Inconsistent and mediocre. Those are the words that just keep coming up in discussions about the Toronto Blue Jay's right-hander, A.J. Burnett.
When the Jays inked Burnett to a five-year deal worth $55 million, back in early 2006, questions immediately began to pop up.
"Will the Jay's finally get the one-two punch they have been looking for in Halladay and Burnett, or will we just get another .500 pitcher?"
Well, to put it simply, the Blue Jays got both. Burnett has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career in Toronto, most recently he put up an eight-inning game against long-time rival the New York Yankees, and allowed just one run on six hits.
However, there are also the times when Burnett just doesn't have it. For example, let's go back to his first game of the 2007 season. Despite only pitching two innings, the right hander gave up an astonishing five hits and six runs.
Now, I realize pitchers have their fair share of up and downs throughout the coarse of a season, but it appears that Burnett is on a constant roller coaster. One minute it looks as though he could be a Cy Young pitcher, the next it looks like he should still be in AA.
Heading into the 2008 season, everybody knew this was a crucial year for not only Burnett, but the entire organization as well. This was a make-or-break year for a lot of players and managers, and this was evident when manager John Gibbons was fired on June 20.
This was a year where many believed the Jays could at least make the Wild Card, and a lot of that hope rested on A.J. Burnett's shoulders.
The Jays needed Burnett to break out this year, and show everybody that he wasn't just an inconsistent .500 pitcher. However, what we got was the same old A.J. heading into the All-Star break. Burnett is just 5-4, with a horrible ERA. of 5.23.
Injuries and inconsistency have riddled Burnett's career, and with a possibility of losing Burnett to an opt-out clause in his contract next winter, there is a huge possibility that Burnett could be moved before the trade deadline on July 31.
I, for one, would be glad to see Burnett go. The Jays need to stop striving for mediocrity and start living up to the expectations. There is no doubt in my mind that this ballclub could make the postseason. Maybe not this year, but dishing Burnett for some young talent is a great way to start for next year.
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