Burnett: “I’m here to be a factor”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc, Podcast on Feb 15, 2011 
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There are A.J. Burnett’s words:
I’m a force out there. Guys don’t want to face me. I just felt like guys didn’t care if they faced me (last year). I feel like I gave them that edge… I came here to win. I came here to pitch. I came here to be behind Big Man. And I wasn’t last year.
First, it’s kind of cool that he calls CC Sabathia “Big Man” on first reference. Second, I can’t imagine the Yankees wanting to hear anything different from their erratic supposed-to-be-number-two starter. He managed to acknowledge that he was terrible in 2010, while also showing confidence for 2011.
“It’s a chicken and egg question,” new pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “Is the confidence there because of success or is success there because he’s doing things right mechanically and gets confidence? I think we’ll attack it right now to get him in line to the plate. Get him comfortable throwing the ball, and I think he’ll get the confidence and demeanor that he should have.”
Burnett talked a lot about confidence today. He talked about having it when he was pitching well, and losing it after his winless month of June. When he lost his confidence, Burnett started thinking too much. He went searching for advice that might put him back together, and pretty soon the pieces were scattered everywhere.
When Rothschild went to Burnett’s house this winter, the meeting started with a long conversation. Four or five hours of B.S., Burnett said. The actual lessons wer about taking a mental problem and making it physical, and about taking a physical problem and making it mental.
The theory is: If Burnett can mentally force himself to physically repeat his mechanics, then he’ll physically pitch better and feel better mentally. The cycle will build on itself.
“I like Larry,” Burnett said. “He’s old school. I’m old school. He’s not here to come change or fix a bunch of things. On the other hand, my lower half tends to swing out like a gate. It’s a matter of keeping that from over swinging.”
He made it sound so simple, and the exercises Rothschild gave him this offseason were about little more than repetition, about getting one leg to consistently fall in the same spot over and over again. It seems like such a small thing, but the Yankees are banking on the idea that, it snowballed one way last year, why couldn’t it snowball the other way this year?
“You look back and I wasn’t really a factor (last year),” Burnett said. “And I’m here to be a factor.”
Here’s Burnett.
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And just for good measure, here are a few comments about bringing Burnett back from last season.
Brian Cashman: “I certainly hope it, believe it. He’s had a history of some really high times when he’s been extremely good, and then there have been some times when he hasn’t performed up to his abilities. Whenever he’s had some dips, he’s always bounced back. I count on that. He’s coming off his worst season, but he’s had some tough stretches before and he’s responded to it. He’ll respond. I believe that. Need him to, but I believe it (too).”
Joe Girardi: “There’s a few reasons I have confidence in A.J. (One), I’ve seen what he can do. Two, I know his heart, and I know how disappointed he was about some of his starts last year. I saw how it affected him… I know that until the season, until we see him pitch, it’s going to be asked a lot. But I’ve just got a feeling in my gut that he’s going to have a good year because of those reasons.”
Larry Rothschild: “It’s hard to say right now, but going into it, look, this guy’s had success at a pretty good level in the major leagues. We’re not trying to rebuild anything. We’re just trying to get it where he can repeat deliveries so he can throw the ball loose. This isn’t by any stretch of the imagination a rebuilding or anything. It’s just kind of tooling it back a little bit, and refining things, and simplifying.”
A.J. Burnett: “It got me depressed every time I thought about it, so I just stopped thinking about it. It’s in the past. I’ve had seasons before that were bad. You just have to come back. It will bury you if you don’t. Figure out a way to let it slide. I realize how important I was last year, for the first time in probably my whole career. It should be a little different.”
Associated Press photos
AJ has never backed down from taking blame.
Glad to see he is taking this head on and trying to improve… unlike Joba.
To get in on this whole immortality thing, eventually man would take to the stars. Hundreds of planets in habitable zones (far enough away from a star to not be burning hot, close enough to maintain a warm enough climate for life) with earth like conditions have been spotted recently. We also have our own moon, the entirety of space, all of our solar system, potential for terraforming, etc. We also haven’t even begun to use all of the Earth.
