February 19, 200620 yr Burnett starts fresh A.J. Burnett donned a Toronto jersey for the first time -- and insisted he has put his Marlins years behind him. BY KEVIN BAXTER kbaxter@MiamiHerald.com DUNEDIN - When A.J. Burnett pulled on his black Toronto Blue Jays jersey for the first time Saturday afternoon, he was doing more than just changing shirts. He was, he hoped, also putting away some dirty laundry he carried with him from his last team. ''I feel like I'm starting over,'' the former Marlins right-hander said. ``It's kind of pushing everything in the past. A fresh start, fresh team, fresh league, fresh uniform. ``Everything's like a brand new step.'' Burnett brought seven up-and-down seasons in Florida to a spectacular close last September, losing his final start and then blasting manager Jack McKeon and the coaching staff in a tirade that got him sent home a week early. Less than three months later, he signed a five-year, $56 million contract with the Blue Jays, then decided to shut the book completely on his Florida years, putting his Pembroke Pines home on the market and moving into a Toronto lakefront condominium formerly owned by the Raptors' Vince Carter. ''I'm going to leave every part of Florida in the past,'' Burnett said just before taking part in his first official workout with his new team Saturday. ``I had some good friendships there. Friendships that I will hold on to for a long, long time. That's the organization that gave me a chance to fulfill my dream. ``So I'm going to miss that. But then again, I think everybody, every once in awhile, needs a new start.'' And Burnett, who has twice won 12 games in a season yet is 49-50 for his career, will be counting on an old friend to help spark that new start. Although the pitcher's free agent contract was the third richest signed this offseason, what really sold him on Toronto was the chance to reunite with pitching coach Brad Arnsberg -- who had his own falling-out with the Marlins in 2003. Arnsberg and manager Jeff Torborg were both fired that May, but while Torborg left quietly, Arnsberg had a heated discussion with general manager Admin Beinfest and owner Jeffrey Loria. Though he says he hasn't spoken to either man since, Arnsberg also says he has moved on. That's a lesson he tried to impart to Burnett when the two had dinner Friday night. ''It's about the present now and not the past,'' said Arnsberg, who said he sees a new maturity in Burnett. ``That chapter in the book is over, and now we're on to bigger and better things.'' In moving on, Burnett, 29, has decided to take the high road -- an off ramp he admits he missed last fall. Although he stopped short of apologizing for his clubhouse outburst -- in which he said of the Marlins, ''We play scared. We manage scared. We coach scared'' -- he was clearly contrite. ''I ended things on the wrong note,'' he said. ``I have nothing against Jack McKeon or the Florida Marlins. I meant everything I said. I'll stand behind it. But if I had to do it all over again, I would change the timing of it.'' http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ll/13908855.htm
February 19, 200620 yr He said nothing disgraceful or untrue, I'll still be rooting for you AJ. Too bad that Arnsberg is there to allow bad habits to continue, so it will likely be a new chapter in the same book of unfufilled potential.
February 19, 200620 yr He said nothing disgraceful or untrue, I'll still be rooting for you AJ. Too bad that Arnsberg is there to allow bad habits to continue, so it will likely be a new chapter in the same book of unfufilled potential. Ya it's the first statement that he hasn't blasted someone. Good for him Root for the guy? Hell no.
February 19, 200620 yr AJ didn't say anything that was untrue. However, he was unprofessional about it.
February 19, 200620 yr Author Screw AJ! He will get blasted in Toronto! I can't wait to see him pitch against the Yankee and RedSox offense every week :thumbup .
February 19, 200620 yr AJ didn't say anything that was untrue. However, he was unprofessional about it. Hense getting ripped by atleast me when we play him this year. Would have been a totally differ story if he did it in a prof. way
February 19, 200620 yr How did that Arnsberg move work out? About AJ im not gonna root for him unless he happens to be on my fantasy team. I only root for Marlins players.
February 19, 200620 yr How did that Arnsberg move work out? About AJ im not gonna root for him unless he happens to be on my fantasy team. I only root for Marlins players. Makes sense. I am going to root for Josh Beckett, though.
February 19, 200620 yr So he would just do it over again with different timing? Good riddance AJ. My sentiments exactly. As far as I'm concerned any and all threads regarding former Marlins should be in the MLB forum where they belong.
February 19, 200620 yr Author So he would just do it over again with different timing? Good riddance AJ. My sentiments exactly. As far as I'm concerned any and all threads regarding former Marlins should be in the MLB forum where they belong. I would have put this in the MLB forum if the article wasn't about the Marlins.
February 19, 200620 yr Author I hope AJ wins the cy young in the AL and that the Jays win the East. If there's a former Marlin that i'd like to see win the Cy Young, it's Beckett.
February 19, 200620 yr I hope AJ wins the cy young in the AL and that the Jays win the East. :lol :lol :lol
February 19, 200620 yr I hope AJ wins the cy young in the AL and that the Jays win the East. If there's a former Marlin that i'd like to see win the Cy Young, it's Beckett. Me too
February 20, 200620 yr I hope AJ wins the cy young in the AL and that the Jays win the East. If there's a former Marlin that i'd like to see win the Cy Young, it's Beckett. Me too Screw Josh....He was just as pompous and arrogant sometimes as AJ.....
February 20, 200620 yr Putting the money part of the game aside.....I'd love to have still A.J. on the team as our #2 starter. He had a nice if unfulfilled career here in Florida. It was always interesting to watch a game that A.J. started as he always had that potential to be filthy. Yes, he was an arrogant a**hole, and never learned while he was here how to communicate. Or in his case, considering his childish behavior, perhaps not talking would have been best. But he gave us many good years. Many fun games. Years of waiting for that talent to fully emerge. At this point, as he's no longer a Marlin, I don't care about his future. I neither wish him bad or good. I will miss the pies.
February 20, 200620 yr I hope AJ wins the cy young in the AL and that the Jays win the East. If there's a former Marlin that i'd like to see win the Cy Young, it's Beckett. Me too Screw Josh....He was just as pompous and arrogant sometimes as AJ..... Agree.. The only player that left with class is the TRUEST Marlin of them all and probably the only one I will be rooting for and that is, Luis Castillo! True Marlin!
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