Marlins' Burnett is taking it `nice and easy'

By Juan C. Rodriguez

Staff Writer

Posted March 3 2005

 

VERO BEACH -- Don't be surprised to see some scouts tapping and rattling their radar guns this spring while A.J. Burnett is on the mound. No need to get them recalibrated. Burnett really is throwing in the low- to mid-90s.

 

At least that's the plan.

 

Burnett made it through his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday against the Dodgers at Holman Stadium without busting Paul Lo Duca's catcher's mitt. Set on pacing himself this spring, Burnett characterized the three-inning, 49-pitch outing as "nice and easy."

 

"He didn't overthrow," said Lo Duca, after the Dodgers' 4-2 victory. "He's learning he doesn't have to overthrow."

 

Tossing mostly fastballs and changeups, Burnett pitched a pair of scoreless innings before surrendering a game-tying, two-run homer to Ricky Ledee on a 3-1 fastball. That was one of two hits Burnett allowed. He struck out four and walked two.

 

"[Wednesday] was perfect," Burnett said. "I don't think I overdid it. In the past I've been almost completely ready the first day of spring training, and now I'm almost ready and using spring training to get ready, learning how to pitch at 92, 93, 94 and save the hard stuff for when I need it."

 

Last season Burnett saw for himself how effectively he could pitch at lower velocities. Coming back from a three-week hiatus after experiencing some elbow discomfort, Burnett said he pitched two scoreless innings in the season finale against the Phillies without topping 95 mph.

 

That was the lone game Burnett did not start in 2004 after coming back from Tommy John surgery in June. Over his last 18 games he went 7-4 with a 3.14 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 1112/3 innings.

 

"You can't work on too many things but throwing strikes right now, repeating my delivery and getting the ball over the plate early in the count and getting early contact," said Burnett, who also singled in his lone at-bat. "I was a nervous, a little anxious at first and after that I was just fine. It was good to get back in a game situation."

 

Burnett's off-field situation improved earlier this week when Tim Hudson signed a four-year, $47 million extension with the Braves. That will likely propel Burnett to the top of the free agent starting pitching class after the season.

 

"We'll see after this season," Burnett said. "I'm not worried about it right now. I'm worried about going home and maybe doing a little fishing, having a meeting with [pitching coach] Mark Wiley in the morning and talking about what we did [Wednesday]. We'll worry about that stuff when it happens."

 

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins

Nice to see AJ working on throwing it easy. He'll keep the hitters off balance, and will save the wear and tear on his arm. Look for a breakout season from AJ.

Look for a breakout season from AJ.

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Doesn't hurt that payday is coming.

What does this article have to do with Wiley anyway. :blink:

good point.

The article doesn't even mention a single thing about Wiley or any of the coaches for that matter until the last paragraph where all AJ says is "we have a meeting."

This article isn't about Wiley, who's a total idiot who never should have been hired as a pitching coach ever again.

This article isn't about Wiley, who's a total idiot who never should have been hired as a pitching coach ever again.

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^^^^

Oriole bitterness