Sign me up to be a cyborg, though I’d take technology to merely sustain a physical form.
Go AJ!
Hoping to see a better AJ. Last year was painful. He (we) could use a few from him this year.
I don’t think all is lost. If he’s the #2, Phil’s a good one to follow. Iirc Phil is nails after a loss.
Burnett and Rothschild are communicating well. As for Joba Chamberlain repeating his mechanics …………………………………..
Outer Space scares me.
” I just felt like guys didn’t care if they faced me (last year). ”
Not true. I’m sure many batters were upset when Joe came out to replace you.
That’s caring.
Cyborgs can sustain themselves on stats alone?
That’s a few gems. Not a few wins.
I love that confident attitude……AJ cares a lot and he’s a hard worker. While we were disappointed in him, imagine how he felt about himself. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do for us this year.
Rothschild is going to be great.
Tom-
The space in here sometimes scares me more.
Here is the link to the pictures I took from this morning if you didnt get a chance to look at them. Its all them stretching and standing around but still.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58208470@N04/
also, who was it that brought up the book “do androids dream of electric sheep” I didnt know that bladerunner was based on that book.
108-
Joba needs a barn too.
That’s the difference.
Jerface-
You will have your choice.
Well done TY, that looks pretty professional.
Sorry. Mean’t “Jerkface” obviously.
17-18 game winner this season for AJ
Jerkface February 15th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
To get in on this whole immortality thing, eventually man would take to the stars. Hundreds of planets in habitable zones (far enough away from a star to not be burning hot, close enough to maintain a warm enough climate for life) with earth like conditions have been spotted recently. We also have our own moon, the entirety of space, all of our solar system, potential for terraforming, etc. We also haven’t even begun to use all of the Earth.
Sign me up to be a cyborg, though I’d take technology to merely sustain a physical form
____________
Just think–you could see things that people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. You could watch C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain. Then it will be time to die
For Erica and Erin and other Muppetonians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..re=related
Is anyone here really confident that Burnett will be a reliable Number 2 starter this year?
like tears in the rain… I believe that was a improv line from Hauer. Anywho, Immortality is nice if i don’t have to live forever. More zests to do shyte.
as I mentioned on priopr thread, there are several versions of Bladerunner that are floating about…some with different endings…some without the Harrison Ford voice over, etc. Many different interpretations, incluidng whether or not Deckard was an android. Very cool stuff.
I want to see Tralfamadore..
GB7-
Have to look when I get home
Cashmoney February 15th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
like tears in the rain… I believe that was a improv line from Hauer. Anywho, Immortality is nice if i don’t have to live forever. More zests to do shyte.
_______________
I’ve heard the wntire line was ad lib…pretty cool.
Cashmoney
Thanks, they could not have had their first full workout on a better day. I got a lot of help from the sun being out when taking my pictures. If there is even the slightest overcast, all those pictures would be really blurry and unfocused. Hopefully I have the same luck on Sunday when everyone is here.
Replicant :crosses arms:
Effective sci-fi has to have passages like that famous blade runner monologue. It evokes strong imagery of a fully fleshed out world without spelling everything out. That is why the original star wars trilogy is a triump of science fiction and fantasy and the prequels are garbage.
I can officially say-
I have no idea what you people are talking about.
I understand Cyborgs about as much as I understand advanced stats
I’ve never had a lot of faith in A J, but I hope like hell he can at least get it on the plus side this year. If he can cut down on his walks and hit spots a fair portion of the time he’ll have a good shot with his stuff.
CCBiggs February 15th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Is anyone here really confident that Burnett will be a reliable Number 2 starter this year?
———————————————————————————————————————-
There’s a better chance of Burnett returning to form than you retiring from trolling and disappearing from here.
I believe in AJ. I also believe in Joba.
“It got me depressed every time I thought about it, so I just stopped thinking about it. It’s in the past.”
