A.J. Burnett tips his cap to the PNC Park crowd in 2013, a familiar scene after so many starts. — GETTY IMAGES
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
“I want to win a ring, and I want to win it with Pittsburgh.”
See, that used to be a real hoot around here, spouting stuff like that. Because the ‘ring’ in this statement is a World Series ring. And ‘Pittsburgh’ points to the Pirates, the franchise that was Major League Baseball’s perpetual laughingstock. At least until A.J. Burnett arrived in 2012.
Which is precisely why it isn’t funny anymore.
Especially when the man himself is saying it.
“It’s about winning,” Burnett was telling us reporter types in a conference call this evening, minutes after he and the Pirates signed his one-year, $8.5 million, miles-below-market-value contract to return to the place he said made him the happiest. “It’s about being in a place where I know I can win it all. It’s about how many years I’ve got left. It’s about my family and my heart. To be able to get out where I want, I’m so lucky to have that opportunity. There’s nowhere I’d rather finish my career than in that city, with that organization and those people in that locker room.”
Anyone else flings out phrases like that, especially in a no-nonsense town like ours, and they’ll get called on it. Not this guy. Not the way he always makes it feel so real. Not after all he’d already done to win over Pittsburgh in his initial stint, and most certainly not after all he did to open a second — and yes, closing — chapter.
Let’s start there: Burnett will turn 38 and, as he made abundantly clear several times in the call, he’ll pitch one more season and call it quits. He’d hinted as such before but never this bluntly.
“One more,” he said. “This will be it.”
He knew that, too, after a 2014 in Philadelphia where he somehow logged a National League-high 34 starts despite a nagging hernia injury that required Oct. 3 surgery. He knew he’d have one more, even it were more for mental and emotional reasons than physical.
So when he was presented with two fairly attractive choices this fall for 2015 — he had a player option worth $12.75 million to return to the Phillies that required nothing more than his stroke of a pen, as well as a standing offer to pitch for the Orioles, the team based closest to his Maryland home — he instead turned to the third.
“I called Neal.”
Neal Huntington, of course.
“This wasn’t about money. I want to be in a place where I was really, really happy. This is just where I belong. There are some gut feelings you have to go with, and this was the one for me. I made it very clear to Neal, ‘This wasn’t about the money. Let’s just get it done.’ ”
He went further, ordering his longtime agent, Darek Braunecker, to negotiate with no team other than the Pirates. And once it became clear that money wouldn’t be an impediment — “I wanted Neal to have the flexibility he needed to put the team he wants on the field,” Burnett said — it took less than a week to put pen to paper.
“He’s a man who left a whole lot of money on the table,” Huntington said. “He wants to take care of unfinished business.”
“This was what A.J. wanted,” Braunecker said. “The way this played out, this was about nothing other than A.J. being back where he’s happy.”
Well, maybe not.
Lest anyone need to be reminded, this is A.J. And what made him happy wasn’t just the success he enjoyed with the Pirates but also the way he was almost singularly identified with it. He was the one who drew the rave reviews from teammates at his first spring training, as I vividly recall, gushing about how he was going to “change the culture” and “put this team on his back.” And he was the one who followed through on all that.
So when one speaks of A.J. being happy, it should always come with the assumption that winning is part of the equation. And in this case, based on the man’s words, that means winning it all.
Still not laughing, huh?
Maybe that’s because he can make us all feel like Hanley Ramirez at times:
Well, it won’t be simple, to say the least: Burnett rejoins a rotation still uncertain if it will have one or both of Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez, still waiting on long-term injury recoveries for Charlie Morton and Jameson Taillon, still without an everyday first baseman and, yes, to address the elephant behind the plate, still looking like they’ll lose Russell Martin to some megabucks team no matter how many megabucks they offer themselves.
And never mind that the Pirates can’t even know what they’ll get from Burnett. He’ll be 38 in January, and he’s coming off a rugged 2014 in which his perseverance was far more admirable than his productivity: 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA. He did have a highly impressive 196 strikeouts, and he did continue to get grounders at a good rate — that unusual combination having been his hallmark with the Pirates — but anyone who thinks there are no questions is kidding themselves.
What’s more, we don’t know about the injury. I asked Burnett about his pain tolerance in 2014, and he replied: “It wasn’t as much painful as there was a constant grab. I was under contract to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies, and I gave them everything I had. I was in touch with doctors to make sure it wasn’t getting worse and just kept going.”
In theory, it should be much better in 2015. But it’s hardly known.
