ATLANTA (AP) -- Frustrated by the longest losing streak of his career and Florida's near-elimination from the NL playoff race, A.J. Burnett indicated Sunday he will not re-sign with the Marlins after the season.

 

``I've got one more start here, and that's all that matters,'' Burnett said of his apparent plans for free agency.

 

Burnett complained about a lack of positive reinforcement -- seemingly from manager Jack McKeon and the Marlins' coaching staff.

 

``It's depressing around here,'' he said. ``There's nothing positive around here. There's nothing positive on the staff now.

 

``You give up one home run, and it's a funeral. ... A positive pat on the back is better than anything. I haven't seen a pat on the back since April.''

 

Asked who he was targeting with his criticism, Burnett said, ``I'm not naming names.''

 

Unable to hold a 3-0 lead Sunday, Burnett fell to 12-12 with his sixth straight loss.

 

Despite his skid, Burnett has a 3.44 ERA and ranks among the NL leaders with 198 strikeouts -- including eight Sunday -- and four complete games.

 

As one of the top power pitchers in the game, Burnett would rank among the most attractive free agents this winter.

 

McKeon said Burnett was speaking out of frustration Sunday.

 

``Everybody gets frustrated at times,'' McKeon said. ``I think sometimes you've got to look in the mirror. He's just frustrated. We certainly don't play. None of the coaches pitch or hit.''

 

Added McKeon: ``This is a tough job playing in the big leagues. You're on a stage, everybody's on a stage. Everybody has to be held accountable.''

 

Burnett was asked if something happened during Sunday's loss -- which dropped Florida five games behind Houston with six to play -- to spark his strong words.

 

``Not today, the season,'' Burnett said. ``It's a waste. ... Kids are out there busting their butts, and there's still nothing but negativity.''

 

McKeon said he couldn't explain Burnett's losing streak.

 

``He was still throwing 98 miles per hour,'' McKeon said. ``This guy can pitch a no-hitter any day. But you can't walk leadoff batters.''

 

Burnett also ranks among the NL leaders with 79 walks, including four Sunday. He walked Chipper Jones to open the fourth inning and pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson to open the seventh, when the Braves took the lead. Both runners scored.

 

I personally will miss you and continue to root for you where ever you go...you'll win 20 soon enough.

good ridence

i hope he sucks whereever he goes

no

 

 

WAY

*shocked*

 

We should have traded him for Javier Vazquez when we got the chance. It did us just a bundle of good to keep him.

 

I hope you give up 10 runs before getting an out in your last start dewd.

:waving

 

Bye Bye AJ... btw: You are throwing the ball not McKeon :thumbup

I'll miss ya

Nice going AJ, keep blaming others and you will have a great and happy life. Time to step up and take responsibilities for your own actions.

I'll miss ya

 

Yay, I'm going to miss a complete jerk who goes 12-12. Pitching .500 takes $10 million a year talent. :plain

It is funny to hear Burnett talk you would think he had the credibility of a multiple 20 game winner . Year after year the guy has underachieved this is his best year 12-12 3.44 era wow I am overwhelmed !!! He is soft and never comes up big I look forward to see Aj with his 100mph fastball melting down in the public spotlight in NY or Boston or becoming a bust in Baltimore. This isnt hindsight I thought we should have trade Burnett mid season to get a young pitching stud and a much needed bat management lacked vision and now we get nothing except the memories of an overhyped mentally soft hard throwing sub 500 30 year old pitcher!

It is funny to hear Burnett talk you would think he had the credibility of a multiple 20 game winner . Year after year the guy has underachieved this is his best year 12-12 3.44 era wow I am overwhelmed !!! He is soft and never comes up big I look forward to see Aj with his 100mph fastball melting down in the public spotlight in NY or Boston or becoming a bust in Baltimore. This isnt hindsight I thought we should have trade Burnett mid season to get a young pitching stud and a much needed bat management lacked vision and now we get nothing except the memories of an overhyped mentally soft hard throwing sub 500 30 year old pitcher!

 

I agree. The guy talk like he is a stud that has proven himself. Too much talk, but the guy can't back it up with actions

1 Bass Fisher Down

What a surprise :whistle

It's funny how that walk to Clemens started the beginning of the wild card race collapse.

