The Sports Archives – UAM Boll Weevils Unveil New Uniform!

Posted on July 23, 2012 by thesportsarchives

The UAM Boll Weevils have recently announced a kit change, which will return them to their traditional green and white uniform after several years in black and green. The team is based at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and plays in the NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference, as well as the Great American Conference.

Football and athletics have been a major part of the technical and vocational college since its formation in 1909, and the side have been long-established in college football. As well as football, the college has successful basketball, golf and baseball sides, and the Cotton Blossoms, a  female athletics program.

The uniform change was prompted by new coach Hud Jackson, who wanted to bring the side back to its traditional roots as part of a larger branding scheme for the athletics department. The kit will be all green with white trim for home games, and all white with green trim.

The Weevils play their home games at the Willis ‘Convoy’ Leslie Cotton Boll stadium in Monticello, and will officially debut the uniform on their September 1st season opener against Shepherd Tech. Of the eleven games that the Weevils will play in this season’s main league, six will be held at the arena.

For the last few years the Weevils have been using a black and green Nike designed uniform, which was the preferred option under former coach Gwaine Matthews. The new uniform is designed by the Under Armour brand, and is tailored to combine athletic performance with tradition. As a result, the Weevils name and logo will be positioned on the jersey, while the cartoon Boll Weevil mascot of the college will be featured on the uniform’s helmet.

The decision was partly motivated by the desire for a tighter fitting, more versatile design, and was voted in by a college leadership council of staff, players and students. UAM’s Athletic Director Chris Ratcliff positioned the deal as a way of establishing a consistent brand and logo for the whole athletics department.

The switch to Under Armour reflects the popularity of the brand, who were formed in 1996 around an innovative approach to reducing sweat and moisture for shirt fabric. The Under Armour design promotes better absorption, and became the foundation for the brand’s international success.

The brand sponsors high-profile football stars like Tom Brady and Ray Lewis in the United States, and also produces kits for European teams. The UAM switch extends Under Armour’s extensive relationship with American colleges, with other clients including Boston College Eagles and Hawaii Warriors.

The Weevils have had a chance to test out their new look in training camps across the summer, as well as by taking part in the University of Arkansas youth football camp, which brings together children from the Southern Arkansas area for days of drills and team building exercises. UAM are hoping that the promotion of their sports brand through new uniforms will help build the reputation of a college that attracts 3,300 students a year.

Writing on behalf of Matrix Beauty Uniforms, freelance professional guest author Christina Appleworth reviews the all new University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils football uniform.

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The Sports Archives – Unnecessary Pressure Or All In The Game?

Posted on July 21, 2012 by thesportsarchives

A lot of people found it strange to hear the pre-Wimbledon men’s final comments that Andy Murray had the “pressure of a nation” on his shoulders as he went head to head with 16 time grand slam winner and, let’s face it, the best player ever to play the game – Roger Federer.

Andy Murray - Under Pressure?

Andy Murray has plenty of fans, but not everyone appreciates his demeanour, his personality and the reports that he can be melodramatic (without evening mentioning his mother whom some people can’t stand!) That said, many people warmed to him over the Wimbledon fortnight as he plays the game the right way, has nerves of steel, is totally relentless and let’s face it does not grunt his way through matches, which is as rare in tennis as a footballer without a tattoo and not strutting around a pitch earning a zillion pounds a week.

Anyway back to Andy Murray and having got to the final (first Brit since 10BC or whenever it was), all of a sudden he had insurmountable pressure on his shoulders despite playing the greatest ever player, being seeded the lower of the two and being ranked lower in the world rankings since year dot.

He played great, he fought with everything he had and cried at the end (okay some aren’t keen on public tears, but the girls liked it and the nation went crazy). But my question remains, do the press and tabloids put a weight of expectation on successful British athletes’ shoulders that is as unnecessary as it is unwelcome?

