PITTSBURGH - Before Sunday afternoon's game between the Pirates and Rockies, A.J. Burnett took part in a simulated game in the Pirates' bullpen. Burnett had Chris Stewart catching and calling balls and strikes, and Travis Ishikawa stood in as a batter on both the left and right side. In a very jovial mood following the session, Burnett stopped to talk with a group of reporters at PNC Park.
“We tried to make it as much like a game as possible," Burnett said. "I didn’t want to just go out there and throw pitches. This was more realistic and game-like.