Prior to his Yankees signing, Burnett was simply a slightly above average pitcher. In the 2008 season with Toronto he posted a 4.07 ERA, which, while inflated by pitching in the AL East, is hardly worthy of that type of commitment.
It simply didn't make sense why the Yankees and their fans expected him to be their messiah. That being said, he drastically underachieved.
His first season with the Yankees went generally the same as his final one with Toronto: his ERA rose 0.03 points and he had 13 wins. That seemed to be a realistic projection of what he would offer for the coming four years of his massive deal, production not worth his salary.
Of course, he would go on to implode the two years after as we all know. He scuffled with Jorge Posada (as quite a few others have), prompting the Yankees to appoint Francisco Cervelli and soft-swinging Jose Molina as his personal catchers. While the results were slightly better, Burnett's battery mates weren't the ones that could control the fact that his curveball bounced two feet in front of home plate.
Burnett simply could not handle the pressure of pitching in the Big Apple. Like many other athletes that fizzle there, as well as in cities like Boston and Philadelphia, the stress was too great - particularly for a guy as emotional as A.J. Burnett. His always stuff was still there, but the correct mindset wasn't. Being traded to the Pirates for a pair of prospects was the best thing that could have happened to him.
Fouling a ball off of his face just before the season wasn't as big a deal away from New York.
Not only is he now pitching in a smaller market with less pressure and more forgiving fans, but the NL Central lineups he faces do not consist of Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ortiz, Youkilis (all healthy and hitting), ever. Pittsburgh is a place where he can relax and take on a new role of being a leader.
Burnett's leadership is paying dividends with the young Pirates staff, particularity concerning James McDonald, a guy largely unknown is his first four years in the show. Under Burnett's tutelage, the 27-year-old is dazzling fans with a 2.19 ERA and 6-3 record.
And once again, Burnett is making the most of his every fifth day as well: after six innings of two-hit ball against the Tigers earlier tonight, he sits at 8-2 with a 3.24 ERA (which would be the lowest of his career). He's won his last seven starts.
Along with Andrew McCutchen, McDonald, and the the finally emerging Pedro Alvarez, Burnett has become an instrumental part of a scrappy Pirates club that in finally convincing fans at PNC Park to believe. When they tossed in a few prospects to land Burnett, the front office was probably not expecting this magnitude of a reward.