Here’s one area no one should sweat: A.J. will be a spectacular addition to the clubhouse.
He was always that in his first go-round, and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Actually, I’ll take that further: Of all the myths anyone in the Pittsburgh media has ever tried to perpetrate, this was among the most despicable. He was loved by his teammates, even when he’d push them beyond their comfort level. Several of them told me throughout last season that they never lost touch with him, never stopped seeking advice. Atop that list was protege Jeff Locke, who practically begged him to come back. In September, Locke told me, “I’ve never been around anyone in my career who made that much of a difference.”
Positively, he meant.
Beyond the clubhouse, in the manager’s office, it’s no different. Sure, Burnett and Clint Hurdle had their infamous tete-a-tete in St. Louis when Hurdle chose Gerrit Cole ahead of Burnett for Game 5 against the Cardinals. But both men addressed that Friday, certainly to my satisfaction.
“There were some things we disagreed on near the end of the season, but we’ve talked about those, including here in the past little while,” Hurdle said. “We made sure everything was OK.”
“Honestly, I wish that never happened,” Burnett said. “If I had to do it again, I’d sit in that man’s office and listen to him. I would.”
You’d better be sure he will in 2015. Just as you can be sure that, from time to time, he’ll also pipe up, maybe even pop off. It’s who he is, and it’s what raised the Pirates to the level that they could make consecutive playoff appearances and speak as bluntly as so many of them — not just Burnett — will do now.
It’s asking a ton, and not just of Huntington. It’s more of a rallying cry, even an open challenge, as I see it. To Bob Nutting, to the front office, to Hurdle, to his teammates, even to the city.
A.J. wants to win a ring, and he wants to win it with Pittsburgh.
If that doesn’t sound like a slogan to play all summer long on Root Sports, I can’t imagine what is.
“I wanted Neal to have the flexibility he needed to put the team he wants on the field,” Burnett said
Solid statement that he expects NH and ownership to put more talent on the field. I hope they meet his expectations. He's done his part. Time for them to do theirs.
No question that if he stays healthy AJ will log a lot of innings. If Pirates are going to contend for a ring they still need to sign at least a number 2 type starter
Great column, DK. It's nice to see that a couple of years of success can convince quality players to make that decision to come to play for the Pirates.
*
Last line, 5th paragraph "...career that in that city" first that should be a than, I believe.
AJ sees the potential of this team, which is very interesting. His words could draw other free agents here. Maybe a Brett Anderson makes sense now, seeing how AJ is such a mentor to the younger players...or maybe Frankie stays to reunite with AJ. Could have a ripple effect.
Or both, which is my ideal case. Frankie's awesome, and Anderson is one of the three starters who best profiles to succeed as a Pirate, and the only of them who's a lefty. (The other two, in my opinion, are Billingsley and McCarthy.)
Dom, Jandy and I had a face-to-face right after she left. She left on her own,despite what you might have heard. She just wanted more of a chat room atmosphere with more not necessarily sports posts. Stuart
I triple-dog dare Russell Martin to sign a one year deal to just so he can catch AJ one more season. It's not like any of these guys are really hurting for the $$$.
AJ is likely to rush the mound from the dugout (even if he ain’t pitching) sorta like a goalie fight , precipitating a bench clearing baseball pushing and shoving match called a brawl that in hockey would actually be a fight but serving the same purpose. LOL
(copyfrm prior thrd)
Welcome back, AJ. I'm sure pitching for a bad, aging Phillies team was a major reason for his decline in 2014. If he can give us 175 innings, just as many ground balls, and good leadership, he'll be worth every penny. Next up for the PBC: sign Brett Anderson! High risk/reward!!
I've got goose bumps thinking about A.J. back with the Bucs. But, I am really curious to know if his influence and impact can or will extend to the enigma that is El Toro, an El Toro who will gladly play wherever his manager puts him and fulfill his great potential?
To the people spending the last year attacking AJ make sure not to strain your hamstring while jumping back on the bandwagon. I thought he was a huge loss and glad to see him back
Out of curiosity (I don't expect DK to answer this), who was the specific Pittsburgh media member that started the toxic AJ clubhouse rumors? DK referenced this person on his podcast with David Todd. Thanks.
I recall 24/7 taking some slaps at A.J. and remember thinking, boy, that was gratuitous. But hard to believe a major beat reporter in town would be dumb enough to start rumor about a player. In any event, whoever it actually was, what a rotten thing to do.