Look at the era he is in, ranked 4th in the world behind Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic and, going through the annals of Wimbledon finals, I ask just how many would he have won if up against finalists including Tomas Berdych (2010), Mark Philippoussis (2003), David Nalbandian (2002) and Cedric Pioline (1997).

So it is time for a little bit of perspective when it comes to Andy Murray. His achievements this year outstrip those of previous years and that means he’s on the up. He may have earned a bit more support along the way which is great news for coming tournaments and he went toe to toe with Federer on what has become the Swiss’ home turf.

Therefore the British press should embrace Andy Murray getting to the final in the same way I am sure they would have if England had reached the final of the Euro‘s, although that could be a dream too far.

Sarah Mills shares her interest on sports on behalf of Neill Newport

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The Sports Archives – Top 5 Horses of All Time

Posted on July 19, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Just as with football or any sport mind you, there is a lot of discussion over who is the best racehorse of all time. The millions of people who love horse racing all have their own opinions on the best horse and the addition of numerous sorts of racing makes it even harder again.

Red Rum at Castle Park Bristol 1980

Red Rum at Castle Park, Bristol 1980

Just as a boxer has to pick what the best weight is for it, a horse will have to race in a certain field and can only succeed there. This means that certain merits can be had with such a horse in a specific race, whereas another horse in a different field may not need them. So, in our humble opinion, who are the best horses of all time?

Secretariat

Secretariat was the quickest horse that ever was and certainly among the very best horses on our list of all time, for this ability alone. Secretariat has beaten a number of notable records and horses during his time and just seems to shine.

Shergar

The outstanding Shergar was a beautiful looking beast and also one of the greatest racehorses of all time. He had some of the best riders in the world in the shape of Lester Pigott and Walter Swinburn, but these don’t make a great horse by themselves nor with the aid of Pikeur clothing. Shergar was an amazing horse and one that certainly will be remembered in the annals of time.

Man O’War

With a total of 20 wins and having only started 21 races, Man O War is one of the greatest horses of all time. The horse managed to garner attention and love right across the horse racing brigade and lost only once in his two-year reign. Ironically, when he did lose, it was to a steed with the name ‘Upset’. It’s hardly the most hurtful loss of all time considering his amazing record.

Spectacular Bid

Winning 26 races from a total of 30 isn’t too poor of record either and Spectacular bid did so during the 1980s. The horse should have won more too and only failed on winning the Triple Crown when the jockey made a mess of it. He managed to compete a 157 in the 1980 Strub and is still the fastest horse over 10 furlongs in Santa Anita, which says a lot considering it is over 20 years ago since he last ran – a long time before our Pikeur Clothing.

Kelso

The Mighty Kelso won 39 races from a total of 63 starts and was something special in horse racing. He was given the accolade of horse of the year not once, but in fact five times, which is quite a notable honour. He was strongest during the period of 1960 – 1964 when he won the aforementioned merit. He wasn’t the most trust worthy horse, but was extremely durable in what he did and was a horse that took on everyone, no matter how big or fast.

Citations:

Trot2.com offer a great range of Pikeur clothing including gilet, jackets and jodhpurs for equestrian enthusiasts.

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The Sports Archives – Wimbledon Tennis’ Best Grand-Slam Champions of All Time

Posted on July 13, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Formed initially in 1877, Wimbledon tennis has evolved from a garden party into what it is today: a world-class grand-slam competition. A few decades later and the traditions of this prestigious tournament continue, the only event of its kind to be played on grass. Known to attract the royal patronage to its famous box seats, the 2012 tennis championship proved no exception with both Prince William and Kate Middleton in attendance. Could it be the strawberries and cream? Other customs include a strict court-side dress code, which they relaxed this year for the first time in Wimbledon’s extensive history.

With the 2012 Wimbledon Tennis Championship finally over, leaving Roger Federer with a new title to add to his repertoire, it’s time to recap on the top players to grace the tournament’s grass courts. Holding a league of trophies between them, these men are the trained muscle behind the rackets – the manliest of Wimbledon’s men.

