Odds and Ends: A.J. Burnett's Odd Season, Joba Talk, and Mets Woes

• A.J. Burnett leads the American League in walks and wild pitches. So much for good control. But he only has a 3.77 ERA. According to Play Index, only 6 pitchers since 1901 have had more than 95 walks and more than 20 wild pitches (the pace Burnett is currently on), but have an ERA lower than Burnett's: Christy Mathewson (1901), Red Ames (1905 and 1907), Larry Cheney (1914), Earl Wilson (1965), Tony Cloninger (1965) and Nolan Ryan (1977). Mathewson and Ryan are good company, but this is not a list you want to make.
• Of course I write that we need have patience with young starters on the day Joba goes out there and stinks it up again. He hasn't been good, and I really don't know if he'll be a great starter. But why not try? What's the harm in trying? I think you have to try. You can always move him back if it doesn't work. But you need to give him the chance. Rob Neyer brings up some more questions about Joba though points out he does stay in games later than most people think. Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says that Joba's still dominating the conversation and rightfully so. Tyler Kepner is waiting for Joba while mentioning he has the fewest decisions through a pitcher's first 29 starts in baseball history.
• You know it's a rough season when your big offseason free agent starting pitcher walks 7 guys and it's a deemed a big success. But such is the states of Oliver Perez and the Mets and Rob Neyer has more.
• Joel Sherman's latest and greatest rip on the Mets: "You know how in the Eskimo language there are hundreds of words to describe snow because it is so prevalent in the lives of the people. Well, I feel we are going to need that kind of flexibility with defeat for the New York Mets. Because frankly I am running out of ways to describe what is occurring. We get it now: They are undermanned, horrible fundamentally and appear as likely to collectively enter a speed-eating contest as hit a homer." 
• The New York Times' Ken Belson says that if Mets fans weren't laughing, they'd be crying.
• And if things weren't bad enough in Queens, this big from We're The Team To Beat about the Big Apple not rising during the home run is just hilarious. This was the best passage: "Speaking of pathetic, according to Gary Cohen, the reason the apple did not come up is that it apparently takes 45 seconds to recharge between uses.  So let me get this straight.  The Mets did not even consider the possibility of back to back homeruns?  Thats a telling sign." Yes it is. Get well soon Jose, Carlos and Carlos. 

And a few others:

• After reading this MLB.com story, I guess Joe Biden had the same thought I did on Saturday. I guess that handshake helped transfer over knowledge. Amazing.
• There are two Yankees in the top 4 of the American League pitches per plate appearance list: Nick Swisher (#2 at 4.24) and Johnny Damon (#4 at 4.20). The next Yankee on the list is Melky Cabrera at 29th with 3.96, followed by Hideki Matsui 35th at 3.90 and Mark Teixeira 39th at 3.86. Derek Jeter is just outside the top 50 (#51) at 3.81. Alex Rodriguez and Brett Gardner have too few PAs to qualify but clock in just over 4.00 P/PA. Ditto with Jorge Posada at 3.96. That's almost 36 pitches per 9 batters. Multiply by 4, that's 144. I know I have one extra OF in there, but even if you take out Melky or Gardner and substitute Robinson Cano in there, you're still doing pretty well, even though Cano's only at 3.38 P/PA.
• Speaking of Cano, so far in July he's at .360/.396/.540. Is that him getting on a hot streak, his move down in the lineup or the fact that he's a career .346/.372/.532 hitter in July? I don't care as long as he continues to hit.  
• Jon Heyman sizing up the July trade market and then Jon Heyman saying that Roy Halladay, the biggest name on that market, may stay put.
• Ken Rosenthal saying that the Cards should keep Albert Pujols happy. I agree. Roy Halladay would help. If he gets traded.
• A HBO film on Wednesday will take an edgy look at former Red Sox player, Ted Williams. Rob Neyer takes a not-so-edgy look at current Red Sox player, Jonathan Papelbon.
• Baseball players are haunted by ghosts yet again according to Sporting News
• Also from Sporting News, bad news for Florida International fans: Isiah Thomas knows NCAA rules like he knows an NBA salary cap...
• Don't cry about Yankee Stadium's cost. The new Marlins stadium is going to cost at least $2.4 billion according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Wow.
• And President Barack Obama summoning his inner Bill Clinton (or was he?), Wells Fargo suing Wells Fargo (really), and the New York Times taking apart Sarah Palin (always fun).