Chris Burke could take a lesson from MoBerg

[matadorph]

Chris Burke gets some ink today from Austin-American Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls. Burke made a few comments that might raise eyebrows.

In a span of six weeks, Burke went from a job as the Astros' starting center fielder to the team's bench to the minor leagues. His head's still spinning.

One day, he was playing for a Houston team that had won five straight games and was in first place. Six days — and six losses — later, he was mired in a 3-for-21 skid and was told Pence would take his place. The following Friday, he was sent down to Round Rock.

"Inside, I'm boiling," he recalled. "I was hitting only .219 after 72 at-bats, but you can come up with an All-Star team with guys hitting .219 after 72 at-bats."

"I felt like I was a little blindsided," Burke said before an Express game, munching on a banana-and-jelly sandwich. "I guess I overestimated my importance to the team. It's unfortunate the way things unraveled."

"I was drafted as a middle infielder and leadoff hitter," he said. "The great majority of my career, I've played the outfield and hit at the bottom of the order.

"If I had it to do it over, maybe I would have made a stink about a playing opportunity at shortstop or been more of a jerk, and they'd run me out of town. I'm more concerned with where I go from here. But my hope is I'm playing for the Astros for a long time."

Say what you will about Morgan Ensberg, at least he takes his lumps without whining about it publicly. Burke should shut up and let his play do the talking.

[Fredia]

in essence maybe mr b is aksing for a trade so he can be on another mlb team and play exactly the same way

[TheWizard]

He's right, he shoulda bitched and moaned about playing more at SS... give me a break.

[UpTooLate]

"If I had it to do it over, maybe I would have made a stink about a playing opportunity at shortstop or been more of a jerk, and they'd run me out of town. I'm more concerned with where I go from here. But my hope is I'm playing for the Astros for a long time."
 

Wow.  If Burke-boy keeps spouting off like that, his only concern will be where he ends up.  I'll guess that AAA is no cakewalk compared to the glamour of the majors, but it has to be better than a hell of lot of jobs out there that people do every day without complaining.

ETA:  Come to think of it, too many people complain about their jobs, but some really shouldn't.  I believe that Burke falls into the category of should-not-complain.

[Matt]

This from a guy who's hitting a robust .209 in AAA.

[Lefty]

Fucking self-entitled bonus baby.

[JimR]

Burke at SS is a joke.

i'm sick of Mr. Burke's public whining.

[Mr. Happy]

Burke at SS is a joke.

i'm sick of Mr. Burke's public whining.

A man's got to know his limitations. Burke should be thrilled that the Astros are giving him some experience at other positions to increase his potential value as a utility man.

[Jacksonian]

Burke at SS is a joke.

i'm sick of Mr. Burke's public whining.

My knee-jerk reaction to his demotion was that he's done with the Astros.  Everything that's come out since just fuels that thought.

[JimR]

My knee-jerk reaction to his demotion was that he's done with the Astros.  Everything that's come out since just fuels that thought.

then Purpura needs to start returning some calls.

[Jacksonian]

then Purpura needs to start returning some calls.

Could be getting low-balled.  Might be best to wait until July to deal him.

If Purp wants to improve now rather than wait he'll probably have to be willing to deal better talent than Burke.

[JimR]

Could be getting low-balled.  Might be best to wait until July to deal him.

If Purp wants to improve now rather than wait he'll probably have to be willing to deal better talent than Burke.

not at all. not even talking to anyone. makes no sense to me.

[Noe]

not at all. not even talking to anyone. makes no sense to me.

Luke Scott pretty much whined like Burke is doing when he got demoted.  But he never did it to the public media.  This smells of a public ploy on Burke's part (proabably agent fueled) to get his arse shipped out.

Not looking good for supposedly a very good guy in the clubhouse to act this way.

[Kent's Moustache]

Luke Scott pretty much whined like Burke is doing when he got demoted.  But he never did it to the public media.  This smells of a public ploy on Burke's part (proabably agent fueled) to get his arse shipped out.

Not looking good for supposedly a very good guy in the clubhouse to act this way.

According to whom?

[Noe]

According to whom?

Several folks I know who say he is a great clubhouse guy in *Houston*.  He may not be in Round Rock though.

[Kent's Moustache]

Several folks I know who say he is a great clubhouse guy in *Houston*.  He may not be in Round Rock though.

I'm not disputing the sincerity of your sources, but I've also seen a lot of misleading reports about certain players' "make-up," "intangibles," or whatever over the years.

See, e.g., Jimerson, Charlton.

[MusicMan]

I'm not disputing the sincerity of your sources, but I've also seen a lot of misleading reports about certain players' "make-up," "intangibles," or whatever over the years.

See, e.g., Jimerson, Charlton.

I thought Jimerson's problem was a very tangible inability to hit the baseball?

[Noe]

I'm not disputing the sincerity of your sources, but I've also seen a lot of misleading reports about certain players' "make-up," "intangibles," or whatever over the years.

See, e.g., Jimerson, Charlton.

Yeah, those were media reports, I was talking about several folks who know and are not reporters.  What does your source say about Burke as a teammate?

