Burkett bumped in favor of Wakefield

It might have been his final chance to pitch in the major leagues.
BOSTON (AP) -- John Burkett took the news calmly, even though the decision to skip him in the Red Sox's rotation might mean he'll never pitch again in the major leagues.
Boston manager Grady Little juggled his rotation after the fourth game of the AL championship series was rained out Sunday. He bypassed Burkett, who probably will start the sixth game, if there is one.
"It's not necessary for him to explain it to me. I pretty much know what's going on," said the 38-year-old Burkett, who is considering retirement.
Both managers switch
The right-hander was scheduled to face lefty David Wells Sunday. But when the game was called, both managers said they would go tonight with the same matchup as Game 1, New York's Mike Mussina against Boston's Tim Wakefield.
"Wake now has normal rest," said Burkett, a two-time All-Star but Boston's fourth starter this year. "To me it's a no-brainer. I'm still disappointed."
Yankees manager Joe Torre and Little went back to Mussina and Wakefield because both have four days of rest. Wells is expected to pitch the fifth game Tuesday against Derek Lowe.
Wells last pitched in New York's clinching 8-1 win in Game 4 of the first round against Minnesota.
"I'd rather have him come down and come back up again Tuesday," Torre said.
Would pitch a Game 6
If a sixth game is played, Burkett probably would face Andy Pettitte.
In 1993, Burkett was 22-7 with San Francisco and tied for the NL lead in wins. In 2001, his 3.04 ERA with Atlanta was third best in the league. But in his two seasons with Boston, he was 13-6 with a 4.53 ERA and 12-9 with a 5.15 ERA.
If he pitches Wednesday night, he will have had nine days of rest since his last start Oct. 5 when he went 5 1/3 innings in Boston's 5-4 win over Oakland in Game 4 of the division series.
"I don't think about rest and it having an effect on me," Burkett said.
And he said he doesn't think about the possibility that he's already pitched the last game of his 14-year career.
"It could have been and if it was, no big deal to me," Burkett said. "I haven't had the career Roger Clemens has had so I don't think anybody cares."
Burkett doesn't throw especially hard and depends on good pitch location. He's had trouble in the first inning this year but pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Yankees in a 5-4 win July 26 at Fenway Park.
During the season, Mussina was 17-8 with a 3.40 ERA and 195 strikeouts, fourth in the AL. Wakefield was 11-7 with a 4.09 ERA and finished ninth in the league with 169 strikeouts.