Burnett can’t catch a break

By On March 1, 2012 · 3 Comments · In Former Players

I guess this no longer qualifies as Yankee news, but AJ Burnett’s career for the Pittsburgh Pirates has gotten off to a rocky start.  In what could only be described as an unfortunate fluke, Burnett fouled a ball into his face while practicing his bunting at Spring Training.  The video is , and somewhat painful to watch.  AJ sustained an orbital (the bone around the eye) fracture, and is going to have surgery, possibly keeping him out for the start of the regular season.

I’m guessing (based on what I’ve heard) that he didn’t have any direct damage to his eye, so there should not be concerns about vision loss.  Nonetheless, this is an unfortunate setback to a guy who I’m sure desperately wanted to make a great impression with his new team and fanbase.  I’ve never been a huge AJ Burnett fan, but I always rooted for him to succeed while in New York, and will continue to hope that he pitches well in Pittsburgh.  I’ll be wishing him a quick recovery, and hope he can get back out there soon.

I can’t see a fluke occurrence like this happening without wondering about the wisdom of pitchers continuing to bat in the National League.  Sure this could happen to anybody who tries to bunt, but it was possibly the result of poor technique from a player who has swung a bat very infrequently over the last few years.  Having pitchers bat and run the bases when their main job is pitching definitely risks putting them in harm’s way, and I wonder how many fluke injuries it will take for the MLB to reconsider this policy (since it means the end of “strategy”, double-switches, and the awesomeness of intentional walks to 8th place hitters).

 
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3 Responses to Burnett can’t catch a break

  1. Willie Mays Hayes says:
    March 1, 2012 at 5:11 pm

    Those veiled parting shots about ‘too much tinkering’ were not flattering. Karma truly is a bitch.

    Reply
  2. T.O. Chris says:
    March 1, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    AJ just can’t catch a break, you have to feel bad for the guy in a way.

    The larger point is dead on, it’s time to end pitchers hitting. If next year we are going to rolling interleague play, then the NL needs to adopt the DH. There’s no need for two leagues to be playing under different rules. It makes puts pitchers into an extra chance to get hurt, it hurts offense, and it makes it harder to translate players from the other league in scouting for trades or free agency.

    Reply
  3. Long Gone says:
    March 1, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    I dont think the NL wants DH’s because it keeps them from handing out awful contracts like A’rods, Puljos and Fielder. There is jsut no way you can talk yourself into those contracts as an NL owner, if there is no place to put them in the last few years of the deal.
    I dont see the NL owners or fan base ever going for it. THey are convinced that their double switch option, increases the skill of the manager, and we all know that watching a manager, manage is much more fun than watching players play.

    Reply

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