the field.

"If we never drafted Mark Sanchez, there would've been major recruiting," said Ryan, claiming he would've tried to talk Favre out of retirement to return to the Jets. "Maybe nobody knows that, but I can promise you, that's what I was feeling."

That Ryan never mentioned this until now seems a bit odd. There were ample opportunities to throw it into a conversation over the last 17 months, but he always was curiously vague about his ever-so-brief overlap with Favre.

Of course, the Jets (3-1) are facing Favre and the Minnesota Vikings (1-2) Monday night at home, and it just so happens that Sanchez is the fourth-highest rated passer in the NFL (105.3) after three straight wins.

Obviously, the Jets are thrilled with Sanchez, but Ryan made it sound like he would've been happy to coach Favre, whom he described as "a once-in-a-lifetime quarterback." Revisionist history?

If Ryan really wanted him back, he would've called a lot sooner than the day of Favre's retirement -- a retirement that lasted only six months. Ryan said he wanted to draft a quarterback, revealing that he was smitten with Kansas State's Josh Freeman before Sanchez. As the pre-draft process unfolded, they got hot for Sanchez, selecting him fifth overall.

The day after the draft, Favre asked the Jets to release him from their reserve/retired list. Obviously, he already had designs on joining the Vikings, his preferred destination in 2008. The Jets were his third choice, his only choice really, as the Green Bay Packers refused to trade him to an NFC team.

If necessary, Ryan believes he could've convinced Favre to stay a Jet.

"Yeah, I do, because he would've seen how sincere I was and the kind of passion I have," Ryan said. "I'm not going to say it's equal to his, but maybe it is. We both want to win, I know that."

It would've taken one of the all-time sell jobs because Favre never got comfortable in the Jets' offense and, according to friends, didn't love living in New Jersey.

Favre's only season with the Jets ended dismally after a promising start. The team was 8-3, in first place, but he injured his throwing arm (not disclosed until after the season) and played horribly down the stretch. The Jets finished 9-7, missed the playoffs and Eric Mangini got fired. Enter, Ryan.

Favre was reborn last season with the Vikings, enjoying a career year, but he'll be remembered in New York as the hired gun who failed to deliver.

"I'm sure they're probably not going to embrace him," said left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, anticipating the crowd reaction at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

It's hard to second-guess the Jets' decision. After struggling for most of his rookie year, Sanchez has won seven of his last nine starts (including playoffs), with 12 touchdown passes and only two interceptions in that span.

"It worked out I'm sure for Brett and the Jets," Ryan said. "We got a quarterback that'll be here for the next 10 years. Brett Favre, he's a great player. Last year, those statistics [33 touchdowns, seven interceptions], I kept saying, 'That can't be right.' This guy is ridiculous, how good he is."

Santonio Holmes Returns to Jets

The New York Jets' streaking offense got stronger Monday with the return of wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Holmes, who learned of his suspension before his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers in April, has spent the last few weeks at the Jets' facility. He was allowed to attend meetings and work out, but wasn't permitted to practice or attend games.

The former Super Bowl MVP will practice Wednesday, when the Jets begin preparation for their Monday night home game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Adding defensive-line depth, the Jets re-signed tackle Howard Green, as expected. They released Green last week to make room for defensive end Trevor Pryce. The uncertain status of end Shaun Ellis (sprained knee), injured in Sunday's 38-14 win over the Buffalo Bills, adds to the importance of line depth.

To make room for Green and Holmes, who was activated from the suspended list, the Jets waived wide receivers David Clowney and Patrick Turner. Clowney has one reception for 22 yards. Turner could be added to the practice squad.

Longtime Yankees Writer Maury Allen Dies at 78

Longtime sports writer Maury Allen, who penned biographies of everyone from Jackie Robinson to Joe Namath and spent 27 years writing for the New York Post, has died of lymphoma. He was 78.

Allen primarily covered the New York Yankees for the Post, which confirmed that the author died Sunday at his home in Cedar Grove, N.J. Allen also worked for The Journal News and Sports Illustrated, wrote more than three dozen books and served as an adviser on "The Bronx is Burning."

Allen made a cameo in the ESPN miniseries about the 1977 Yankees, along with a minor acting role in "The Odd Couple." He also was a staple in several sports documentaries.

He recently completed a book about former Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Dixie Walker, which was released earlier this year.