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Call me a cynic but sentiment doesn't win games. I prefer the realistic view. If he's productive, great. If he's not, then bad deal. 38, off a bad year, and $8.5M that could've gone to someone at least equally effective and younger (Volquez) or better (Liriano) makes me nervous.
Neither of those guys would do a 1 yr deal. In fact, Liriano already turned down the QA at $15.3. Also, there's no guarantee that Volquez will be as good as AJ.
Coming into the offseason, I wanted a catcher and 2 starters. They've gotten to acceptable on 2 of the 3 and SHOULD still have a lot of cash available... Hopefully enough to pull in a number 2 or 3 starter.
Crazy what a difference two years makes. The Bucs are contenders.
You need to watch the Phillies. They are awful and disinterested. Old guys making tons of money and middling prospects. Any youth they had are with other clubs.
This really cant hurt.
Look at 2014, most panned Volquez at $5MM.
AJ will log innings, and provide some leadership.
.
Still need another starter, and a bat.
Your lead photo says it all for me. AJ is one of the few players in the game who at least from time to time acknowledges that there are fans in the stands. I've never understood pitchers who walk off the field to roaring ovations and can't even spare a slight tip of the cap.
Great point. Not just as in that moment, but when he exhorted the fans to create a "black out," or when he prodded fans because there were too many empty seats. He got a smidgeon of grief for that last one, but I think people overlooked what he was trying to say, ie....
These are the kinds of sports stories that warm my heart. Burnett took BELOW market value to go somewhere where he is happy. Imagine if Bobby Bonilla had done that. Or Neil O'Donnell. Or...if Russell Martin does in the coming days?
There's really no comparison with a one year deal a player takes for the supposed last year of his career after he's made his money and a player in his last chance to take a blockbuster multiyear deal.
In this day, and age, a sports figure devoting his loyalty to one city, what a great concept. Hopefully this continues a trend, that many other good players stay in Pittsburgh.
I couldn't be happier to see AJ back in a Pirates uniform. He is the one who changed the club house mentality. A healthy and happy AJ =good things. Awesome read DK
I love this move. AJ changed the culture here (with help from a few others). Looking forward to seeing him make people sit the _____ down again soon. Great read too, DK.
I am afraid to make a positive comment about anything the Pirates FO does. I figure years of griping and disinterest have had a cumulative metaphysical effect and pushed this club to a contender. Looking forward to the Reds throwing at Cutch.
I never cared much for AJ before he became a Pirate, but changed my mind completely after his performance. No question, that man is a catalyst, mostly positive, in the clubhouse and on the field. I hope he brings to the Buccos what we expect. It would be great if he got his ring
November 14, 2014
Column: A.J. makes it all feel so real … again
by Dejan Kovacevic • Columns • Pirates
A.J. Burnett tips his cap to the PNC Park crowd in 2013, a familiar scene after so many starts. — GETTY IMAGES
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
“I want to win a ring, and I want to win it with Pittsburgh.”
See, that used to be a real hoot around here, spouting stuff like that. Because the ‘ring’ in this statement is a World Series ring. And ‘Pittsburgh’ points to the Pirates, the franchise that was Major League Baseball’s perpetual laughingstock. At least until A.J. Burnett arrived in 2012.
Which is precisely why it isn’t funny anymore.
Especially when the man himself is saying it.
“It’s about winning,” Burnett was telling us reporter types in a conference call this evening, minutes after he and the Pirates signed his one-year, $8.5 million, miles-below-market-value contract to return to the place he said made him the happiest. “It’s about being in a place where I know I can win it all. It’s about how many years I’ve got left. It’s about my family and my heart. To be able to get out where I want, I’m so lucky to have that opportunity. There’s nowhere I’d rather finish my career than in that city, with that organization and those people in that locker room.”
Anyone else flings out phrases like that, especially in a no-nonsense town like ours, and they’ll get called on it. Not this guy. Not the way he always makes it feel so real. Not after all he’d already done to win over Pittsburgh in his initial stint, and most certainly not after all he did to open a second — and yes, closing — chapter.
Let’s start there: Burnett will turn 38 and, as he made abundantly clear several times in the call, he’ll pitch one more season and call it quits. He’d hinted as such before but never this bluntly.
“One more,” he said. “This will be it.”
He knew that, too, after a 2014 in Philadelphia where he somehow logged a National League-high 34 starts despite a nagging hernia injury that required Oct. 3 surgery. He knew he’d have one more, even it were more for mental and emotional reasons than physical.