The Top 3 Wimbledon Male Tennis Champions

Roger Federer:  Winning a record-tying seventh Wimbledon title, 30-year-old Federer proves that age is really nothing but a number. For many tennis players, the big 3.0 will mark a decline in their careers as pro sportsmen – apparently not for Federer. Winning a record 17 Major singles titles, Roger will surpass Pete Sampras as occupying ATP’s no. 1 position for more than 286 weeks come July 16th. A true champion, his latest win at Wimbledon will put him on the ‘Top 100 Greatest Tennis Players of all Time’ according to the Tennis Channel.

Pete Sampras:  With Federer only recently breaking his record as ATP’s longest-held no. 1 position, Pete Sampras is the legendary sportsman who was recently quoted as saying that he both hated and loved Wimbledon tennis. First discovering his passion for the sport at age seven, Sampras has held many prominent sports titles in his career, most impressively his “Sportsman of the Year” title awarded by the U.S. Olympic Committee – he was the first tennis player to ever receive this level of recognition.

Roy Emerson:  Known as the country boy from Queensland who changed the face of Australian tennis, Emerson holds 28 Major titles (an all-time record for a male player). Occupying the elite position of one of only seven men to win all four Major titles in his career, a small list that also includes Roger Federer, Emerson is definitely one of the greatest tennis players of all time. One thing is for certain, his double Grand Slams at previous Wimbledon tennis tournaments were the pinnacle of his time spent as a pro-athlete.

Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Roy Emerson are the best of the best when it comes to Wimbledon tennis. Achieving some of the most well-known grand slams to occur on the famous courts’ grassy lawns, these three players are the epitome of the male sports persona – and will definitely stand as mentors to the next generation of professional athletes.

Bella Gray is a sports blogger who has a fetish for Scruffs Boots. A maestro of tips and strategies for sustaining your wellbeing and keeping fit, Gray is the perfect go-to-gal for all your exercise queries and solutions.

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The Sports Archives – Bobby Abreu: Is He a Good Sleeper Pick?

Posted on July 12, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Bobby AbreuIt sure looked like Bobby Abreu’s career was over when he was released from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim earlier this season, in order to make room for rookie phenom Mike Trout. After all, Abreu was hitting just .208, with zero homers and 5 RBI, in just eight games with the Angels, and the 38-year-old appeared to be on his last legs.

Abreu parts ways with the Angels

Before the 2012 season, the Angels had tried to trade Abreu twice. The outfielder/designated hitter was supposed to be traded to the New York Yankees, a team he had played for in the past, for A.J. Burnett. But Burnett vetoed the trade. Abreu then reportedly told the Angels that he wanted to either play every day as the DH, or be traded. While the Angels did try to trade him, they were unable to, and ended up releasing him at the end of April.

Then a funny thing happened at what was supposed to be the end of Abreu’s career. He ended up signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Angels’ rival team, even though he had been playing much more as a designated hitter than as an outfielder of recent year. You would think that he would not serve a National League team well, due to that situation, but Abreu is back in the outfield this year with the Dodgers.

A new era

So far, Abreu has done a pretty good job for his first few months with the Dodgers, hitting in the .280s, although he recently slowed down, which put him at .255. However, what Abreu is best-known for his great on-base percentage skills.  He has a career OBP of .396, a remarkable figure, and this year, his OBP has stayed around .366. Abreu is an extremely patient hitter, who is not afraid to work the count. Abreu has 24 walks this year, to go with 2 homers and 15 RBI at press time. One of Abreu’s homers came against the Angels, his old team, during inter-league play earlier this season.

Abreu has definitely resurrected his career this season, and has been one of the reasons the Dodgers is one of the top teams in baseball. So is he worth picking up for your fantasy baseball team? If you need both hits and walks, Abreu provides a very good combination. He also occasionally steals a base. If Abreu keeps up his career resurrection in 2012, which he seems to be doing, he may be worthy as a utility fantasy baseball sleeper pick for your fantasy baseball team.