[Noe]

I thought Jimerson's problem was a very tangible inability to hit the baseball?

KM and I were once discussing Chewey's clubhouse demeanor and it came up that many considered Chewey a huge hot dog.  A bit selfish in attitude.  I mentioned how humble he was purported to be and also how many of the organizational men often cited Chewey for his great work ethic.  I liked the story of a kid like Chewey trying to make good coming out of the situation he was in.  But KM had inside sources to the Round Rock clubhouse that disputed most if not all of Chewey's reported good work ethics and all around humility.

[JimR]

I thought Jimerson's problem was a very tangible inability to hit the baseball?

that too, but he became a royal pain in the ass his last year in RR.

[Limey]

Wow.  If Burke-boy keeps spouting off like that, his only concern will be where he ends up.  I'll guess that AAA is no cakewalk compared to the glamour of the majors, but it has to be better than a hell of lot of jobs out there that people do every day without complaining.

ETA:  Come to think of it, too many people complain about their jobs, but some really shouldn't.  I believe that Burke falls into the category of should-not-complain.

Let's see how he likes a one-way ticket to Tampa Bay.

[Andyzipp]

Let's see how he likes a one-way ticket to Tampa Bay.

The Hun was not a Burke fan, so I doubt that would be the destination.

[Limey]

The Hun was not a Burke fan, so I doubt that would be the destination.

My comment was kind of metaphorical.  Replace TB with whichever franchise you feel is the shittiest.  The Astros are excluded from this by default, obviously

[MusicMan]

The Hun was not a Burke fan, so I doubt that would be the destination.

Not to mention the fact that TB will not likely be trading for any position "prospects" in the near future.

(Air quotes due to Burke's dubious nature as a "prospect".)

[MusicMan]

My comment was kind of metaphorical.  Replace TB with whichever franchise you feel is the shittiest.  The Astros are excluded from this by default, obviously

Helllooooo, Reds!

[Noe]

Helllooooo, Reds!

Which is actually kind of interesting given that Kirk Saarloos is there.  Chris Burke and Kirk Saarloos were inseperable when both were at Round Rock their first time around.  They are very close friends.

[pravata]

Which is actually kind of interesting given that Kirk Saarloos is there.  Chris Burke and Kirk Saarloos were inseperable when both were at Round Rock their first time around.  They are very close friends.

(Monday) Reds right-hander Kirk Saarloos was optioned to Class AAA Louisville, ...

"They're looking for answers, and I don't think I'm the problem," Saarloos said. "I've had three bad innings this year - (Sunday), St. Louis (April 25) and L.A. (May 13). Other than that, 19 appearances and I threw the ball pretty damn good. Obviously those three appearances is the bed I'm lying in right now. Those are the numbers. They feel like I'm the problem, so I'm out of here."

Link

[TheWizard]

(Monday) Reds right-hander Kirk Saarloos was optioned to Class AAA Louisville, ...

"They're looking for answers, and I don't think I'm the problem," Saarloos said. "I've had three bad innings this year - (Sunday), St. Louis (April 25) and L.A. (May 13). Other than that, 19 appearances and I threw the ball pretty damn good. Obviously those three appearances is the bed I'm lying in right now. Those are the numbers. They feel like I'm the problem, so I'm out of here."

Link

Very confident sounding Saarloos.

[Noe]

(Monday) Reds right-hander Kirk Saarloos was optioned to Class AAA Louisville, ...

"They're looking for answers, and I don't think I'm the problem," Saarloos said. "I've had three bad innings this year - (Sunday), St. Louis (April 25) and L.A. (May 13). Other than that, 19 appearances and I threw the ball pretty damn good. Obviously those three appearances is the bed I'm lying in right now. Those are the numbers. They feel like I'm the problem, so I'm out of here."

Link

Looks like Saarloos and Burke are a lot more closer than I thought!  Seems they have the same attitude.

[MusicMan]

I can't disagree with Kirk in this case.  Dude was lights-out for the most part.

[Kent's Moustache]

Yeah, those were media reports, I was talking about several folks who know and are not reporters.  What does your source say about Burke as a teammate?

Burke's got some hot dog in him, too.  Not an over-the-top, pimp-it-around-the-basepaths-after-a-HR type of hot dog (like the aforementioned former Express and Hook OF).  More like a pretty-boy, nothing-is-ever-my-fault kind of vibe.  I've never heard that Burke is a bad guy, per se.  Maybe that he's just not a "foxhole" type, like a Brooks Conrad.

[Kent's Moustache]

that too, but he became a royal pain in the ass his last year in RR.

From what I know, these issues even pre-dated the '06 season.  I have it on good authority--and I'm sure that Jim's pal in the RR press box can confirm or deny--that Jimerson once received an edict from the highest-level in Round Rock to cut out the antics after his HRs and multiple "Golden Sombreros."  I have also been told that several Express teammates warned Jimerson that they would not leave the dugout to back him if he got drilled after pimping yet another HR.

[geezerdonk]

Every day in every way Burke validates his demotion.