What a nice mantra. Every dawn is a new beginning, where there’s life there’s hope. The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains.
Stop crying in your beer/milk/ or whatever else you cry in. Take an upbeat and hopeful attitude into this season, Yankee fans!
GO YANKEES!!!
The movie “Total Recall” encompasses part of the concept of Immortality as does “Minority Report”.
TY,Nonetheless, good work ty I believe you have keen eyes photography. If you told me those were AP photos I would have believed it.
Bojo, that’s a pretty crazy monologue if it’s all ad lib, I would want to know what Hauer was smoking at the time.
“Is anyone here really confident that Burnett will be a reliable Number 2 starter this year?”
Raises both hands.
I applaud all of you who continue to ignore Ruby. Good job.
Bladerunner came out in 82′ and was supposed to take place in 2019.
Do you think people who saw it back then really thought the world was really going to look like that in 40 years?
I’d say we’re just a tad behind that schedule.
Erica….you’ll need a little extra volume No liquids around the computer and have a doctor close by in case of seizure.
trisha – true pinstriped blue February 15th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
“Is anyone here really confident that Burnett will be a reliable Number 2 starter this year?”
Raises both hands.
________________
Personally, I’d rather start a cyborg.
Bronx Jeers February 15th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Bladerunner came out in 82? and was supposed to take place in 2019.
Do you think people who saw it back then really thought the world was really going to look like that in 40 years?
I’d say we’re just a tad behind that schedule
____________________
Or we have one heck of an economic recovery ahead of us!
The Vangelis soundtrack was haunting… the cinematography was peerless from Scott. But the dystopian future striked me as a quite realistic possibility
“AJ has never backed down from taking blame.
Glad to see he is taking this head on and trying to improve… unlike Joba”
Not fair. You have no way of being able to say that Joba is not trying to improve.
Erica, I’m with you. No idea about cyborgs and the like so I’m just skipping those posts.
Sounds like a guy thing to me.
Anybody see “Moon” with Sam Rockwell ?
I just saw that. Pretty good.
You can be a negative factor too.
Most important thing happening tonight – trying to decide what I want to eat for dinner.
Downside to not cooking – being at the mercy of takeout.
Actually I am about to watch it Jeers.
http://twitter.com/craigcalcat.....9678670747
—
Was looking back through a 2010 mediot archive and I found this, well respected among his peers?
Trisha-
I recommend spicy Chinese.
trisha – true pinstriped blue February 15th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
“Is anyone here really confident that Burnett will be a reliable Number 2 starter this year?”
Raises both hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Girardi / Cashman will be thrilled if Larry Rothschild can get Burnett straightened out enough to be a reliable No. 3 with C.C. as No. 1 and Phil Hughes as No. 2.
The No. 4 & 5 spots are a story by itself.
MTU, we definitely have some kind of psychic bond! I’m sitting here thinking spicy Chinese – not salty, but peppery!!! (Szechuany)
I’m thinking I want to find a restaurant that delivers too. I just don’t feel like going out.
I think there is a high probability that AJ will pitch well for at least a part of the season……..
108 – I can live with Phil Hughes in the 2 spot!
http://www.denofgeek.com/movie.....ments.html
Here’s my suggestions :
Hot and sour soup.
Szechuan style eggplant.
Kung Pao chicken.
I’m getting hungry.
Just someone else that thinks Brett Marshall mght be the next big thing coming up the road.
” jimcallisBA Jim Callis
RHP Brett Marshall could take off as he puts TJ surgery behind him @nebkreb: Yankees prospect I should be excited about beside obvious names”
Rich, do you think there is high prob that AJ will pitch poorly for at least a part of the season?
I do.
Erica….I’ve heard a few cuts off of Stevie’s new album, loving it !!!!
Cashmoney
I think it’s a near certainty.
And an ice cold Tsingtao to wash it down.
Pat M. February 15th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Erica….I’ve heard a few cuts off of Stevie’s new album, loving it !!!!
