Recharging the Broken Posada-Burnett Battery (UPDATE – 3/18)
With all the drama surrounding Jorge Posada and A.J. Burnett last season, Joe Girardi has entered the spring with another goal in mind: getting the Yankees #2 starter on the same page as their starting catcher. In the 16 games Jorge caught A.J. last season, Burnett was 5-5 with 6 no-decisions and opposing hitters batting .270. In the 11 game with Jose Molina, the numbers were completely different. Burnett was 5-2 with 4 no-decisions and held hitters to a .221 average. The difference is very noticeable. However, Molina is now long gone after signing a 1-year deal with Toronto Blue Jays, and it’s now time for the Burnett-Posada soap opera to come to an end. The two will need to work together to sort out the obvious communication issues.
According to an article written in today’s New York Post by George A. King III, Burnett is quoted as saying:
I was looking forward from the first day of camp that [Posada] gets behind the plate. A lot of stuff got blown out of proportion. I am excited to move on and learn from each other. I hope he catches every bullpen and every start. I want to throw to Jorge and don’t want to deal with that anymore.
The article goes on to explain that,
According to Burnett, he and Posada didn’t spend enough time in the early part of last season — the pitcher’s first with the Yankees — to get comfortable with each other. “The first month we didn’t know how to communicate,” Burnett said. “In the rough games, we didn’t know how to communicate.”
Bad outings are inevitable in MLB, and we all need to realize that pitchers are not going to go 36-0 every season, and that they will get roughed up from time to time. There is absolutely no need to panic. Posada’s teacher as an up-and-coming catcher is now his manager. With Girardi, Posada, and Burnett working hard this spring training, I believe the two of them will get on the same page sooner rather than later. Expect Posada to be the regular battery-mate for A.J. Burnett.
UPDATE: To follow-up with what was written about a week ago, word on the street is that the relationship with Posada and Burnett is looking very good. Burnett threw a 30-pitch batting practice session yesterday. Twelve of the thirty pitches thrown were change-ups, which Burnett has been talking about adding to his arsenal. According to the article I read in the NY Post, Mariano Rivera tried this same technique several years ago when he tried adding a change-up to his repertoire during the spring training schedule, but never used it again once the regular season started. The article, written by George A. King III quotes A.J. Burnett as saying:
“[Catcher] Jorge [Posada] and I have been talking when to use it and when not to use it. It’s a good second pitch, especially when the hook [curve] isn’t working. I saw CC throw it, and it opened my eyes a bit.”
The article goes on to to further explain that the relationship with Posada and Burnett continued to improve when Posada caught the batting practice session in which Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano and Jamie Hoffman didn’t swing. After the batting practice session yesterday Posada said, “Way to go, A.J.” which was followed by a handshake and a hug.
UPDATE (3/18): Burnett was not happy about the outcome of his last outing — 2 1/3 innings pitched, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts, and a run. Burnett was quoted as saying after the outing:
It was good for me to get my work in and to face live hitters, but everything was up. It was tough for me to stay calm. I was overdoing everything early — really, the whole time. I was constantly behind and could just never get myself to settle down at all.
Burnett continued working on the change-up in this outing, and Posada noted that it was the best it’s been since the experiment started.
What are your thoughts on the the Burnett-Posada saga? Do you think the two Yankees will be able to work out their communication issue?
To read more on George A. King III’s articles from the N.Y. Post, check out the following links:
Yankees Burnett, Posada on same page
Yankees Burnett ‘changes’ repertoire
Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com
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I couldn’t agree more…jorge and aj have to get on the same track this year…glad that they are trying this ST to fix it…good to see.
Seems like all they needed was a fresh start. Like you said, bad outings are inevitable…i just hope the media doesn’t automatically blame their relationship the first time AJ gets roughed up this season. Hopefully everything progresses smoothly!