From Bryan Hoch (MLB):
A.J. Burnett, who gets the ball Friday, has been more unreliable than expected in recent starts. While Burnett — 1-5 with a 6.14 ERA since the start of August — has maintained that he is “not concerned” and vows the Yankees will “be all right,” there are clearly crucial adjustments that he must make, avoiding the type of six-run innings that he served up to the Orioles in his last start.
“I’m throwing the ball where I want to for the most part,” Burnett said. “You eliminate a couple of mistakes and everything’s great.”
Over the past 30 days (5 starts), A.J. Burnett has given up 25 ER over 29 1/3 innings pitched, leading to a 1-3 record. During that time, he has a 7.67 ERA and a 5.68 FIP. Is it just me or is Burnett’s statement, that “[y]ou eliminate a couple of mistakes and everything’s great,” seem particularly weak? While his lack of focus is often frustrating, his lack of accountability (i.e., “I need to do more, I need to pitch a better ballgame”) is astounding.
A.J. does a lot of things well and he brings a lot to the team, however, I’m sure most of us would like to see his skills translate into some form of success as the season comes to a close. He’ll have three more starts—one tomorrow against King Felix—to try and figure it out before postseason play. Let’s hope that he “eliminates a couple of mistakes” and that “everything’s great.”
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12 Responses to Accountability Fail
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TIQ IQ
Chris, you and I are typically on the same page, but I have to strongly disagree here. AJ has been very up front about his struggles all year, saying I stink and don’t blame the catcher blame me on many occasions. Now he says he is close and it ishim being unaccountable? I think not. He is being honest- he is close to figuring it out. The last thing AJ has is an accountability issue.
I see what you’re saying, Mo. In outings with Posada, which were instances where people questioned Posada’s ability behind the plate, Burnett did say, “Blame me,” but I thought he had to say that in that situation so as to depress any controversy. This particular instance bothers me, though, especially since he has only helped the Yankees win one game in a month. I’m probably being overly harsh on him, however, he is having one of the worst seasons he has ever had in the AL (and a starter), so I think it’s fine for me to get on his case (at least a little bit).
Oh, I have no issue with ripping his performance lately. It is just that he came in with the rep of attitude issues, and has actually been excellent in that regard all year. He has been a leader, has been accountable, and has defended his catcher. If he says he is close, it is because he feels close, not because he wants to deflect accountability, in my opinion.
Chris you are such a sky is falling fan on this one… AJ was at one point in time leading this team and the number one pitcher we had while CC and Andy were struggling and now that he has run into his own problems it is straight to “he doesn’t take responsibility” “worst year ever” crying type stuff and it just isn’t fair to Brunett. All year he has maned up to failure, every single time, I have never heard him say he should have won a game he for the most part tells you the truth. His past few starts aren’t god awful and in fact only one was extremely terrible he just ended up having one r two really bad at bats in an inning and that was the only inning he really did bad. People are trying to say he hasn’t had a good gamer in months but he threw 5+ innings of perfect ball and gave up the first hit of the game to Kinsler but it was a 3 run HR they only scored those 3 runs and he only allowed one more hit yet he loses and gets crucified for it.
His past 5 starts:
7 IP 6 ER
6 IP 1 ER
5.1 IP 6 ER
6 IP 3 ER
5 IP 9 ER
Granted, two of these games he could have won, but the other three he didn’t give his team much of a chance.
That looks pretty bad to me, especially when we’re trying to lock up the division. Some of these losses can be attributed to one big inning, however, the outcome and the line are still the same. If it weren’t for CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte being as good as they have been for months now, A.J. Burnett would have been a bigger issue for everyone. However, he’s lucky in that the team is winning regularly, even without him pitching well.
The biggest issue with A.J. isn’t whether or not he can be effective (he was effective in those 2 starts), but it’s whether or not he can be effective on a regular basis. Looking brilliant once in a while isn’t what the Yankees are paying him nearly $20 million a year for—they’re looking for consistency and dominance. He hasn’t stepped up when they really needed him to, this month. For instance, in the two games where he gave up 6 ER, that was to Baltimore, a team we could have beaten with ease if provided a competent pitching performance. The other 9 run game was Boston, and don’t even get me started on how he has pitched against Boston this season.
If A.J. has been accountable for his awful moments all year, that’s fine. He should have been a bit more forthright in this instance though, when he’s having arguably the worst stretch he’s had this season. When you’re giving up 9 ER, 6 ER and getting knocked out of the 5th and 6th inning on a regular basis, it’s not fair to your teammates to say, “I’ve been pitching well, I just need to eliminate a couple of mistakes and everything’s great.”
Why not? He is just being honest. If he does it regularly, that would be one thing. But if he goes through a rough stretch and says that he is close, what is wrong with that? He doesn’t say he is pitching well, he says he is “throwing the ball where I want to for the most part.” Big difference.
I agree with Mo on this one… For the most part he is just a tweak or so away from winning a lot of those starts… Reading a stat line isn’t the same as watchig a game and I would think you would know that Chris (although I have no idea why I would think that you only care about numbers) if he has a great game except for one inning he gives up 6 runs because he let one or two mistakes get away from him he is “close” just not all the way there yet. How is that not fair? It’s not like Joba saying he had good stuff when he was throwing 91 the whole time, AJ is actually being honest.
Chris saying “don’t get me started on how he has pitched against Boston” is very hypocritical because you are over looking all his starts against Boston at home where dominated. Heck have you already forgotten the 7 2/3 IP, 0 R allowed game at Yankee stadium where he out pitched Beckett 0 for 0?
I see what you’re saying and maybe I am being a bit harsh in my criticism. The stat lines, I feel, tell the story with Burnett. Whenever you’re giving up 6 ER, 9 ER, 6 ER, sure, sometimes it’s from a big inning but at what point do you just say, “Hell, who cares how you gave up the runs—you still gave up 6 ER that game!” It is my opinion, though, so I get the disagreement.
In terms of Burnett and Boston, Burnett had utterly dominated Boston prior to becoming a Yankee. Since then, he has been awful. He has had ONE good start against Boston—just one out of 4 this season. Plus, he has only started against Boston once in the Stadium this year, so I’m not overlooking “all his starts against Boston at home where he dominated.”
In the other 3 starts, he gave up 9 ER, 3 over 2 2/3 while walking 5, and in his first start against Boston, it was 8 ER over 5 IP. Is that a good performance? Hardly. His one solid outing isn’t necessarily something he can hang his hat on given these numbers. Beyond the runs, he went 5 IP, 5 1/3 IP and 2 2/3 IP in his starts against the Sox. Is that going to help the ballclub’s bullpen? I don’t think so.
We were all bemoaning Burnett the last time he said these things. Then he went on an absolute tear and carried the pitching staff. Now he’s struggling again, but if he says he’s close then I’ve got to trust that.
ditto
I hope Burnett is one of those pitchers that turns it on in the playoffs- ok in the regular season, but alot better in the post season. I’ve seen that in some pitchers and I can only hope that AJ is one of them.
Problem is AJ hasn’t been to the playoffs in a long time… so we don’t know what to expect from him…