************
I have only heard the new single, Secret Love (amazing)
Is this sick or what?
I advanced ordered the CD from her record label so I could have a instant download of the new single. Except it was streaming only and not an downloadable mp3. So then this week when it became available on iTunes, I paid to download it.
And if course the CD is coming May 3rd
. I wonder how many copies I will wind up with. LOL
Bladerunner takes place 2 years after Alex’s contract expires? Where did the time go?!
“17-18 game winner this season for AJ”
AJ won 18 games in his walk year with Toronto. Other than that the most he has won in any other season is 13. I am rooting for him to have a bounce back year, but I prefer Hughes as the #2 behind CC.
MTU that sounds fabulous!!! I love Kung Pao chicken. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen eggplant on any of our menus. But the hot and sour also sounds great.
I admit to being a teetotaler so I think my drink of choice will have to be an ice cold green tea!!!
Thanks for planning my dinner for me, MTU! Now to grab the take-out menus and find someone who delivers.
See you in a bit.
Trisha-
Can’t go wrong there.
Enjoy.
Would you rather have a centaur or a cyborg playing 3rd ?
Cytaur.
Cyborg
Cyborg with Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt programming…
Jeter
j/k
GB
I’m looking forward to Marshall. I’m hoping if he gets promoted early then its once I’ve gotten to see him pitch a good deal. Also, like I have said many times. I really think Romanski will have a good year, you can never have enough hope for a good lefty.
Jeers/CashMoney-
If you want to read some real world sci-fi try reading some Lewis Thomas.
Particularly. “Late Night thoughts ….” , and “Lives of a Cell”.
It will cause your mind to stretch IMO.
TY, Romanski is going to be interesting to watch. Still young and inexperienced, but, looked really good all year. Marshall just needs innings, regardless where he gets them.
Thx MTU, will look into it. My buddy just gave me ‘Replay’ by Ken Grimwood to read… so far so good.
Hey they’re all just inventory according to Cashman.
AJ was a bad machine last season. Let’s hope his microprocessor doesn’t go kaput again.
“Not fair. You have no way of being able to say that Joba is not trying to improve.”
————–
trisha,
true, but showing up to camp in worse physical shape than he did last year, when he was in poor physical shape, isn’t a good sign.
It’s very safe to say Joba isn’t doing everything he could to right the ship.
can’t talk about immortality/sci-fi without bringing up Battlestar Galactica!
Jeers-
AJ is is in the process of being re-programmed as we speak.
Cash-
It’s not sci-fi but it may as well be.
You have to like Biology.
cgrand14 which teammate should I prank during Spring Training?
hmmmm….
It will cause your mind to stretch IMO.
———————————————————
You can’t stretch what’s already been snapped.
Boo. I have to go pick it up.
I wish some cyborg thingy would find a way to motivate me to get my tax stuff in order. Boy am I fighting that for some reason. I know I’ll get a refund so it isn’t “that”.
Stick a fork in me.. I am done!
Leaving work… night all
For all of the heat that the Steinbrenners, Cashman and Levin get on here and other places, it pales in comparison to the potential damage that LaRussa may have caused with his remarks about the Pujols situation could kill the Cards. Add to that and last year with Rasmus and he’s becoming a loose cannon.
Jeers-
Repairs can done in 3 different locations:
SF, Ecuador, or the SW Desert
Your choice.
MTU – added steamed dumplings to the order. Took away the soup. I’m picking it up but the restaurant has good food so it’s worth it. I guess.
GB-
A loose Canneloni actually.
Trisha-
That will work.
Delivery would have been ideal.
Enjoy.
MTU,
Did I read somewhere that you were headed to Tucson or had just been there?
Time to go see some Science fact.
To watch a Computer beat a human at Jeopardy.
I’m pulling for the Machine.
Later.
Jeers-
Leaving Thurs. morning. 3 days of hiking. Aravaipa canyon, Seven falls, and Romero pools.
We were going to hike Picacho Peak too but the weather will be unfavorable.
