A.J. Burnett is liking Pittsburgh, as much as they like him. ( Photo by Keith Allison)
A.J. Burnett has pitched for the Marlins, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Pirates. Burnett has had a measure of success with all those teams, but nothing has quite clicked like it has with the 2012 Pirates. Cinderella seasons are like that, aren’t they?
Burnett has always had good stuff. That’s not been an issue. In 14 years in the big leagues Burnett has averaged 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. Burnett pitched a no-hitter in 2001 against the San Diego Padres. Burnett struck out 14 batters in a game in 2005.
Yep, Burnett has always had good stuff.
All of those factors have played a part in Burnett’s success. And it could just be because A.J. Burnett likes Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh likes A.J. Burnett.
Change of Scenery Does A.J Good
Often you hear the players need a change of scenery, to unleash untapped potential. We heard that this week with the trade of Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers. While it may be cliché to many, for Burnett it appears it is reality. The lifestyle and culture is different in Pittsburgh that it is in New York or Toronto.
Fans in those cities can be brutal to a players psyche. Fans in Pittsburgh, are wired a little differently, and for the better.
“It’s completely different,” he said. “I can go out there and do what I want, how I want, when I want to. If I want to turn around upside down, I can do it — as long as I throw a strike. It was always the pressure I put on myself to do so good. And now, I’m just out there, just doing it.”
He added, “My first start, I walked the bases loaded here. I can’t even imagine what that place (Yankee Stadium) would have sounded like over there, and there was maybe like two words that came out of the crowd here. So it’s just different.”
The Yankees thought it was different too . So different in fact that they made getting rid of Burnett a high priority item in the organization. As they looked to upgrade their rotation, it was clear up Burnett was going to be shipped out.
It’s hard to imagine that Burnett was disappointed when he was traded to the Pirates. He says regrets are limited to his performance. “I had my good times there, though” Burnett said. “I don’t regret it at all. I don’t. I regret not performing better.” His performance in Pittsburgh, has baseball people talking Cy Young candidate.
Burnett won his 12th game last night against three losses. The most wins he has had in a season is 18 in 20o8 with the Blue Jays. Burnett is pitching to an ERA of 3.52, about a half a run better than his career ERA of 4.07. Burnett is throwing more sinkers this year than at any time during his career.
Last year in New York he gave up 31 home runs, this year he has given up 11. Adding more sinkers was probably a pretty good idea, huh? Burnett will make $33 million between this year and next year in salary. The Yankees are paying $20 million of that. Essentially, they are paying for him to pitch for Pittsburgh. A.J definitely likes Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh is loving A.J
