Baseball Prospectus

MLB Statistics

Statistics for All Levels

Statistics For All Levels

Plate Discipline

Comparable Players (Similarity Index )

BP Annual Player Comments

Year		Comment
2004		As classy an act as Burks is, he's close to done. In part, it's because the world isn't sympathetic to DHs who struggle to slug .400. But a more basic problem is that as of early January, every AL team had a starting DH in place, and while someone like Oakland could use a right-handed bat off the bench, it's hard to fit a backup DH into today's rosters.
2003		There are two constants here: Ellis Burks has bad knees and hits the cover off the ball. Everything else grows from that. He can’t really play the field anymore, as he put on the leather only six times this year, but as long as he keeps hitting, there’s a place for him as a DH somewhere. As long as the Indians are looking to cut payroll, the last year of his three-year, $20 million deal is going to look mighty attractive to punt elsewhere, especially now that they may want to get Broussard more DH time.
2002		With the need to find at-bats for Branyan and Alex Escobar, and with the acquisitions of Matt Lawton and Brady Anderson, Burks's primary value to the Indians is as trade bait. The argument for keeping him is Milton Bradley, who might find the transition to major-league stardom easier with a veteran African-American player in the same clubhouse. Come to think of it, Burks circa 1987 is a pretty good comp for Bradley right now, at least on the field.
2001		Ellis Burks is a fine ballplayer when healthy, and Dusty Baker and his staff have been masterful at managing him. They rationed his playing time very carefully, making sure to keep the knee swelling and back pain to a minimum instead of running him out there every day and getting reduced production for 150 games. Burks still brings a solid bat to the ballpark and can help a team with realistic expectations. Of course, realistic expectations don't usually accompany a three-year, $20-million contract, which is what the Cleveland Indians gave him.
2000		Burks can still play, both at the plate and in the field, but he missed 42 games last season, faded in September and underwent offseason knee surgery. He's 35 years old, so he isn't going to improve. Burks has hit much better on the road than at home the last two years and may find the new park more to his liking.
1999		Burks is a good player; it wasn't just the thin Colorado air that gave him those big numbers. Unfortunately he's not a great player, he's getting old, and his late-season injury leaves him a question mark yet again after a career already filled with injuries, mostly to his back. Worth a one-year deal, the Giants gave him two to play right.
1998		Burks spent most of July on the DL with a strained groin and missed 43 games overall. He’s one of the better overrated Rockies, but he is not great, and his advancing age will not make him less injury-prone. His defense is no longer good enough for center field, although he remains a fine left fielder. If he leaves Colorado, he’ll be out of baseball within two years.
1997		MVP? Not in this reality. There’s a weird phenomenon going on in the media when it comes to Rockies’ hitters. The talking heads usually say something like “Well, you know, it’s easy to hit in Coors, but wow! Here’s another guy with 40 HR, and you don’t do that without talent.” Vinny Castilla is proof that yes, on occasion you do. The media doesn’t understand just how vast the effects of Coors Field are. Burks is a good ballplayer. He’s not clearly in the top half of NL outfielders.
1996		Very fragile at this point. Another victim of back injuries, along with Canseco and Mattingly. Could still prosper as a DH a couple of years down the road. Reminds me of a very slightly younger Chili Davis.

BP Articles

BP Chats

BP Roundtables