A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates jive well together
Veteran pitcher A.J. Burnett has a career ERA of 3.98 spread out over his 16-plus seasons as a big leaguer. His splits when in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform versus when he is not are rather staggering: .577 WPCT and 3.14 ERA compared to marks of .500 and 4.15. It’s strange, but something is decidedly agreeable between the union of Burnett and the Bucs.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
The 38-year-old might be having his finest season yet. Through nine starts, he is not only leading the National League amongst starters with an ERA of 1.37, but Burnett is leading all of Major League Baseball. Surprisingly enough, the veteran has never been named to an All-Star roster in his career despite some pretty strong seasons in the past. He has also failed to ever receive votes in Cy Young balloting.
Pirates fans won’t like the opportunity for a jinx, but right now Burnett is pitching like a candidate in the NL for pitching’s top award. It’s not just about luck, either, when he is playing for Pittsburgh. Outside of wearing the black and yellow, his best single season FIP was 3.11 set in 2005 with the Florida Marlins. His FIP from 20012-13 while with Pittsburgh was 3.52 and 2.80, both very respectable postings. This year Burnett’s FIP sits at 2.81 through 29 IP.
So what exactly is the secret to Burnett’s success and good fortune? A lot of it could just have to do with him being happy in the city of Pittsburgh and the internal operations of the Pirates’ organization. The defense has something to do with results, as well. One specific factor that appears to be Burnett’s guiding light is the success of his sinker.
More from Pittsburgh Pirates
- Trade Deadline: Pirates, Cardinals, and Cubs for sale: Brewers, Reds wish list
- What we got right and wrong about 3 surprising and disappointing MLB teams
- Grading Ben Cherington and the Pittsburgh Pirates front office at the season’s midway point
- Reds, Pirates, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs: The good, bad, and injured
- Grading the City Connect uniforms just unveiled by the Pittsburgh Pirates
In his down 2014 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Burnett was still offering his sinker more than any other pitch in his repertoire, the same as this season. This year however, he has increased his ground ball percentage on that pitch and lowered the rate of fly balls being hit. The BAA is down from .286 in ’14 to .244 right now. Burnett’s knuckle curve is also being used very well as his punch out pitch. In 2014, he struck out 57 percent of batters on it. He’s up to 66.7 percent so far in 2015.
Variance in baseball is an odd thing. Many times, stats only help make the picture less blurry but still cannot fully explain why what is, is. A.J. Burnett has been a serviceable and at times above-average pitcher during his lengthy career. The wisdom that has come with his years of experience and an approach from the mound that is more meticulous than it was in his more formative years seem to be beneficial to Burnett.
Lucky for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Burnett’s more treasured seasons are occurring bountifully while wearing the black and yellow.