Lisa Swan writes for DraftStreet Fantasy Baseball.

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The Sports Archives – The Evolution of Skydiving Gear

Posted on July 11, 2012 by thesportsarchives

It’s interesting talking to people who learned to skydive just a few years before I did. The technology changed so quickly in just a few short years that there was a noticeable lag between countries. While I did the Accelerated Freefall course in Florida, people were still learning Static Line Progression and the Parachute Landing Fall in Vancouver, Canada, and some people still had round reserve canopies!

When skydiving first became a sport, sometime after WWII, it was mostly done by former military personnel, playing with old surplus gear. It was pretty risky, considering the canopies were round. They were difficult to steer, and landing them was a crapshoot. Statistically, jumpers stood a very good chance of injuring an ankle on landing. By the 60’s, non-military daredevils were getting involved in the sport, and during the 70’s enough people were into it that new equipment was being developed, specifically for the sport jumping enthusiasts. Round canopies went through a relatively brief, high performance phase where they were designed for more maneuverability, while they also ended up a little more likely to malfunction.

Shape Shifting

These were soon replaced by the parawing canopy that was popular through the rest of the 70’s. The parawing was designed to glide, giving the jumper the ability to control the flight of the canopy rather than just come straight down like they would under a round parachute. It was first used in the space program for astronauts and by the military for dropping cargo and personnel with much greater accuracy than the round canopies had ever afforded.

By the end of the 70’s, the parawing gave way to the parafoil which had been designed nearly a decade earlier by a kite maker. This parafoil, or ram-air canopy was designed to trap air between two multi-celled, square or rectangular membranes. They were sewn together at the trailing edge and both sides, but left open at the leading edge to fill with air and create drag and lift. They are made out of lightweight nylon and separated by fabric ribs, creating 9 or 7 inflatable cells. It is the air which enters into the cells and inflates them which gives the canopy it’s airfoil shape. The shape makes the canopy act like a wing which can be controlled in much the same way as an airplane.

Controlled Flight

These are designed to be highly controllable gliders. They have steering lines and toggles on both sides which work by lowering the back part of the wing in the direction you want to turn. Pulling the right toggle, lowers the back part of the right side of the wing, collapsing it a little, or a lot, depending on how hard you pull. You can make a gentle turn, or a deep spiraling hook turn. Pulling both toggles at once is like braking, and this is how you flare the canopy to stop and land gently. Jumpers can land with absolute precision on a target.

Over the years, canopies have gotten smaller and offer more performance and control than ever. Skydiving, what was a sport exclusive too just a few ex-military guys, has become a mainstream sport enjoyed by countless adventurous men and women.

Emma Grey is an extreme sports fanatic who currently plies her trade in the United States Army. She loves to write about a wide array of topics from skydiving and skiing to the use of robotics in the military.

Photo Credit: Sky Dive Masters Party

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The Sports Archives – Has The Curse of Vince Russo Been Lifted From TNA Wrestling?

Posted on July 10, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Have you detected a change in the creative philosophy since the appointment of Bruce Pritchard as TNA’s head of creative?

Vince Russo

Vince Russo Replaced

In October 2011, it was announced that Vince Russo had been replaced by Bruce Pritchard  as head of TNA creative. Russo, who eventually left the company entirely in February, has long been known for his controversial  “crash TV” style of booking – something that was strongly embraced by Vince McMahon during the painfully fledgling days of the WWE in the early nineties, thus spawning the infamous WWE Attitude Era. Years  later, when Russo decided to jump ship to WCW, the style not only crashed ‘n burned, but it has been labeled by many as one of the key elements in the death of WCW, as well as the stagnant growth in TNA, thus leading many to wonder how much of a creative genius Vince Russo really was.