So when he was presented with two fairly attractive choices this fall for 2015 — he had a player option worth $12.75 million to return to the Phillies that required nothing more than his stroke of a pen, as well as a standing offer to pitch for the Orioles, the team based closest to his Maryland home — he instead turned to the third.
“I called Neal.”
Neal Huntington, of course.
“This wasn’t about money. I want to be in a place where I was really, really happy. This is just where I belong. There are some gut feelings you have to go with, and this was the one for me. I made it very clear to Neal, ‘This wasn’t about the money. Let’s just get it done.’ ”
He went further, ordering his longtime agent, Darek Braunecker, to negotiate with no team other than the Pirates. And once it became clear that money wouldn’t be an impediment — “I wanted Neal to have the flexibility he needed to put the team he wants on the field,” Burnett said — it took less than a week to put pen to paper.
“He’s a man who left a whole lot of money on the table,” Huntington said. “He wants to take care of unfinished business.”
“This was what A.J. wanted,” Braunecker said. “The way this played out, this was about nothing other than A.J. being back where he’s happy.”
Well, maybe not.
Lest anyone need to be reminded, this is A.J. And what made him happy wasn’t just the success he enjoyed with the Pirates but also the way he was almost singularly identified with it. He was the one who drew the rave reviews from teammates at his first spring training, as I vividly recall, gushing about how he was going to “change the culture” and “put this team on his back.” And he was the one who followed through on all that.
So when one speaks of A.J. being happy, it should always come with the assumption that winning is part of the equation. And in this case, based on the man’s words, that means winning it all.
Still not laughing, huh?
Maybe that’s because he can make us all feel like Hanley Ramirez at times:
Well, it won’t be simple, to say the least: Burnett rejoins a rotation still uncertain if it will have one or both of Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez, still waiting on long-term injury recoveries for Charlie Morton and Jameson Taillon, still without an everyday first baseman and, yes, to address the elephant behind the plate, still looking like they’ll lose Russell Martin to some megabucks team no matter how many megabucks they offer themselves.
And never mind that the Pirates can’t even know what they’ll get from Burnett. He’ll be 38 in January, and he’s coming off a rugged 2014 in which his perseverance was far more admirable than his productivity: 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA. He did have a highly impressive 196 strikeouts, and he did continue to get grounders at a good rate — that unusual combination having been his hallmark with the Pirates — but anyone who thinks there are no questions is kidding themselves.
What’s more, we don’t know about the injury. I asked Burnett about his pain tolerance in 2014, and he replied: “It wasn’t as much painful as there was a constant grab. I was under contract to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies, and I gave them everything I had. I was in touch with doctors to make sure it wasn’t getting worse and just kept going.”
In theory, it should be much better in 2015. But it’s hardly known.
Here’s one area no one should sweat: A.J. will be a spectacular addition to the clubhouse.
He was always that in his first go-round, and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Actually, I’ll take that further: Of all the myths anyone in the Pittsburgh media has ever tried to perpetrate, this was among the most despicable. He was loved by his teammates, even when he’d push them beyond their comfort level. Several of them told me throughout last season that they never lost touch with him, never stopped seeking advice. Atop that list was protege Jeff Locke, who practically begged him to come back. In September, Locke told me, “I’ve never been around anyone in my career who made that much of a difference.”
Positively, he meant.
Beyond the clubhouse, in the manager’s office, it’s no different. Sure, Burnett and Clint Hurdle had their infamous tete-a-tete in St. Louis when Hurdle chose Gerrit Cole ahead of Burnett for Game 5 against the Cardinals. But both men addressed that Friday, certainly to my satisfaction.
“There were some things we disagreed on near the end of the season, but we’ve talked about those, including here in the past little while,” Hurdle said. “We made sure everything was OK.”
“Honestly, I wish that never happened,” Burnett said. “If I had to do it again, I’d sit in that man’s office and listen to him. I would.”
You’d better be sure he will in 2015. Just as you can be sure that, from time to time, he’ll also pipe up, maybe even pop off. It’s who he is, and it’s what raised the Pirates to the level that they could make consecutive playoff appearances and speak as bluntly as so many of them — not just Burnett — will do now.
It’s asking a ton, and not just of Huntington. It’s more of a rallying cry, even an open challenge, as I see it. To Bob Nutting, to the front office, to Hurdle, to his teammates, even to the city.
A.J. wants to win a ring, and he wants to win it with Pittsburgh.
If that doesn’t sound like a slogan to play all summer long on Root Sports, I can’t imagine what is.