Forget June.

 

A.J. Burnett said he could pitch for the Marlins as early as April.

 

''There's a chance of me breaking camp with the team [out of spring training],'' said Burnett, who underwent Tommy John surgery April 29 and was told not to expect to pitch again for 12 to 18 months. ``It's an obtainable goal.''

 

Burnett was examined two weeks ago by his orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, and received a glowing report.

 

'He pulled and tugged at it [the right elbow], and he said, `I could clear you for a game situation right now,' '' Burnett said. ``I wasn't expecting that.''

 

Burnett, who made only four appearances last season before surgery to repair a fully torn ulnar collateral ligament, is tentatively scheduled to throw off a mound for the first time next Thursday.

 

Pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal said he was impressed with Burnett's flat-ground workout Wednesday, though tempered his comments by adding that the hard-throwing right-hander has yet to throw any breaking pitches.

 

''Just fastballs and changeups so far, but he looks good,'' Rosenthal said.

 

Said Burnett: ``I'm obviously not throwing 100 percent, but I'm letting it go. I'm putting something on it.''

 

The Marlins are handling Burnett cautiously and aren't counting on an early-season return.

 

But they could certainly use his services. The last spot in the five-man rotation is up for grabs with no clear favorite for the job. Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Carl Pavano and Dontrelle Willis hold down the first four spots in the rotation.

 

But if Burnett can return by May 1, the Marlins would need to go to a fifth starter on as few as four occasions.

 

The original, post-surgery prognosis called for a 12- to 18-month recovery period and, at the earliest, a late May or June return.

 

Burnett said he's confident he'll be ready to pitch much sooner than that.

 

''There's still a chance it'll be May, but I'm shooting for the [start of the] season,'' he said. ``I should be pitching in a spring training game by the 12th or 15th [of March]. They're just not going to throw me like everybody else.''

 

After coming off a 12-9 campaign in 2002, Burnett was expected to assume the role of staff leader for the 2003 season. But those plans were derailed when, while making his fourth start on April 25, he labored, throwing 111 pitches in only 5 2/3 innings. Tests showed ligament damage to his right elbow.

 

''I'm still taking the conservative approach right now,'' Burnett said. ``Everything depends on how the arm reacts. But when Dr. Andrews said that, it just kind of reassured me that the elbow is fixed. It's strong.''

 

CABRERA TO HIT THIRD?

 

Marlins manager Jack McKeon said he's leaning toward having Miguel Cabrera bat third this season with Mike Lowell returning to the cleanup spot.

 

''Flip a coin,'' McKeon said of the decision. ``But I'll probably go for Cabrera third and Lowell fourth.''

 

Cabrera hit cleanup in the World Series and the final three games of the National League Championship Series. But that decision was primarily the result of Lowell's slow recovery from a broken hand.

 

McKeon has no decisions to make with the top of the order: Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo will bat one-two. Jeff Conine would likely bat fifth, followed by Hee Seop Choi, either Ramon Castro or Mike Redmond and Alex Gonzalez.

 

? As expected, pitchers Brad Penny and Carl Pavano filed for salary arbitration. If they do not settle with Florida, hearings will take place the first three weeks of February.

 

MARLINS CARAVAN

 

The Marlins will kick off their annual caravan Jan. 31 at Doral Golf and Country Club. The caravan, which includes stops in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, ends Feb. 7 with FanFest at Pro Player Stadium.

 

FIU HONORS LOWELL

 

Florida International University will retire third baseman Mike Lowell's number during its annual Diamond Dinner on Jan. 24.

 

Lowell, who played at FIU from 1993-95 and wore No. 15, will be the third player to have his number retired at the school. Oriol Perez (No. 3) and Ramiro ''Toti'' Mendez (No. 23) are the other two.

 

Lowell had a career average of .353, which is fifth-best in school history and was named Trans America Athletic Conference Student-Athlete of the Year and earned Academic All-American status in 1995.

