No doubt some enterprising mod will be moving this shortly but I just couldn't help myself -

 

"Burnett waits: Toronto is fed up with right-hander A.J. Burnett, who is on the disabled list with an elbow injury, even though his MRI was clean. Asked last week how Burnett was doing, manager John Gibbons said, "Who?"

 

Burnett has refused to play so much as long toss and hasn't picked up a ball since April 21. This from a player who signed a five-year, $55 million deal.

 

General manager J.P. Ricciardi is on record as saying the injury exists only in Burnett's head."

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...2/1108/SPORTS01

Hopefully the comp pick and extra third we get in this draft fo AJ leaving will work out to be good players:)

 

In a way you can't blame Toronto for taking such a risk though, having to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox each year would drive you to desperation.

wow

what a freaking waste

Ouch! Damn AJ has really gotten himself in a jam now

I knew signing Burnett would turn out to be a bad move.

Well, we all knew AJ was a headcase. The Bluejays are finding out the hard way it seems.

nevermind

what a b*tch

Told ya so.

Best thing the Marlins have ever done! NOT SIGNING AJ!!

You guys are absolutely ridiculous. Have you ever heard of Darren Dreifort? And please, I don't need someone posting medical reports on the differances in injuries/recoveries/timelines, it's merely a comparison of a high profile pitcher blowing out his arm forever. This was on rotoworld a few weeks ago.

 

Dr. Darrell Ogilvie-Harris, former orthopaedic surgeon for the Toronto Maple Leafs, hasn't examined Burnett or seen his MRI, but does say the fact that there's a problem with the scar tissue as well as the ligament makes it a more troublesome recovery.

 

"Scar tissue is not as strong as the original ligament," said Ogilvie-Harris. "When there is a tear of the ligament and scar tissue, this tells us that there is residual weakness from the previous surgical repair. This complicates recovery and increases the risk of re-injury."

 

Ogilvie-Harris said the Blue Jays are taking the right approach in proceeding with extra caution.

 

"If he had to undergo surgery again, chances are it would be career-ending," he said. "That's the single biggest risk — going back too soon. Each time he gets re-injured, it's going to take double the amount of time to get better."

 

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...93064&t=TS_Home

Yes, the guy hasn't seen the MRI. I'm not saying it's a perfect source, but I think a general medical opinion about scar tissue and how this could easily lead to a career ending injury is pretty serious. Sure, pitchers have the threat of injury with every pitch, but this is pretty notable for AJ when it comes to recovery times. Toronto might have overspent on him with how risky he is as a player but when it comes down to it, even if his scar tissue is healed and it's in AJ's head, the organization should not be publicly bashing him like this. There are other ways to light a fire underneath a player if that is the problem, and creating a negative vibe around him at the start of his huge contract is not the way to do it.

 

AJ feeling confident in his arm and taking a few weeks off is not that big of a deal in the longterm. Toronto needs AJ for 5 years, not to blow his arm out forever for 5 extra starts in May because he's not ready. Mentally or physically. I'd be scared too if I've already missed seasons due to injury, and now have "lingering" issues. Cut the guy a little slack.

No one knows AJ's arm like AJ does. If the Blue Jays want him for the 5 years they signed him for, they need to shut up and let AJ fully heal and recover.

I hope his arm falls off.

No one knows AJ's arm like AJ does. If the Blue Jays want him for the 5 years they signed him for, they need to shut up and let AJ fully heal and recover.

 

That's what I kindof think, he is the best judge of how his arm feels.

 

I'm not going to cry over the weakening of a division foe, even though I hate injuries to players on any team...friend or foe.

Damn, anyone remember when Dempster, Burnett and Clement were the next big thing? What a waste on all three. Dempster was never the same after plunking Vasquez on the head in Montreal, Clement never put it together and Burnett aside from being crazy never took time off to learn the art of pitching instead he listened to Arnsberg and blew out his elbow.

I have no sympathy for this punk at all. I do not wish injuries on players but this dude left a sour taste in my mouth when he trashed the fans and organization.

I have no sympathy for this punk at all. I do not wish injuries on players but this dude left a sour taste in my mouth when he trashed the fans and organization.

 

 

Exactly....even though Beckett has an attitude- he was a man about leaving. He said I enjoyed my time in Florida and now it's time to move on. I respect that.

 

I don't respect this tattoed nippled freak who whines and complains about everything.

 

Go rot and freeze in Toronto AJ.

Can't say I didn't see this coming... :whistle

Nice AJ.

He really needs to be slapped.

It was only a matter of a time before AJ started his usual crap.

I think there's more going on here than can be summed up in the 3 sentences that were quoted in the original post.

I have no sympathy for this punk at all. I do not wish injuries on players but this dude left a sour taste in my mouth when he trashed the fans and organization.

 

 

 

Its easy to see how there is a lot of hatred for AJ. He became very unlikeable his last year here and made many knee-jerk statements about the FO and the fans.

 

With that said, I had a few discussions with AJ in the summer of 2002 and he was very friendly and was not an ego-maniac like some would expect. I worked at a high end golf country club in Boca Raton and met AJ through Marlins clubhouse attendant, Michael "Rock" Hughes.

 

AJ would come to play golf with his agent and a few friends and he was very laid back and went so far as to give me his cell phone # and told me to call anytime for tickets (he knew I was a big fan).

 

Whats my point? I have a feeling that if any of us had been in AJ's shoes, we also may have been very bitter about the OBVIOUS poor fan support in SoFla. Of course everyone here is a big fan and we are not the culprits but I think AJ had a legitimate beef with the fan situation down here. Unfortuantely the real fans were the ones who took it personal.

Nice to see so many Marlins fans are sadists. I feel bad for the Blue Jays, but I figure AJ knows AJ's arm better than JP Riccardi does. Hopefully he comes back soon and pitches to his potential because I'm sick of the old guard controlling the AL East.