14
2013
Who is Greg Burke?
An article by 
Back in November, the Mets announced they had signed a right-handed relief pitcher named Greg Burke to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. When I heard of the signing, it reminded me of the scene at the beginning of the movie Major League where the Cleveland fans are all giving their take on roster moves the team made, and the guy in the diner asks “Mitchell Freidman?” In similar fashion, after the signing was announced, Mets fans asked “Greg Burke?”
Who’s Greg Burke???
Burke is an easy guy to point out on the field because he has a very distinct motion. You see, Burke is a side-winder. Side-arm pitching is somewhat of a lost art, similar to the knuckle ball. When you find a guy who is effective, he can wreak havoc on a lineup. The problem with side-winders is, and the reason why most pitchers avoid style of delivery, because you immediately turn yourself into a righty/lefty specialist. A right-handed side-winder, as Burke is, would be incredibly difficult for a right-handed batter to face.
The motion looks weird, the ball comes from a completely different angle, and it just makes the hitter feel very uncomfortable in the batter’s box. However, for a left-handed hitter, it would almost work to their advantage to face a righty side-winder. They would have more time to see the pitch coming across and out of the side-winders hand. A left-handed hitter would feel much more comfortable batting against a right-handed side-winder than a right-handed hitter would. So Burke, like many pitchers trying to stay in the show, have mastered a lost art. He is out of options, and hopefully becoming a side-winding righty specialist will keep him in the show for one more year.
Another movie I am immediately reminded of when seeing Burke, is Moneyball. In Moneyball, an overweight Jonas Hill who we are supposed to believe is representing Paul DePodesta, is virtually obsessed with Chad Bradford, a sidewinding pitcher that Hill’s character believes can be the most effective reliever in their pen.
I’m not so sure DePodesta thinks Burke will be the most effective reliever in the bullpen for the Mets, that is if he makes the team out of camp, but he definitely has the ability to get right-handed hitters out. While I’m not a big believer in bullpen specialists, I think that Burke could provide some decent value with his deceptive pitching style. For at least one go around, the hitters will be very confused when they face Burke, and as long as you get him out of the game before the hitters can adjust, he can be effective.
In 2012, Burke was with the Baltimore Orioles, and split time between AA and AAA. He pitched a total of 64 innings and had a miniscule 1.53 ERA. That is promising. He was named an organizational All-Star by MiLB.com in 2012.
It’s yet to be seen if Burke sticks with the big league club after camp breaks, but he definitely has something the Mets are in need of—the ability to get guys out. Burke is a true underdog, having a brief stint with the Padres back in 2009, but spending most of his career riding buses and staying in motels playing the minor leagues. Everyone loves an underdog story. He has shown the ability to get right-handed hitters out, and hopefully he does enough to earn a spot on the 2013 Mets. Everyone here at MMO will be rooting for him.
About the Author: Mitch Petanick
Mitch is currently an Editor and Minor League Analyst for Mets Merized Online. His baseball experience includes being a former All-Conference collegiate baseball player who had numerous professional tryouts, and he is currently a hitting instructor. He has been involved with the game of baseball for over 30 years now as a player, coach, and consultant. Mitch is also a former Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @FirstPitchMitch.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 25 | 18 | .581 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 21 | .523 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 23 | .477 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 24 | .415 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 12 | 32 | .273 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/19/2013
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Hi Mitch,
Sidearm pitching can also be quite dangerous – Carl Mays was notoriously known to throw a high and inside pitch at anybody who crowded the plate. One of those fastballs hit Ray Chapman in the head and tragically, he became the first and only player to lose his life playing the game.
Heck yeah…that’s why hitters are so uncomfortable in the box facing them.
I’m immediately reminded of our old Prophet, Joe Smith, who had continued success in the bigs as a submariner. Miss that pitcher, he was fun to watch and still very effective on the Major League Level. (2.96 era last year with lefties hitting .254 against him in his career.)
But Chad Bradford was at an even lower arm slot than most sidearmers and even submariners, with his knuckles nearly scraping the ground. That was his main deception, and made him so effective as a pitcher.
Burke seems more sidearm, which is a lot more conventional, and less deceptive than submarine to me.
Definitely not as deceptive as Bradford, but definitely disturbs the plane of vision for the hitters. This guy comes in after the hitters see an overhand style pitcher, and as long as he throws strikes, is gonna get guys out at least the first time around.
What I found so amazing with many submarine pitchers was their ability to throw so fast without the aid of the high forward motion.
I remember Joe Smith and that submarine type pitch.
Burke though has the most unusual delivery for a submariner. I get the impression he’s going to throw conventional, then he drops down real low (or looks low b/c he’s tall) and fires from the side.
First couple of times I saw him pitch, it almost looked like he would fall over. However he’s doing it though, I’ve been impressed so far in ST. I think he’s got a very good chance to make the team.
My whole issue with the R/L Split thing is that in essence you are tying up a limited roster spot to play for what in most cases is ONE out per game at best.
And since the Manager controlling the batters can make a switch anytime after you name the pitcher you may not even get that!
I understand and accept that lefty Pitchers should do better vs lefty batters and have no problem making a change to get that, But if the lefty pitcher is only capable of getting lefties out you really are not accomplishing much other than burning up your bullpen to get one lowly out.
It’s one thing to fill out a roster with guys like that when you don’t have the talent available that can be effective against both sides of the plate, But it is not smart to load up your Bench and Pen with SITUATIONAL SPECIALISTS when 1) your not sure you will ever get into that situation to use them and 2) if you do the other side can easily change the situation so you wasted a roster spot and player that got you pretty much nothing because he didn’t even get to throw a single pitch!
That said we need to have some lefties in the pen and barring someone who is good against both sides you take what you can get…
But it would be better if they found good lefty pitchers vs ALL and used them instead of going after these guys who are useless until the starts he needs align and IF not you never get what it is they are supposed to be good for.
Well he did what he is supposed to do….He got his one out!
Can’t complain with anyone who gets the job done….