Burkett Is Happy to Be a Brave

John Burkett had just put his clothes in the washer when a call came from his agent: The Atlanta Braves were interested.

By the time Burkett tossed a load in the dryer, a deal had been reached.

Man, talk about putting a new spin on your career.

Instead of retiring--which was Burkett’s intention as soon as his clothes finished drying--he joined the Braves. Now, at age 36, he is perhaps the most valuable member of a team that is having to get along without John Smoltz and Kevin Millwood.

Burkett leads the National League with a 2.35 ERA. His record (6-5) would be much better if not for a lack of run support. He certainly has the credentials for a spot on the All-Star team--which sounds downright ludicrous in light of where he was less than 16 months ago.

“I was washing my clothes to go home,” Burkett recalled.

The right-hander had just been released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, not exactly a sign that your career is on the right track. Burkett, whose arm had ached for several seasons, decided to retire for at least a year unless a contending team called.

Amazingly, one did while he was in a coin-operated laundry in Florida.

“I was literally in the wash cycle when my agent called and said the Braves were interested,” Burkett said. “I told him to get back on the phone and do the best he could to get it done. He asked me if he should call anyone else. I told him, ‘No, I want to go to Atlanta.”’

A half-hour later, his cell phone rang again.

“I was in the dry cycle when my agent called up to say it was done,” Burkett said. “Then (manager) Bobby Cox and (general manager) John Schuerholz called back and talked with me on a three-way call. I couldn’t believe how excited they were to have me. I thought they were kidding.”

No wonder. Since going 22-7 for San Francisco in 1993--the best season of his career--Burkett had a record of 58-67 with three teams. He certainly looked washed up during his final two seasons with the Texas Rangers, posting ERAs of 5.68 and 5.62.

Last year, he signed a minor-league contract with Tampa Bay, figuring the Rays could use a veteran presence in their young rotation. Instead, he was released just a couple of days before opening day.

Before he left Tampa Bay, Burkett did get some career-altering advice from then-manager Larry Rothschild.

“He told me to start doing long toss to get my arm strength up,” Burkett said. “I didn’t think it would have this result, but it’s been a big part of it.”

The Braves put Burkett right into their rotation, which was trying to cope with Smoltz’s season-ending elbow injury. The newcomer responded with a decent 10-6 record and 4.89 ERA.

During the offseason, Burkett expanded on his long-throwing routine. He would head to a field near his Texas home with a box of 35 balls, throwing from near the mound, then from second base and finally from shallow center field.

“I didn’t even throw to anybody,” he said. “I would go pick up the balls myself or sometimes my little boy would go with me to pick them up.”

Burkett would work out for about 15 minutes a day, that’s all. He didn’t throw off a mound until a few days before the start of spring training, but the results were obvious.

“My arm did not feel good in 1998 and ‘99,” he said. “I just thought that’s the way it would be the rest of my career. I went out every fourth or fifth day, but my arm never felt great. This year is a complete turnaround. I can throw the pitches I’m trying to throw.”

Burkett’s rebirth couldn’t have come at a better time for the Braves. Smoltz has twice been on the disabled list with a sore elbow and doesn’t know when he’ll return. Millwood has been on the DL since early May with a cyst in his right shoulder and won’t rejoin the team until after the All-Star break.

“Burky has been tremendous. His record is not even close to how well he’s pitched,” Smoltz said. “It’s not amazing in the sense that he wasn’t capable, but it is amazing when you consider how close he came to not being recognized by anybody.”

Burkett has allowed three earned runs or less in 14 of his 17 starts, including his first shutout since 1996 and four other games in which he gave up no runs. In 114 2-3 innings, he has surrendered just 88 hits, with 100 strikeouts and 26 walks.

This from a guy who allowed more hits than innings pitched every season since 1993, whose repertoire would hardly be classified as overpowering.

Burkett pitches a lot like another mainstay in the Atlanta rotation: four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux. Both work off their fastball, changing speeds and moving the ball all over the strike zone.

Also, Burkett is able to make quick adjustments in his motion, often ducking into the dugout between innings to watch himself on videotape. In a recent start, a slight change in the height of his left elbow made a big difference in getting pitches down.

“Execution is the main thing,” Burkett said. “I can throw the ball where I want to.”

He’s also been a good fit in the Braves clubhouse: a happy-go-lucky guy who seems genuinely thankful for this new lease on his pitching life. He doesn’t concern himself with how long it might last.

“It’s kind of late for that,” Burkett said with a grin. “I used to set goals, but I’m past that now. My only goal is to win the World Series.”