Let me start this story by saying that Jerry Burgess was never and will never be an elite master in the art of control. He is no Scott Hill, Man-Rod, Aicon, Bolden, Paradis or JTF. Burgess was merely your average pitcher when it came to control. He had average control for a starting pitcher, but with his electric stuff coming from 4 above average pitches and decent movement made him an upper echelon starting pitcher.
This was apparent when he played his college ball at the University of Texas, was drafted in the 1st round and found his way to Madison via the BSA inaugural draft and made their club during the 2011 season. In college he averaged 2.19 BB/9 innings which is very good. Moving to A ball during the 2009 season he was striking out 10+ batters while keeping those walks down. A similar BB/9 rate to college of 2.30 helped him move to AA that same season. Moving to AAA he started walking more batters, but scouts say that was due to facing better hitters and keeping the rate below 3 was probably unattainable for a pitcher like him. He spent 2010 in AAA before making his Major League debut in 2011 for Madison.
From 2012 to the middle of the 2015 season he would play for 4 different teams. Madison would trade him to Hendersonville before the 2013 season where he would win a championship. During the 2014 season the Hitmen would send him to El Paso in the famous Yokoyama trade. He would spend nearly 1 year in El Paso before being traded to Jersey Shore. During his first half year with El Paso he posted great numbers, he was the team's ace. He won 10 games in 15 starts, but things started to change that 2nd year in Texas. He struggled badly in 17 starts for the Diablos in 2015. He went 2-6, posted an ERA of 5.56 and his control started flailing. He walked 53 batters in 102.3 innings and an up til then career worst of only 1.68 K/BB. Being an upcoming FA and Jersey making a play at the playoffs, El Paso dealt him for prospects and this seemed to calm him down......for not.
He turned around his 2015 season, winning 7 games in 15 starts, nearly doubling that K/BB ratio, all the up to 3.48. He also had 2 key victories for the D-Bags in the playoffs and almost pitched them to a World Series title in Game 7 of the BSA World Series. Jersey gave him a fat contract extension in 45 million dollars over 5 years. We have heard rumors of alcohol, affairs, even a run in or two with the law since that off-season. Nothing is documented, but when 2016 came around, the 29 year old Burgess who should be in his prime was.....different. He started out walking more batters. He was striking out similar hitters, giving up similar amount of hits, but the walks were killing him.
It was his 2nd start of the season when he would tie a CL record for walking 9 batters in a game on April 17th. Jersey kept with him until nearly the All-Star break before finally sending him to the bullpen. He finished the season getting 22 starts, walking a career high 91 batters in just 128.1 innings pitched. Good for 6.38 BB/9, which was over 2 more than his career average. What do you do with a pitcher who has seemed to have lost control and is owed 37 million over the next 4 years? Jersey put on flyers with no takers so he returned to the team for the 2017 season. With Art Ellis going out for the season during spring training it thrust Burgess back into the rotation.
Thus far in 2017 Burgess has received 3 starts. The good news is that he has compiled a 2-0 record. The bad news is in his 2nd start he tied his record for 9 BB in a game and currently has 16 walks and 16 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched and a WHIP of nearly 2. This is on the verge of being ridiculous. How does one simply lose control in the prime of his career? Can you regain control? Can he be trusted? Jersey will have to make a decision weather Burgess can make steps to being a competent pitcher again. For now Jersey plans to run him out in the 5th SP slot, simply because they don't have better options, but the time might come where anyone will be a better option.
Fellow owner JJ Hoban had this to say about Burgess, "Burgess is the epitome of a good system. Many people will look back and wonder what could have been. He had once been looked at as a Ace, though many years of bad decisions not only led to Burgess losing control of his love, and social life, but also control of his pitches. Much of this can be attributed to the spiral of depression Jerry went through when he learned he was being traded to El Paso. Burgess was ready to set up a life in Tennessee when he heard the news, and shortly after a long legal battle with his wife ensued for his money and their daughter. Jerry was arrested later that year after being caught with an escort while in San Antonio on vacation. Jersey offered him what looks to be his last chance at a title and career. Jerry is no longer feared on the mound, and is just barely hanging onto his spot in the rotation, but through all this he remains upbeat that he will achieve his dream of a championship."
Fellow owner JJ Hoban had this to say about Burgess, "Burgess is the epitome of a good system. Many people will look back and wonder what could have been. He had once been looked at as a Ace, though many years of bad decisions not only led to Burgess losing control of his love, and social life, but also control of his pitches. Much of this can be attributed to the spiral of depression Jerry went through when he learned he was being traded to El Paso. Burgess was ready to set up a life in Tennessee when he heard the news, and shortly after a long legal battle with his wife ensued for his money and their daughter. Jerry was arrested later that year after being caught with an escort while in San Antonio on vacation. Jersey offered him what looks to be his last chance at a title and career. Jerry is no longer feared on the mound, and is just barely hanging onto his spot in the rotation, but through all this he remains upbeat that he will achieve his dream of a championship."
The art of control. Getting the ball from point-a to point-b. Such a simple thing to do....or is it?
GO D-BAGS
