If Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa plied their trades just about anywhere else in Major League Baseball, their dismal starts might have blended into the background.
A diving misplay of a fly ball that leads to a run?
Hey, get 'em next time.
A slump of 2 for 22?
Who knew?
But that most assuredly is not the case in Pittsburgh, where those two players came not as the complementary pieces they might be for the New York Yankees or St. Louis Cardinals, but as the main attractions of an unprecedented offseason spending spree.
The Pirates spent a franchise-record $13.45 million on free agents this winter, fueled by the $12 million payroll increase authorized by ownership in October, and they did so intent on upgrading the offense. To that end, they spent the bulk of that cash on one-year contracts for Burnitz, who is guaranteed $6.7 million, and Randa, who will make $4 million.
The early return on those investments?
So far, beyond a doubt, it has been far more bust than boom.
Just ask them.
"I'm not satisfied," Burnitz said. "Not at all."
"Terrible," Randa said. "Just terrible."
Burnitz, 36, is batting .217, including a funk of two hits over a six-game stretch before being given the day off Wednesday by manager Jim Tracy, who explained he wanted his right fielder to have "a chance to regroup." Burnitz has four home runs and 12 RBIs but only two other extra-base hits. He has struck out 20 times, 12th most in the National League.
Randa, 36, has a similar average at .222 but lower power numbers with a home run and six RBIs. He had 43 doubles last season but has only four this month.
General manager Dave Littlefield signed Burnitz and Randa to fortify the heart of the order and protect Jason Bay. In doing so, he also decided to relegate two younger -- and comparably productive -- players, Craig Wilson and Freddy Sanchez, to bench duty.
Littlefield acknowledged that neither Burnitz nor Randa has performed to expectations, but he expressed hope that would change soon.
"You're going to see them come around," he said. "Randa's coming off a year in which he had a lot of doubles and did some good things with the bat. Offensively, he hasn't come out of the blocks like we think he could have, but he's done well defensively for us. Burnitz? He's been a little streaky at this point. Still, even though hasn't performed, he's second on the team in RBIs. He might be frustrated, pressing, still working to get out of it. These guys will tell you it's a long year."
They also might be inclined to suggest it has been a long month.
In blunt terms.
"I'm aware of it," Burnitz said. "And I'm the first to tell you that there are some days and some parts of the game that I'm not satisfied with my attitude and my execution with what I'm trying to do. You know, we can look at all the reasons why it's been a bad start for us and blah, blah, but they're really irrelevant. You've got to do it. You've got to perform."
There are times when Burnitz's frustration has been evident for all to see, as he occasionally has stood an extra second or so in the box after a strikeout.
"Yeah, I've been frustrated. I'm not really happy with a lot of my at-bats. But, on the other hand, I've also had a lot of at-bats where I wouldn't change a thing, and I didn't have anything to show for it. I'm just trying to maintain a sound, fundamental approach, and you hope that your abilities will lead to better results over the long haul."
Randa was no less critical is assessing himself.
"I haven't had a period of at-bats where I've felt locked in. I've been battling at the plate," he said. "And, yeah, it's been very frustrating. It's a lot easier when you struggle and you're still winning games to come out of it. But, when you're not winning, you put pressure on yourself, and it's harder to get out of it. I don't really feel like I've chipped in a lot."
Part of the reason for that, as team officials confirm, is that Randa has been slowed by injury. He has missed a total of five games because of a strained abdomen early in the month and a bruised right foot that continues to get treatment.
"I don't like to make excuses," he said. "You play this game long enough, I don't think you can point to a long stretch when you are healthy. You're always dealing with aches and pains, especially the older you get because they don't go away as quickly. You just have to try to figure out a way to get it done."
Expectations are higher, each player acknowledged, because of the big-fish-in-small-pond aspect of their contracts within a $47 million payroll.
Burnitz was asked if that might heighten pressure on him.
"I know exactly what you're asking and, no, I don't feel that way," he replied. "It doesn't matter who I'm playing for. Would I like to do better to help this organization make a turn in the right direction? Yeah, but I know what I do out there. I give it all I've got."
He let out a booming laugh.
"I haven't always had great years. I've had a couple decent years and one poor one. I've been through it all. I'll put the same effort forth. We'll see how it goes in the long term."
Randa compared the Pirates' situation to one he experienced in Kansas City in 2003. After a successful season, the Royals' management took the highly unusual step of adding to payroll and, as a result, adding to expectations. The next edition of the Royals flopped.
"It is frustrating when you do up the ante with the payroll and things don't work out, but nothing's guaranteed in this game," Randa said. "You've got a lot of very good starting pitching in this division and, if you don't match up well with them, it's going to be a tough go. The offense was supposed to be a strength for us, but that pitching has made it tough. And, when we don't score runs, it's tough for us to win games."
The Pirates' chances of winning would be greatly enhanced, of course, if Burnitz and Randa play to their career norms rather than their form of this month.
"We know what we have to do," Randa said. "We've all been going through it together. Nobody's been pointing any fingers. We all realize we haven't done our best. We've got to try to learn from what's happened, worry about one at-bat or one pitch at a time and kind of take baby steps to get out of it."
In the meantime, Tracy is adamant he will stick with each player. And not just because of their contracts.
"You're talking about players who have performed at a very consistent level over a long period of time, and performed very well," Tracy said. "I'm not about to use 50 or 60 at-bats to make any kind of judgment on them. They'll hit."
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