 

CYA AJ.

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, a**hole.

My favorite line of all this is...``It's depressing around here,'' he said. ``There's nothing positive around here. There's nothing positive on the staff now."

 

Could it be he's jealous of Dontrelle? He can't possibly not notice all the notireity DW is getting FOR SUCCEEDING.

 

I suspect he know's he's cost himself several million dollars (which is not to say he won't get a big paycheck), perhaps $4-5 million over the life of his new contract with his performance over the last 8-10 games. He desperately needs to find a fallguy for his failures.

 

Personally, I'd like to see Jack either fine him or better yet bench him for the rest of the season, or even just send him home (boy that would really frost his selfish, egocentric little ass wouldn't???? hehe). He's done everything he can do to insult the fans, the organization and let his teammates down for a month and half, time for payback.

 

I'll be going to all our remaining games and if he does pitch (which I hope he doesn't), and as uncharacteristic as it is for me to do it, I intend to boo him from the moment he steps on the playing field.

 

 

Some may disagree, but enough is enough.

I hope AJ gets shelled his first game :evil He has to learn his lesson

I hope AJ gets shelled his first game :evil He has to learn his lesson

 

First pitch he throws he'll get injured.. :evil

My favorite line of all this is...``It's depressing around here,'' he said. ``There's nothing positive around here. There's nothing positive on the staff now."

 

Could it be he's jealous of Dontrelle? He can't possibly not notice all the notireity DW is getting FOR SUCCEEDING.

 

I suspect he know's he's cost himself several million dollars (which is not to say he won't get a big paycheck), perhaps $4-5 million over the life of his new contract with his performance over the last 8-10 games. He desperately needs to find a fallguy for his failures.

 

Personally, I'd like to see Jack either fine him or better yet bench him for the rest of the season, or even just send him home (boy that would really frost his selfish, egocentric little ass wouldn't???? hehe). He's done everything he can do to insult the fans, the organization and let his teammates down for a month and half, time for payback.

 

I'll be going to all our remaining games and if he does pitch (which I hope he doesn't), and as uncharacteristic as it is for me to do it, I intend to boo him from the moment he steps on the playing field.

 

 

Some may disagree, but enough is enough.

 

 

I agree with you. I think he's jelous of both Josh and Dontrelle, but particularly Dontrelle. How could he possibly say there is nothing positive on the staff now? Um, how about a potential Cy Young winner? Or, perhaps, someone finally breaking his history of pitching .500 baseball and possibly winning 16 games? Huh, AJ? Or is there nothing positive because you didn't continue to develop like your younger teammates did?

I'll miss watching him pitch in the rare instances when he PITCHES.

 

Otherwise he's a wild flamethrower that's never proven anything when it comes right down to it. He'll probably win 20 soon enough though because there's a ton of talent there, and for his sake it had better be with a team like Boston that won't ask him to be dominating.

 

Put AJ in the Al Leiter camp that complains Jack doesn't coddle his players enough. Jack's certainly worn off on the team though, maybe even in '04. I don't blame him for this season, but the team's going to have to go in a different direction next year... that's plain to see.

 

Pat on the back? I'm sure they could all use a pat on the back right now... According to AJ, this season it's been the fans fault, Jack's fault, the ump's fault... so many people to blame, so little time. And I agree with whoever said that in retrospect I'm almost glad that he had nothing to do with the '03 championship.

 

Oh well, I'm sure they'll both be gone next season anyway.

 

Sigh...

He will thrive in a place with energy.

No way do I blame AJ for what is going on, somethings wrong in the club house, I think the whole attitude of the team is just bringing them all down, and I think it all started with the manager.

A

 

As one of the top power pitchers in the game, Burnett would rank among the most attractive free agents this winter.

 

 

When did this happen?

He will thrive in a place with energy.

 

 

The only place he'll thrive is Bank of America.

A

 

As one of the top power pitchers in the game, Burnett would rank among the most attractive free agents this winter.

 

 

When did this happen?

Yeah...few teams wouldnt want a guy who throws in the upper 90s and has a sub 3.5 ERA and nearly 200 K's....

 

You guys demand too much from the no. 3 starter on your team.