One statement often made about AJ Burnett is that he may have the best power stuff of any starter in baseball. The key to his success is his knee-buckling curveball, thrown as a tight pitch (rather than looping) with plenty of late break. The Harball Times provided this little nugget about Burnett’s hook:
A.J. Burnett threw more curve balls than any pitcher in the majors last season, throwing the number two 1,056 times. Did Burnett use his curve more often than normal anticipating a big off-season pay day if he had a stellar season? Not really. He threw his curve 29 percent of the time last year, but he used it 26 percent in 2007 and 28 percent of the time in 2006. In 2005, the last time he was in position to be a free agent in the off-season he used his curve 25 percent of the time.
Burnett throws the curve a lot, with 95% of his pitches being fastballs and curveballs. The curve, thrown in the low 80′s, is a perfect complement to AJ’s mid-90′s fastball. However, AJ being a two pitch guy means that if he is having trouble locating one of his pitches, he is in for a long day. Hopefully we see enough of the great AJ Burnett to compensate for the inevitable stinker. It should be a lot of fun watching Burnett make hitters look silly, and I have a feeling that he is going to have a very strong year.
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15 Responses to AJ's Amazing Curveball
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I honestly think he should throw his change up more often, its a really good pitch with good movement, I’m not sure if its a confidence issue or what, but its definitely quality.
Also, last year, I could have sworn I saw him throwing some nasty pitch that looked like a cutter every now and then, it looked alot like MO’s cutter, if he uses that more, he could be unstoppable.
SonnyMooks is dead on.
Burnett is not a two-pitch pitcher, his changeup is above-average and is a very good pitch for him. He also has a cutter, though it’s not a very good pitch and he throws it very rarely.
As far as his 4.07 ERA, take a look at Burnett’s FIP, it was 3.65, showing he was a victim of bad luck.
In regard to the change, he throws his at about 86-88, which actually provides good contrast with both the FB and CB. In regard to an additional pitch, Fangraphs does have him breaking out a slider 1% of the time last season, a pitch he did not throw once in the previous seasons. If he could diversify a bit, he could be unstoppable.
I also think AJ throws an excellent change-I have been big on AJ since he signed with Toronto and I cannot imagine how he had a 4.07 era last season. I saw him and Hallady and Mcgowan and Marcum as the best pitching in baseball and I know they were tops in era. Now wth AJ getting some run support is there any reason why he cannot win a CY young award?
I wanted to point out that his division may be the reason but I guess the main reason for his contract was his success against NY and BOS. Maybe its a lack of focus? He seems to win on winning teams and play mediocre on mediocre teams.
Just a guess.
I’m pretty sure that AJ himself conceded that he lost focus against lesser teams.
AJ is smart enough to figure things out. I look forward to him developing his Slider, change, cutter or even a splitter…whichever is better for him. Hell, even a knuckle ball if that helps him.
The thing that gets to me is, people think a pitcher can learn a new pitch, just because it is out there to be had…not true at all. A lot of it is confidence and ability.
When I was in High school and College, I could throw almost any pitch you wanted…except the fastball (about 80+/-). Others (see Mo) struggle trying to throw anything other then a cutter and fading fastball (for righties).
Again, AJ is smart enough and been around long enough, to know he needs another pitch…maybe this is the time he breaks it out.
Yeah, he is definitely not going to start learning many new pitches at this point. However, it seems that he has used the slider sparingly in the past, and the change is a part of his repertoire, he throws about 5 a game. I think he needs to throw it a bit more often.
This was how Phil Hughes was going to pitch. He doesn’t have the power of Burnett, but he has better control, and an equivalent (when it was working 2 years ago) curveball. It didn’t work because injuries screwed him up, but it lets you know that his 2-pitch arsenal can in fact work.
I think Burnett is one of those guys who wants to play on a big stage. It’s probably pretty easy to get a little bored when you’re on a crappy team playing against another crappy team. I’m thinking being in the spotlight and consistently playing in meaningful games should keep his focus and he’ll be a beast. He’s kinda like ollie perez who could be 9ip 4 hits, 10 k and 0 ER one night against the yankees and only get through 4 innings with 5 runs and 6 walks against the pirates.
Honestly writing, I had not followed AJs’ Carrier much…never though we would have him on our team. All I have heard is, he doesn’t like the spotlight and the pressure it brings with it. If you guys are right (I hope you are) and he starts using three pitches…he will really be a beast, just what this team needs. CC, AJ, CMW and Joba as one through four, with a refurbished Andy (all healthy) is very good news for our side…bad news for others.
I like it!
Its hard to have a strong year from the disabled list.
Ahh, you just hate AJ.
He’s learned how to pitch, he’s still young and he’ll stay healthy.He’s my pick for a Cy Young season.Smart signing.If he beats Red Socks twice and doesn’t beat YAnjkees 2-3-4 times that alone could be the difference.
AJ has a great curveball but that can be his undoing. He throws is so much it puts so much stress on his arm, and add that to poor mechanics this guy is a ticking time bomb. He will get hurt, the question is just when. Hopefully it’s not serious because when healthy he is one of the better pitchers in the league.