Jim Kaat on AJ Burnett

by RealityCheck09 on Dec 17, 2008 7:57 PM EST Comment 12 comments

Kaat is a very bright pitching mind and he is right on with his criticism of the Burnett signing as he wrote on Yesnetwork.com:

I know Brian Cashman, like several general managers, have detailed stats on when a pitcher might 'bounce' after a big season. That would be the case with Burnett. Did he just begin to realize his potential last year or was it one of those big seasons in a player's 'walk' year? Burnett logged more innings last season than he ever has in his checkered career. I have said many times I wouldn't give a pitcher, or any player for that matter, the kind of long-term contract they gave Sabathia or Burnett unless the player was a Hall-of-Fame candidate. Sabathia could be, but it's doubtful that Burnett will be one. For me, he hasn't pitched nearly enough innings over a period of years to prove he is a 'work horse'. I feel the Yankees shelled out too much money and security for just one breakout year. They've been burned in the past by these types of decisions (see Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright). I like proven commodities. I'd rather pay for someone who's done it, not for someone I hope will do it.

0 recs | Comment 12 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

That's odd

Most people criticize the Yanks for wasting money on players who have “done it,” i.e. those who are past their prime, versus betting on young up-and-comers they’ve developed or bought low on.

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Dec 18, 2008 12:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

the problem with your logic is that

Burnett is a 31 year old that’s already spent 10+ season in the majors, not a 25 -26 ish year old who’s only been around 2-3 year. it is highly unlikely for a guy to figure it out at this stage or have seasons they never showed . of course, a repeat of Burnett’s best season would be something around the effectiveness of Wang 2006 + a bit more dominance, which is of course nice, but the overall track record is too shaky to hope that comes true more than once in 5 year (if even that)

I basically agree full heartedly with Kaat on his reasoning of long term deal, if the guy is a likely future hall of famer, do it, if it’s not, don’t.

So let’s look at these two pitcher’s BR similar age comp (and Mark Teixiera’s)

CC
Dave McNally (939)
Greg Maddux (934)
Ken Holtzman (931)
Denny McLain (931)
Dennis Eckersley (931) *
Alex Fernandez (917)
Lefty Gomez (917) *
Milt Pappas (916)
Carlos Zambrano (914)
Steve Carlton (914) *

AJ
Pete Harnisch (965)
Stan Williams (955)
Juan Guzman (954)
Erik Hanson (952)
Kirk McCaskill (951)
Wilson Alvarez (948)
Randy Wolf (947)
Mike Boddicker (946)
Jose Guzman (943)
Hideo Nomo (943)

Mark Teixeira
Carlos Delgado (935)
Kent Hrbek (925)
Fred McGriff (913)
Jim Thome (911)
Will Clark (910)
Jeff Bagwell (909)
Willie McCovey (906) *
Richie Sexson (904)
Shawn Green (901)
Paul Konerko (899)

so clearly, CC > Mark T >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AJ

by RollingWave on Dec 18, 2008 4:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What logic?

I wasn’t offering any logic. I was simply commenting on an irony. Yes, I think both Kaat and I realize that Burnett isn’t a young up-and-comer. But I wonder if he’d feel the same way if the pitcher offered a large contract was a young guy who simply had shown promise. The problem is: these days you don’t get to offer big contracts to those guys unless they come from your own system; team control and arbitration rules ensure, and rightfully so, that teams get the best years of their best homegrown players.

Also, what is that last crap? BR?

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Dec 18, 2008 5:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We needed a pitcher ...

We went out and did what had to be done good or bad. I don’t think Burnett will become American Idol II, and his history of injury isn’t as intense as Wright.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Dec 18, 2008 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Jim

You worry about your check book and let the billionaires deal with the finances. When you make a billion dollars than maybe people will ask you your opinion on how to do business. This guy has always been a PEA BRAIN.

I see things you don't see.

by LouieTheLip on Dec 18, 2008 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Burnett

had one REALLY injury prone year (2003) when he pitched just 23 ip, but after that he’s gone at least 120 every year. not spectacular but a helluva lot more than Pavano can say.

by Travis G on Dec 18, 2008 7:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

really?

if we compare them up to age 28 (when Carl signed) I think that’s a dramatic overstatement.

Regardless, even comparing Carl Pavano to Carl Pavano is unfair, that was clearly the worest case outcome for his deal.

by RollingWave on Dec 19, 2008 1:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

perhaps

but i’m comparing them when they were signed.

regardless of their health, Burnett is a better signing because when healthy, he’s a very good pitcher, Pavano’s merely good.

by Travis G on Dec 19, 2008 11:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Comparing Wright to a total waste in Pavano

means nothing, And we’re supposed to be jumping for joy that he went at least 120 except 2003?

by RealityCheck09 on Dec 19, 2008 1:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

who's wright?

i’m guessing you’re not a ‘glass is half full’ kind of guy, yes?

by Travis G on Dec 19, 2008 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, maybe having Pavano rob the Yankees the past few years somehow a blessing in disguise. Maybe Burnett will go out and prove that he isn’t the next Pavano and that he can actually pitch a full season without going on the DL.

by yanks52 on Dec 19, 2008 1:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

AJ

its not like he decides to get injured. I think every1 is over-reacting. AJ will be a fine #3 guy, and if he misses 5 starts due to injury, we can live.

The reason to sign AJ isnt for the sole purpose of reaching the playoffs, its to WIN in the playoffs. AJ has dominating stuff, and electric stuff like his wins playoff games.

"Hey Derek do you actually drive the Edge?","I don't drive that piece of crap!"

by Da Shiz on Dec 21, 2008 7:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs