First things first, this interview is a great example of why I’m personally fond of A.J. Burnett. The guy is nothing if not a stand up professional, owning up to his failings and saying the right things, including saying nothing but nice things about the manager who always had his back. But this is the really interesting bit, which is already being framed with full negative connotation:
In 2009, according to ESPN Stats & Information, one out of every five Burnett pitches registered 95 mph or faster on Pitch F/X’s radar-gun readings. In 2011, that rate was one in every 250 pitches.
“I think I just started buying in and listening to the wrong things,” Burnett said when asked why things went south. “I’m not gonna be the guy that’s not coachable and the guy that doesn’t wanna get better and doesn’t wanna learn. So when you’re surrounded by Hall of Famers like that that wanna help you, you’re gonna listen. And I think I got away from a lot. I don’t think my velocity’s dropped down. I think the way I changed my delivery made my velocity drop down. … I never felt like I did in 2009 as a Yankee.”
Asked who changed him, Burnett replied, “It wasn’t exactly a change. I think maybe reactions here or there from the crowd if I walked a couple guys or got in bad counts early, it’s like it’s over. But it’s not over, I still got six or seven innings left to pitch, so ease up.
“At the same time, I turned a lot [in my delivery in the past]. I had deception in my delivery in 2009 that made me successful. It wasn’t anybody. They didn’t like the turn. They wanted me to be more of a strike thrower and try to get more consistent in the strike zone because I was wild in that delivery — but then again I was more powerful and dominant in that delivery.”
I have no idea whether or not there’s any validity to that, but it’s a working theory, at least and, if he goes back to a similar delivery to the one he came to New York with, it will be interesting to see if he reclaims some of that lost velocity. On the other hand, he is in his mid-30′s now, so I’m more than a little bit skeptical of this explanation.
The comment was totally non-negative and some press people and some blogs that shall remain nameless have turned them into something ugly. It's not much different from a batter in a deep slump who starts getting advice from a hundred different places. I watched the interview four times through and the guy is a class act.
Not only that, but some comments in print and on TV (or TV'd radio-shows) were ALREADY trying to paint him as a "clubhouse cancer" or "malcontent" in seeing him gone. Again: really? 'cause every time I read something about that, I follow that with Martin texting AJ that "I'm totally bunting on you when I see you in March!" and all of the other good-natured ribbing that… indicates anything other than what the MSM is mostly saying?
It's certainly possible what he's saying is true, but I'd have to study video to see for sure. Pitching coaches love to tinker with deliveries to make them cleaner, more effortless, etc. It's certainly possible he lost velocity as a result. He certainly would have lost a bit of torque and deception which probably made his fastball more hittable. Even if he returned to his "old" delivery, I'm not convinced he'll regain his old velocity. Pitchers lose velocity as they age–unless your name is Nolan Ryan, but then you're a freak of nature.