Prior to AJ Burnett signing with the Yankees, there was one enormous caveat to his upside, and we’re not talking his wildness, but rather his tendency to be injury prone. 2008 and 2009 was the first consecutive years in AJ’s career where he started 30+ games and pitched 200+ innings. His previously logged seasons were in terms of Games and Innings:
It should also be noted that in each of his seasons that he pitched 200+ innings, he also had 10+ wild pitches and probably even more considering some were probably labeled improperly as passed balls.So, now we’re back at the question that started this all off, what will next season bring for AJ Burnett? It almost appears as if we’re in uncharted territory for AJ considering his past. Although, I wouldn’t put AJ in the same class as Ben Sheets when talking about being injury prone.Personally, I think that we’ll see a generally healthy, 30-34 games started and anywhere around 190-215 innings from him. Considering this, be prepared for a wild pitch of a season from AJ as he won’t be able to lower his wild pitch total, which has been proven. However, considering how the Yankees were generally lucky last year in the injury department, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw AJ land on the DL for any period of time. If this is the case, they are set to fill the void (Gaudin, Mitre, Aceves). Let’s hope that we get healthy, but wild AJ this year, agreed?
M. B. Rozell
Kevin Rozell
Winning may bring Burnett to the upper echelon in the league. I was not that impressed with him till his performance in the playoffs.
If he stays injury free all things are possible.
Some players thrive in the Bronx and some tank. Look at Pavano. Was he sub-conciously a chicken shit and that is why he always got hurt.