I know it's early -- but anyone heard of seen anything indicating why AJ Burnett's K ratio has taken a fairly big hit this year. He's usually around 8-9 a game. This year he's at 5 after 3 outings.
Not complaining about results this year at all, but this fact, taken in conjunction with the CGs and the injury history have me watching this a little more close.
the reason he can finish games is that his K ratio has gone down -- decreases his pitch-counts. Believe it or not, but Ks are not the most efficient way to get people out.
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He's been laying off his dominating fastball and throwing more breaking pitches, changing speeds more. He's getting a lot more groundouts. He also doesn't seem to be walking as many people as he used to. The K's will come, along with probably more wins and a lower WHIP
matmat wrote:the reason he can finish games is that his K ratio has gone down -- decreases his pitch-counts. Believe it or not, but Ks are not the most efficient way to get people out.
Yes, it is.
It's three starts into the season. I wouldn't be worried about Burnett's K rate yet. It's most likely going to go up soon.
This is the year wrote:He's been laying off his dominating fastball and throwing more breaking pitches, changing speeds more. He's getting a lot more groundouts. He also doesn't seem to be walking as many people as he used to. The K's will come, along with probably more wins and a lower WHIP
This is also spot on. As Seaver said on the broadcast he is learning to become a "pitcher" and not a "thrower." He mixes it up, and gets people out rather than trying to throw it 100MPH every pitch.
matmat wrote:the reason he can finish games is that his K ratio has gone down -- decreases his pitch-counts. Believe it or not, but Ks are not the most efficient way to get people out.
Yes, it is.
It's three starts into the season. I wouldn't be worried about Burnett's K rate yet. It's most likely going to go up soon.
Effective yes.
Efficient no.
Look at the P/IP totals for last year.
Maddux, Lima, Pavano, Silva, D. Wells, Od. Perez, Lieber, Westbrook, Mulder and Hudson were the 10 most efficient SP last year. Maddux was the only one with a K/9 over 6. That's not to say you can't be a K pitcher and be efficient. RJ came in 11th.
Burnett seems to be a different pitcher than he was last year. Being a strikeout pitcher is generally not efficient, and Burnett seems to have evolved from trying to over power everyone he faces and actually change speeds and pitch to the batters weaknesses.
Yesterday, he pitched a CG on around 100 pitches and was very efficient. A lot of jammed hitters who didn't get much on the ball because Burnett constantly had them off balanced.
This new pitching style (if continued) will lead to a lot less strikeouts, but a lot more innings and hopefully, wins.
K rate will go up, Burnett is just experimenting with his control right now and dominating. As he gets his arm greased up and into a groove, I think you'll see a lot more swing thrus.
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by d18Mike » Mon Apr 18, 2005 12:47 pm 
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