Reed Johnson
07-06-2007, 02:06 AM
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/article.jsp?content=20070705_121221_5188
Sportsnet.ca - Blue Jays' general manager J.P. Ricciardi had harsh words for often-injured starter A.J. Burnett on a Toronto radio station, saying that Burnett may now be considered a third or fourth starter, and if he had to do it all over again, he probably would not have signed Burnett to a five-year $55 million deal in December, 2005.
Speaking on the Fan 590 on Thursday morning, Ricciardi expressed concern over whether Burnett is willing to pitch through pain.
"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."
If you read the bolded part it seems as if Riccardi is implying that Burnett really isn't hurt at all and is over reacting to his injury. At least he admits his mistake in signing Burnett in the first paragraph. I found this interesting to say the least.
Sportsnet.ca - Blue Jays' general manager J.P. Ricciardi had harsh words for often-injured starter A.J. Burnett on a Toronto radio station, saying that Burnett may now be considered a third or fourth starter, and if he had to do it all over again, he probably would not have signed Burnett to a five-year $55 million deal in December, 2005.
Speaking on the Fan 590 on Thursday morning, Ricciardi expressed concern over whether Burnett is willing to pitch through pain.
"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."
If you read the bolded part it seems as if Riccardi is implying that Burnett really isn't hurt at all and is over reacting to his injury. At least he admits his mistake in signing Burnett in the first paragraph. I found this interesting to say the least.