Once Pritchard replaced him, many observers expected an immediate change in the atmosphere and creative direction of TNA programming. While no one expected to change overnight, it was well over six months after Pritchard and taken his position and literally nothing had changed.

Others pointed to the stability of Bobby Roode’s title reign  as a sign that the signature Russo rapid-fire title changes direction had come to an end, and that the world title match ups are getting more of a traditional buildup than under the Russo regime.

But ever since TNA made the decision to broadcast Impact Wrestling earlier and live on Thursday nights, there has not only been a noticeable change in the creative product, but in the morale of the company and the response from the fans. The new approach lives by its motto – “wrestling matters”. Even during WWE Raw broadcasts, TNA wrestling’s marketing team has placed promotional commercials that subtly hint to its viewers and demographic that you are currently watching an inconsistent circus, and that by choosing Impact Wrestling, you are getting a product that is changing the way you see the industry, bringing traditional emphasis into a modern age, and getting as close as possible to taking a pre-determined show and turning it into a realistic sport.

I was once a fan of what Vince Russo brought to the WWE table. There was even a time where I thought he was the only reason the WWE survived the attack from Eric Bischoff’s WCW. But what I didn’t bother to ask was, who else was at the table? Because on his own, Vince Russo has proven that he is a failure when it comes to creatively writing for pro wrestling. It shames me to think that he is even a fan and it baffles me that he ever was.

I go on the records in saying that TNA Wrestling is worth watching, and not only is a suitable alternative to the WWE product, but I dare to say it is BETTER than the WWE product. WWE’s product has been so bad since Wrestlemania, I’m starting to think they may have re-hired Russo.

Keith Jenkins has covered the pro wrestling industry for over two decades, and currently does promotional work for Sea Cliff Real Estate in New York City.

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The Sports Archives – A Look Ahead to the 2012/13 Season of the English Premier League

Posted on July 9, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Last year’s Premiership season went to practically the last kick as Manchester City became only the fifth club to win the trophy in an astonishing injury-time turnaround against QPR. With such fine margins between the top two, an invigorated Chelsea and Spurs and Arsenal with money in the bank, this looks to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent years.

Arsenal

After a late burst got the Gunners to a distant third place and a berth in the Champion’s League, things were looking up for Arsene Wenger’s side, while the off-season acquisitions of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud looked to give the North London side some much-needed bite up front. Recent news, however, that club captain and the man who carried the team on his back last season, Robin Van Persie, would not be signing a new contract has left a dark cloud over the Emirates Stadium. Wenger will be hoping that the return from injury of Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshire and Theo Walcott will give the Gunners the strength in depth that they lacked at key moments last time round.

Chelsea

After a dramatic and unexpected win against Barcelona in the Champion’s League final, Roberto Di Matteo cemented himself in the manager’s spot after a fairly disastrous spell with Andre Villas Boas at the helm. Di Matteo has yet to make any big moves in the transfer market, and speculation will be abroad whether aging stars John Terry and Frank Lampard, who each looked creaky at times in 2011/12 will have the legs for another term. Blues faithful will look to Fernando Torres to finally deliver on his promise after a couple of quality outings at Euro 2012, and hope that existing staff will play to their full potential after a disappointing sixth place finish domestically.

Manchester City

Mega-funded City have a squad that is the envy of clubs the world over, and finally turned their spending into silverware on the last day of the season, after rehabilitating the discontented Carlos Tevez into a frontline that already counted Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli. With a midfield that includes David Silva, Samir Nasri and Yaya Touré, you might be forgiven for resting on your laurels in the transfer market, but Roberto Mancini currently leads the suitors for Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie, which could spell an exit for Dzeko or the disruptive Balotelli. Given the world class City can boast at every position, they look like the team to beat this year.

