Answering KL Snow

Kyle left this comment on this post about the transactions before yesterday's game.

Wait- Burgos down?

He's a career starter who was great in winter ball. He's gotten 20 innings in Low-A, and now he's off to gather rust in EXST?

Is he being punished for playing winter ball?

No. He is not being punished. And I would respectfully disagree with the "mop-up work" description over here.

Before getting started, let me state that I am not singling out Burgos for any type of blame here. Some day in the offseason I will do a post on every single thing that I did wrong during the 2010 season. It will include being unable to keep counts, pitching rotations, defensive changes, start times, and even days of the week straight. It will be a monster.

The Brewers wanted to take it slow with Burgos this year. Looking at the straight raw numbers (innings pitched) from his 2009/2010 season

Bethune-Cookman:..79.1
Helena:...........57.2
Mayaguez:.........47.2
Total:...........184.2

To give a comparison, Eric Arnett's innings in 2009:

Indiana:........108.0
Helena:..........34.2
Total:..........142.2

My understanding of Burgos for at least the start of the season was that he would be used as the closer and he would ease into a heavier workload as the season went along. Then, he would possibly work his way into one of the tandem spots in the rotation at some point.

Here is why I disagree with the mop-up designation:

I know it is impossible, but for the sake of this conversation, put the four innings for the win in the second game of the doubleheader on Opening Night off to the side for a moment. His second and third appearances of the year (April 15 @ Burlington and April 19 @Quad Cities) were blowouts, but he pitched the ninth in each game because it had been awhile since he had pitched.

First save opportunity of the season was on April 20 vs. Cedar Rapids. Had a 6-4 lead, gave up two runs on three hits to let Kernels tie up the game and allowed a two out run in the tenth and took the loss.

Next appearance April 24 v. Beloit Entered in the eighth in a tie game. Allowed two runs in the ninth on four hits.

April 29 at Beloit he entered in the fifth and allowed two runs on four hits over 2-1/3 innings.

May 3 (@BEL) and May 6 (vs. QC) were save opportunities. At Beloit he allowed a run on a two out single in the ninth and the game-winning homer in the tenth. Against the River Bandits as a bridge guy between Howell and Bucci, with a 3-2 lead and none on in the sixth, he allowed two runs on a walk, a double, a single, and a wild pitch.

Last outing was on May 15 v. Beloit and he went very solid four innings. But, the only run he gave up put the Snappers up 4-3 and Burgos was tagged with his fifth consecutive loss.

Looking at his peripherals, Burgos has a respectable WHIP of 1.45 (equal to Maverick Lasker and better than Arnett)and a team best GO/AO of 1.93. But, a 15:6 K:BB ratio and five wild pitches - which are the most on the team - have not helped.

He will not be gathering rust down at extended. It won't be fun for him (or for Chad Robinson and Carlos George, the other two who were transferred yesterday). He will get to work on a lot of things and once there is a chance to move up, I fully expect him to be back in Wisconsin.

Thanks for the comment and questions, Kyle. I hope I answered your concerns.

My apologies for not including links to the boxscore of the respective games. It was not done due to a bit of a time crunch. I will try to get them in later.