I have total faith AJ will bounce back and have a #2 year. He won like what, 10 games in 2010. It shouldn’t be hard for him to win an extra 7-8 games with this offense behind him if he pitches well.
I like what he’s been saying and more importantly how he’s saying it. I watched a brief interview with him yesterday, and he had a happy swagger to him I haven’t seen in a while.
He has great stuff. If he had mediocre talent I would have given up on him. We don’t win the 2009 WS w/o him. Rothschild preaches 1st pitch strikes/agressiveness & that’s when AJ has his better days. Not sure about DaveE. Hate to blame the guy that was fired (though he doesn’t seem to know why he was fired lol), but joba rules sucked big time.
Think Joba will bounce back too.
Fresh start all around!
“It shouldn’t be hard for him to win an extra 7-8 games with this offense behind him if he pitches well.”
?
I love Burnett’s attitude, but I definitely am taking a let’s see, prove it to me attitude. He’s gone 23-24 in his tenure in New York with a 4.65 ERA and 393 IP with 397 hits and fifty home runs.
Aravaipa canyon, Seven falls, and Romero pools.
—————————————————————–
Either I don’t recall or never knew of these places. My exploration was mostly inner.
But I can advise you to watch where you squat.
Breathe through your eyes AJ. Breathe through your eyes.
Getting AJ’s head on straight is 80 % of the battle.
If his head is right, the mechanics will follow.
The challenge though will be when the live bullets start.
Can he minimize damage? Can he keep his head when things go off the rails? Can he bounce back from bad outings?
If the answer to those three questions are “yes”, AJ has a bounce back year.
If the answers are “no”………it will be gettin’ late early for AJ.
Jeers-
Indeed.
Just got home, after having Valentine’s Day dinner out with mrs. joe. (The restaurants are a lot less crowded tonight.)
If Larry Rothschild can coax a good season out of AJ, he should get a bonus and a contract extension.
Yes, spring training, and hope springs eternal….. You have to love it.
“I’m here to be a factor.” …….I’m hoping I don’t fear this factor every time he takes the mound..
Logically, there isn’t any reason AJ can’t bounce back.
He’s healthy. That’s the first key.
Mentally, he seems to be in a better place. Whatever was taking place last year in his life (and it wasn’t a divorce) seems to have handled.
It’s about getting back to basics. If he can do that, he can get back to 2008-2009 form.
If he gets back to 2008-2009 form, the Yankees Top 3 starters are as good anybody with the exception of the Phillies. Including Boston.
AJ had a 3.28 ERA entering the month of June last year. Would be quite a boost for him to get off to another start like that.
Also, something I did not remember is how late into the season in 2009 AJ was pitching to a sub 4 ERA. He had a 3.69 ERA on August 21st.
The talent is there and it is ok if he goes through a little funk here or there like in 2009. He just can’t completely snowball into disaster like last season after pitching so well for 2 months.
“I love Burnett’s attitude, but I definitely am taking a let’s see, prove it to me attitude. He’s gone 23-24 in his tenure in New York with a 4.65 ERA and 393 IP with 397 hits and fifty home runs.”
——————
You even have to skew AJ’s badness in a worst light?!
He actually has a 4.62 ERA
AJ could bounce back although the way to being league average.
although = all
LGY,
That’s exactly it. He can’t have meltdown months.
He’s going to have bad outings. Every pitcher has them over the course of the season.
He just has to minimize damage in his starts (especially with this kind of bullpen behind them) and not turn a bad outing or two into 6-8 weeks of putrid starts.
Of he does that, he will be fine.
aj needs to throw more change-ups.