Manchester United

Despite the narrow margin by which United missed out on a fifth title in six years, the team’s performances fell far short of their gold standard, and Ferguson’s reliance on Paul Scholes’ return from retirement spoke volumes about their weakness in the centre of midfield, where Darren Fletcher’s ongoing illness has threatened to end his career. However, the purchase of Shinji Kagawa and the return of Tom Cleverley should go a long way to patching that problem, and with Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck performing at the top level alongside Wayne Rooney, the Reds should be confident about producing up front. This is still very much a United side in construction, however, and Ferguson’s side will be hesitant about their chances this time round.

Tottenham Hotspur

After an outstanding run midway through last season, Spurs fell apart in the final furlong as Fabio Capello’s departure unsettled then-manager Harry Redknapp, who has since been replaced by Andre Villas Boas. AVB has been greeted with some equivocation by Spurs fans after his truncated spell at Chelsea, but with an injection of £70m plus whatever is recouped from the sale of unsettled midfielders Luka Modric and Rafael Van der Vaart, there is reason for quiet optimism. The signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson is a big step in the right direction, and should Spurs win the race to sign Joao Moutinho ahead of Manchester United, their midfield will once again be one to fear, particularly after the massive coup of Gareth Bale signing a new four-year deal. The Spurs forward line still looks patchy, however, and Villas Boas will hope that the stalled deal with Ajax for classy defender Jan Vertonghen will make their defence a force to be reckoned with.

So this year’s championship is heating up already, with the runners and riders taking their places. Will the trophy come back to London or pick up a permanent room in the Manchester Airport hotels? The season kicks off on August 18th, make sure you don’t miss a single touch.

Catherine Halsey is based in Edinburgh and writes for a digital marketing agency. This article links back to Premier Inn.

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The Sports Archives – Top Five Female Wrestling Personalities That Should Be Inducted Into The Hall of Fame

Posted on July 7, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Tammy "Sunny" SytchA lot of people have said that they were shocked when Tammy “Sunny” Sytch got her nod into the WWE Hall of Fame. I challenged those people by saying, “how do you think all the current WWE Divas got their job if it weren’t for Sunny?” They quickly retorted, “Well there are so many other females that came before her that aren’t in the Hall of Fame yet. They should be in there before her!”

So it got me thinking…

Outside of Sunny, who without a doubt rightfully deserves her recognition into the Hall, who were the top five women who should be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame? Here are my picks:

Sable – Like Sunny, she was a total package, but she also raised the bar by transitioning herself as the first cross over female wrestler. Sure, she wasn’t that good at it, but she proved that you can make a competitor out of eye-candy. Sable was also the first WWE personality to bare it all for the pages and cover of Playboy magazine. Had she not been granted the opportunity, a handful of WWE divas never would have been able to follow in their birthday suits, and we males would have to leave many graphic details in our fantasies to our imagination. When Brock Lesnar returned to the WWE this year, I figured she would be shoe-in for the next round of inductees, being that she is his wife and it may have been a perk to get him to sign. But with all the heat he’s had on himself lately, it may have cost her the chance.

Medusa– One of the best original female performers of the 90’s, who like Sherri Martel was able to remain an effective ingredient to the roster even when there was no female division to compete in. Her run as Alundra Blaze in the WWE during the early 90’s saw some decent matches with Bull Nakano, but once she jumped ship back to WCW during the Monday Night Wars and infamously trashed the WWE Women’s Title, it may be safe to say that she’s been blackballed forever.

Cindy Lauper – The 80’s pop star? The “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” chick? yep, that one. Had it not been for Lauper, the Rock and Wrestling Connection never would have materialized and opened the door for an audience on MTV thus leading to the massive promotion for the first Wrestlemania. Had it not been for Lauper’s dedication and influence, this business may not even exist today. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since she ran wild with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, but who would have thought 30 years ago that we’d be here today with a multi-billion dollar conglomerate. It was nice seeing her on a recent edition of Monday Night Raw, and we can only hope that it was setting up her induction in the very near future.

