"See, the thing that aggravates you about A.J. Burnett isn't just that he's a relentlessly underachieving mess so much of the time. It isn't just that he's stubborn, and bullheaded, and oblivious to coaching and counsel, something he's proven time and again all across his maddeningly mediocre career.

There's also this:

There's the image of manager Joe Girardi walking solemnly to the mound last night, bottom of the second inning, a sold-out crowd at Target Field booing that trek because in a lost season they would love to see their nine keep taking batting practice against Burnett. There's Girardi holding out his hand, demanding the ball.

Any pitcher with any kind of self-awareness would have handed the ball over and sprinted off the mound, eager to put a night's work of five outs and seven Twins baserunners behind him as quickly as possible. And would have kept his mouth nailed shut.

This is what A.J. Burnett had to say, as captured by the YES Network's cameras:

"That's [bleepin' bulls—t.]"

Only, you know, without the euphemisms. Showing up your manager is a foolish idea, especially on a night when Burnett otherwise didn't show up at all, especially in a time when the manager is one of the only people on Earth who still proffer belief in your belonging."