Drama in Toronto
July 6, 2007 by Geoff Young
Filed under Personalities
Seems Toronto Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi isn’t happy with right-hander A.J. Burnett. You know, the guy Ricciardi signed to a huge contract not long ago despite a significant and known injury history?
Love this quote from Ricciardi:
When he takes the ball he’s good, we’ve got no complaints every times he’s been on the mound… we just need to find a way to keep him out there. I don’t know if it’s psychological, I don’t know if it’s just (that) he gets to a point where he feels something (that) he’s so scarred from being hurt so many times that he just backs off, but I think he’s going to have to get over that hump at some point and just maybe pitch through some pain or realize the difference between being hurt and really being hurt.
I may be mistaken, but I’m pretty sure this falls into the category of things you probably don’t want to say to the media.
It’s true that Burnett (5 years, $55 million) and reliever B.J. Ryan (5 years, $47 million; out for season) aren’t giving the Blue Jays great return on investment. That said, publicly slagging his players doesn’t make Ricciardi look any smarter and probably won’t win him big points the next time he tries to sign a free agent. Then again, judging from his recent track record in that area, this might not be such a bad thing…
I was listening to BBTM on XM and they were talking about this very subject. Buck pointed out that Burnett is .500 for his career, and JP knew exactly what they were getting into.
And pretty much said the same thing you said, that this is something he shouldn’t have said to the media.
Ricciardi is like that teacher you had back in high school. Smart, really smart, but couldn’t get along with anyone.
If I guy makes more in one year than most of us will make in a lifetime, then he should be prepared to take some crap and to suck it up. If someone wanted to pay me $55 million, I’d be ready to bend over if you know what I mean. I think Burnett is milking it, and I’m with Ricciardi on this one.
Burnett had a known injury history. Ricciardi made a bad signing, and now he’s blaming the player for it. Burnett may or may not be “milking it” (I have no way of knowing), but it seems to me that someone is trying to deflect blame for a poor decision.
GY – I ‘m with you on this one. We have no way of knowing if he’s “Milking” it or not. But he’s a career .500 pitchers with a long and known list of injurys. Ricciardi knew what he was getting into when he signed Burnett.