Trish Stratus – There is no denying that Trish is perhaps the most popular female Trish Stratuspro wrestler of modern time. She dominated the business in the 2000’s and was perhaps the most decorated female wrestler for a decade. Then again, it’s not hard to achieve that when you have no other competing organizations or places to work for that matter). Not taking away from Trish’s body of work, but she was a homegrown WWE talent. She never worked the indies or Japan, and her only competition was that of the WWE divas, which was mostly compiled of other models turned wrestlers. Again, not taking a big wet shit on her work, but it would have been nice to see Trish against some real competition. I guess that’s why there was such a heated rivalry with Lita. But to Trish’s credit, she achieved the impossible and proved the nay-sayers wrong…and she actually made female wrestling look good when most had written it off as a “popcorn match”.

Miss Elizabeth – If you’re an old school wrestling fan and you talk about the first lady of pro wrestling, the only person that comes to mind is the influential valet of the “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Miss Elizabeth. Her presence drew a female audience, not because she wrestled and not because she oozed sex appeal – but because her character connected with the female audience. They understood her dilemmas, and they appreciated her sophisticated and elegant appearance. Her character was based on pure emotion, yet it never crossed the boundaries of fiction. It was simplicity at its best. Miss Elizabeth is arguably the most iconic female persona in pro wrestling history.

What pro wrestling female personalities do you think belong in the WWE Hall of Fame?

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DieHard Derek has been actively involved in the pro wrestling industry since 1992. You can read his controversial and outspoken opinions on his pro wrestling blog.

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The Sports Archives – Time to Take Another Look at A.J. Burnett

Posted on July 6, 2012 by thesportsarchives

A. J. BurnettThe Yankees were so eager to get rid of A.J. Burnett after last season that they picked up $20 million of the $33 million remaining on his contract so Pittsburgh would take him off their hands.  Burnett’s Pirate career began inauspicious when he fouled a ball off his face early in spring training and fractured an orbital bone. Burnett missed several weeks and did not make his Pirate debut until April 21. In his third start, Burnett gave up 12 earned runs in 2 and 2/3 innings.  Despite all that, it’s time to start thinking about picking up Burnett.

Turmoil in the Bronx

Burnett arrived in Pittsburgh with an enormous amount of baggage from his time with the Yankees. After a decent first season in pinstripes in 2009 (13-9, 4.04 ERA, 195 strikeouts, plus a win in the World Series), Burnett was awful in 2010 (5.26 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) and 2011 (5.15 ERA, 1.43 WHIP). And it was not because he was pitching in Yankee Stadium – in both years, his road ERA was over a run higher than his home ERA).  Burnett injured his hand punching a glass door during one game and showed up with a mysterious black eye in another.  The Yankees were only too happy to pay millions to send Burnett, now 35, packing.

Some thought that Burnett might do better away from the pressure of pitching for the Yankees. Burnett had enjoyed success previously with the Marlins and Blue Jays.  When Burnett shut out the defending world champion Cardinals over seven innings in his first start for the Pirates, allowing just three hits and striking out seven, fantasy owners took notice. In his second start, Burnett allowed two runs in six innings against Atlanta, striking out eight, he began to be looked at as a potential sleeper.

12 earned runs

Then came that disastrous third start. This time, the Cardinals were ready. 12 earned runs. 12 hits. 2 2/3 innings. An  ERA of 1.38 going into the game. After the game, an ERA of 8.04.

So much for Burnett the sleeper. You can’t have a guy on your team who might give up 12 runs, can you?

But in six starts since that debacle, Burnett has only given up a total of nine earned runs. As of June 5, his ERA is down to 3.76 and his WHIP is 1.29. Burnett has 50 strikeouts in 55 innings and only 18 walks.

If you take away that one awful start, Burnett’s numbers in his other eight starts are a 1.89 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.

Of course, you can’t pretend that 12-run start didn’t happen, but with Burnett’s performance since then, it’s time to at least think about giving him another chance.

Ben Hargrove is a fantasy baseball expert for sites like DraftStreet, a popular fantasy sports website.

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