AJ in 2010. The Good, the Bad, and the Superugly:
4/6-5/4 (6 starts): 1.99 ERA
5/9 (1 start): 16.62 ERA
5/14-5/30 (4 starts) 3.08 ERA
6/4-6/26 (5 starts): 11.35 ERA
7/2-7/28 (5 starts): 2.00 ERA
8/2 (1 start): 15.43 ERA
8/10-8/15 (2 starts): 2.40 ERA
8/20-8/27 (2 starts): 12.19 ERA
9/1-9/22 (5 starts): 4.33 ERA
9/27 (1 start): 27.00 ERA
10/2 (1 start): 3.00 ERA
off the topic, Just read about IBM’s big blue? soundly crushing it’s human counterparts on Jeopardy. Did anyone think the result would have been any dif? It’s a knowledge base game, not a strategy one.
It was all about reaction time.
I can see Jeter winning the Medal of Freedom one day
I can see Jeter not winning it.
I was surprised how badly the computer did on Million Dollar Money Drop, however.
Maybe it was too distracted by Kevin Pollak.
I can see Jenning goes all in on daily double with Minka.
Nice attempt at attempting to start an argument LGY. My post on Burnett was completely reasonable and I applauded him for his attitude. He has been a .500 pitcher since coming here, that’s a fact and with all the optimism and speculation that he is going to have a good year I want to see it. That’s all.
Ken or Chad?
ken, and prolly Chad as well.
Leave WCRSF alone!
I think AJ will be awesome, all year long, and lead the league in K’s.
Rich in NJ –
I should have said receiving
I think Hughe will K more hitters than AJ.
Hughes too.
That would be good. He sure gets 2 strikes enough.
Rich in NJ…….Hughes very well could lead the staff in K’s next season and for season to come……
Who is Hughe Rich?
if pat m is right and aj wins 17 to 18 games in 2011, the yankees win al east by 10 games.
CC could, too. And if Manny Banny gets called up, he could lead in K/9.
“Who is Hughe Rich?”
Hit F5.
The other night I saw a movie with Rod Steiger called No Way to Treat a Lady. I can’t help it but when I see WCYF and Vineyard and bruceb all posting, all I can think of is Rod Steiger putting calls in to George Segal in all of those different voices – the German plumber, the French gourmand, the woman in drag.
I don’t know if he got an Oscar for that role or even an Oscar nomination, but he was fantastic.
Rich in NJ February 15th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
I think Hughe will K more hitters than AJ.
************
That’s not really an earth shattering prediction is it Rich, since Hughes (if that’s who you meant) struck out one more batter than Burnett did in 2010.
Trisha what’s the matter ambulances parked for the evening?
Well I didn’t actually see a movie with Rod Steiger. He starred in the movie.
I believe Rich was responding to my belief that AJ would lead the AL in K’s.
Pat M,
175ish Ks for Hughes this year? ……..3.50ish Era? ………..and 17 wins. 1.150 WHIP
trisha – true pinstriped blue February 15th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
The other night I saw a movie with Rod Steiger called No Way to Treat a Lady. I can’t help it but when I see WCYF and Vineyard and bruceb all posting, all I can think of is Rod Steiger putting calls in to George Segal in all of those different voices – the German plumber, the French gourmand, the woman in drag.
I don’t know if he got an Oscar for that role or even an Oscar nomination, but he was fantastic.
———————————————————————————————————————-
There will be a real fight between them over who gets to be the lady in drag.
What just happened here. I was accused of trying to start an argument with WC and now he is lashing out at Rich and Trisha attempting to start arguments with them?
WCRSF – hit esc
GB –
LGY –
LGY – follow along. They decided to make snide comments first, I’m no ones doormat. Get used to it.
Still laughing!!!
That’s not really an earth shattering prediction is it Rich, since Hughes (if that’s who you meant) struck out one more batter than Burnett did in 2010.
-
Does it have to be “earth shattering”?
“That’s not really an earth shattering prediction is it Rich, since Hughes (if that’s who you meant) struck out one more batter than Burnett did in 2010.”
Career K/9:
Player A: 8.2
Player B: 7.9
Which is Hughes and which is AJ? (don’t cheat!)
one thing that has to also be talked about is how with the pitching in question, Mark Teixiera CANNOT start this year hitting .150 in June again. He absolutely has to be better than that.
Hughes player B?
:@