A.J. Burnett hasn’t stepped onto the mound at PNC Park since September 21, 2013 (7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER in 4-2 W vs. CIN). He will get the chance on Sunday afternoon to come back to that mound, only this time as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. He will also be opposing the man that looked up to him during his time as a Pirate in Jeff Locke.
“It’s good to come back,” said Burnett. “We stayed downtown and I got to walk around a little bit with Locke, my nemesis for Sunday, but it’s always good to come back.”
This matchup has been in the minds of Burnett and Locke since the winter when Burnett decided to not sign back with the Pirates and test the free agent market. It’s not going to be a heated battle between the two pitchers, but it’s a matchup that will be remembered for a while.
“One hundred percent, said Burnett. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s special for the both of us. I even think last year towards the end he mentioned in the winter time ‘hey, wouldn’t this be cool’ and it’s happening. He also had a dream he bunted on me and I yelled at him so, we’ll see if that comes true or not too, but it’s cool. It’s one of those stories where it’s special. It’s something he’s going to remember and something I’m going to remember for a long time.”
Burnett is excited that Locke has this chance to be back with the Major League club after a bad second half last season saw his spot in the rotation be taken by Edinson Volquez.
The DFA of Wandy Rodriguez gave Locke a second chance with the team and he has taken off with it recording a 1-1 record in six starts with the Pirates posting a 3.46 ERA with 26 strikeouts and just five walks in 41 2/3 IP.
“He’s always had it in him,” said Burnett. “It’s just a matter of him getting out there and doing it. You see him now, he told me today, he’s in the big leagues for life . Of course he’s got options, but it shows he’s out there having fun and believing in himself and that’s the main thing with him and the young guys to get that belief in them. He lost it for a little bit, but you see now it’s right back to where it was.”
As for Burnett, his return to the city has been nothing but positive and no matter what the reaction from the expected sold out crowd at PNC Park is, he is looking forward to playing in front of them one more time.
“Mixed maybe? The way I look at it is if they came out to boo, they still care. They boo you to love you, they love you to boo you so, I know that everywhere I went when I was here and this weekend has been nothing but compliments, nothing but positiveness. It’s a city that took me in and they have a right to boo and they have a right to cheer too so, I think feelings are going to be mixed.”
Batman vs. Robin begins at 1:35 on Sunday afternoon.
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(Photo Credit: Travis Berardi)
