April 7, 200521 yr By Joe Capozzi Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Thursday, April 07, 2005 MIAMI GARDENS ? It had been more than a year. So when A.J. Burnett saw his old love again, he was overcome with affection. "I went out (Tuesday) and I laid on the mound and I gave it a big hug,'' said Burnett, who makes his 2005 debut tonight. "I'm dead serious. I just went out and kind of fell on it.'' Apparently, pitchers are picky about their mounds. The pitching mounds at Boston's Fenway Park and Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark have been criticized for being too flat. After finishing the spring 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA, Burnett couldn't wait to get off the mound at Jupiter's Roger Dean Stadium. "I didn't like the mound in Jupiter at all. I'm not making any excuses whatsoever,'' he said. "You come here and you look at this thing and you look how it's built and how it feels. Hopefully if we get a new stadium here, we can keep that mound with us. That would be nice.'' Burnett won't try to restrain himself tonight from throwing his trademark fastballs. "I tried to do that in spring,'' said Burnett, whose pitches hit 100 mph four times last year. "I tried to pace myself and be nice and easy. I didn't like it. I didn't feel like myself. "Somebody told me you can't teach Mark McGwire to hit like Tony Gwynn, so that philosophy pretty much is out the door. Every pitch is going to have everything I've got behind it, just like in '02.'' Tonight will be his first start for the Marlins in a season-opening series at home. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/conte...notes_0407.html
April 7, 200521 yr When I read the thread title, I thought this was going to be another thread about AJ wanting to sign with the Yankees and play with Pavano :plain. I'm glad I was wrong :thumbup .
April 7, 200521 yr When I read the thread title, I thought this was going to be another thread about AJ wanting to sign with the Yankees and play with Pavano :plain. I'm glad I was wrong :thumbup . 732318[/snapback] think we all expected that, honestly
April 7, 200521 yr When I read the thread title, I thought this was going to be another thread about AJ wanting to sign with the Yankees and play with Pavano :plain. I'm glad I was wrong :thumbup . 732318[/snapback] think we all expected that, honestly 732360[/snapback] Yeah, me too. I think he's been pretty clear that he doesn't want to stay here much longer.
April 7, 200521 yr Well, if he didn't want to stay, why would he refer to the Marlins are we in the future tense.. "Maybe we can have that mound in the new stadium." Hmm... I want to hug a mound too, damnit.
April 7, 200521 yr When I read the thread title, I thought this was going to be another thread about AJ wanting to sign with the Yankees and play with Pavano :plain. I'm glad I was wrong :thumbup . 732318[/snapback] I thought the same thing. Im pretty sure that's what he'd like.
April 7, 200521 yr "Hopefully if we get a new stadium here, we can keep that mound with us. That would be nice.'' Maybe he really does want to stay here. :mischief2
April 7, 200521 yr So that means he is going to try and overpower hitters again? Oh well he was successful with that in 2002 lets see this year.
April 7, 200521 yr What's with this mound? Is it really that great? If it is why? The height? The slope? What?
April 7, 200521 yr What's with this mound? Is it really that great? If it is why? The height? The slope? What? 732645[/snapback] He lost his virginity on it.... His anal virginity....
April 7, 200521 yr What's with this mound? Is it really that great? If it is why? The height? The slope? What? 732645[/snapback] He lost his virginity on it.... His anal virginity.... 732646[/snapback] omg ur so funy. :plain
April 7, 200521 yr What's with this mound? Is it really that great? If it is why? The height? The slope? What? 732645[/snapback] At first I thought of his no-no but then remembered he did that IN San Diego and not at PPS, so that can't be the reason.
April 7, 200521 yr After reading that it sounds like A.J. is going out for blood this season. If he stays healthy i say this guy can go out and win 15-18 games. Beckett also looked nasty on Tue.
April 7, 200521 yr After reading that it sounds like A.J. is going out for blood this season. If he stays healthy i say this guy can go out and win 15-18 games. Beckett also looked nasty on Tue. 732690[/snapback] If AJ wins 15-18 games, he is not a Marlin in 2006.
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