Still blows my mind that Burkes has been behind the dish for almost every single inning in SEC play.
I had actually intended to write a post on this today and got busy at work and didn't get a chance. I have been off and on the train about Ming last year and this year. After being enfuriated going to the Elon series and seeing so much bunting (especially from our cleanup hitter) I had gotten to the point where I was kind of ok with the style of play and it had been working, so who I am I to say anything.
But, recently I have been contemplating his philosophy on playing a catcher until he can't play anymore. He did the same thing to Rubalcaba last year, which is why Burkes finally started playing around this time last year, and then essentially took over the starting role entirely by SEC tourney time. Rubalcaba had been a good catcher and a decently clutch hitter, until he was used in every inning of every game and probably could barely stand up anymore.
I think this year it has had an even more significant impact on the team. I love Burkes and think Burkes is the catalyst for this team. I was screaming last year wondering why he wasnt catching more. I liked his pitch framing and his energy behind the plate, and it felt like the pitchers pitched well when he was back there.
He came in with a ton of energy last year and kind of singlehandedly changed the attitude and atmosphere in the clubhouse at the end of the season and the team went on a tear at the end of the season last year. He started off the year doing it this year and things were great. But, now, they've broken him down so much he has become a shadow of himself. He doesn't have the same energy he has had, and the team has gotten into a funk, and their energy leader is worn down and doesnt have any energy to help bring them out of it.
His performance behind the plate has suffered a lot. There have been a TON of passed balls and "wild pitches" that should have been caught, which have directly affected the games. There were pitches that were called strikes (not swinging strikes - they were in the zone) this weekend that Burkes let get past him. I think his pitch framing has suffered as well because he is exhausted. There have been a lot of pitches over the last few weeks that I really thought should have been called strikes and I am starting to wonder if the ump felt like Burkes was moving them too much, or he was too slow to frame them, so the ump caught on and didnt give us the call. I am sure the passed balls are also indirectly affecting the pitchers confidence in what pitches they can throw and how because they don't have the confidence in him being able to block them anymore - could this be one of the reasons our pitching hasn't been as good recently? As soon as a pitcher starts to doubt being able to throw a pitch, or tries to throw it too perfectly, that is trouble for sure.
I can just see how the terrible management of Burkes playing time has directly affected outcomes and results more than just him being tired and not hitting as well. There are so many other side affects that have trickled down, and it just completely blows my mind that the coaches don't see it. I watched Stanke catch a couple of times early in the season and he seems serviceable behind the plate. I actually thought he looked better than Burkes defensively sometimes. He has a rocket for an arm throwing down to 2nd. I'm not sure how his pitch receiving is, but he transferred in from a Big 10 school as a decently rated transfer. His bat didn't take off at the beginning of the year - fine - but I just don't understand the days that we play him at DH and have Burkes catching. What in the world?? If his bat is good enough to be in the lineup at DH, GIVE BURKES A BREAK AND LET HIM DH AND HAVE STANKE CATCH!!! It is just mind boggling, and I think this, more than any other decision the coaches have made have lead us to where we are right now.
I think a rested Burkes with energy would be hitting better, receiving pitches better, and bringing more energy to the game - which in turn would lead our pitchers to have more energy and confidence and be pitching better.
To put it in perspective I did a little research and am just getting more frustrated - To start the year for the first 2 weeks of the season, Burkes was catching Fri and Sunday and Stanke caught Saturday and the midweek. Stanke also caught the Saturday game vs Indy State. Since then, Burkes has CAUGHT 32 OF 33 GAMES! After Saturday at Indy state, he caught the next 18 in a row, then Stanke caught the midweek vs Dayton, and then Burkes has caught the next 14. During that stretch of the last 14 games, there have been 2 double headers that he caught both games. Against A&M he caught a double header (two 9 inning games) and then came back at 1pm the next day to catch the next game. Stanke DH'd ONE OF THE GAMES OF THE DOUBLEHEADER, but Burkes still caught them both. What in the world?!?! During the last stretch of 14 games in a row the Burkes has caught, Stanke DH'd 4 times.
Someone tell me if I am off, but it just makes no sense. Its almost like they are trying to play Burkes out of productivity.
