Jim Kaat on AJ Burnett
by RealityCheck09 on Dec 17, 2008 7:57 PM EST
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PrintKaat 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.
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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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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!"
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