 

Tickets for the Diamond Dinner are $125 per person or call 305-348-2903 for information.

 

-- ROMAN O. GARCIA JR.

 

'BOSS' CANCELS

 

Citing personal reasons, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner canceled his appearance as guest speaker at the Jan. 27 University of Miami baseball banquet at Marriott Biscayne Bay.

 

Marlins president David Samson will replace him. The cost is $75 for UM season-ticket holders and Hurricane Club members and $100 for others.

 

credit- miami herald

The Marlins would be stupid to rush AJ. As Goldy said this morning on QAM, how often do you need a 5th starter in April? Not often. Take it slow and easy with AJ and the long term benefits will be great!

wow... i'm drooling

The Marlins would be stupid to rush AJ. As Goldy said this morning on QAM, how often do you need a 5th starter in April? Not often. Take it slow and easy with AJ and the long term benefits will be great!

Very true, But if he feels 110% healthy and the doctors say he is 100% ready.. Then he should back, other then that Dont Rush AJ.. And dont let him rush himself either.

The Marlins would be stupid to rush AJ. As Goldy said this morning on QAM, how often do you need a 5th starter in April? Not often. Take it slow and easy with AJ and the long term benefits will be great!

Very true, But if he feels 110% healthy and the doctors say he is 100% ready.. Then he should back, other then that Dont Rush AJ.. And dont let him rush himself either.

Right on Phenom.

 

Don't let AJ rush himself. I suspect though, with a wife and kid now and the scare of a lifetime he's realized he's lucky to be getting another bite of the apple.

Here's a Palm Beach Post story on him also.... more of the same.

link

 

Burnett ahead of schedule

 

By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, January 16, 2004

 

Marlins right-hander A.J. Burnett will throw off a pitcher's mound Thursday for the first time since he ruptured a ligament in his right elbow nine months ago.

 

Burnett hasn't pitched competitively since April 25 and hasn't registered a win since August 2002. But he said his rehabilitation from reconstructive elbow surgery is going so well that he is hoping to rejoin Florida's rotation when the season starts in April.

 

"It depends on how my arm reacts to being on the mound, but me breaking (spring training) with the team and starting the season is a possibility,'' he said Thursday.

 

"There's also a possibility I may not come back until May, but in a perfect world, with no setbacks, I'm planning to start the season (in April).''

 

Burnett's progress was a reason the Marlins traded left-hander Mark Redman to the Oakland A's in December. But team officials have said they won't rush Burnett's return, citing May or June as a more likely target.

 

The Marlins will open spring training next month with four starters -- right-handers Josh Beckett, Brad Penny and Carl Pavano and left-hander Dontrelle Willis. Until Burnett is ready, the team likely will use a middle reliever such as left-hander Michael Tejera or right-hander Kevin Olsen in the fifth spot.

 

......

 

Burnett, who turned 27 on Jan. 3, said he has been working out every day at Pro Player Stadium, mainly soft-toss throwing and weight training.

 

On Thursday, Burnett expects to throw from a bullpen mound for five minutes, exerting about 80 percent of his usual velocity. After that, he will throw off the mound twice a week, gradually increasing his velocity.

 

"I'm still going to be conservative and not rush it too much,'' he said, "but (the elbow) feels good and I'm throwing well. I'm just looking forward to next Thursday.''

Great NEWS!!!!!!!!!! Maddux who?

Great NEWS!!!!!!!!!! Maddux who?

Are you looking for his first name? Here it is.. Gregory Alan Maddux

I expect him to stay with the instructional team as the rest of the Marlins break camp to get closer attention before a few rehab stints with Carolina.

AJ in spring training makes me very very excited, but I think we would be doing him a disservice if we didn't allow him to make a few minor league starts to get his stamina for game situations back. AJ is very important to this team, and I'd rather get AJ back 100% by mid-May than throw him out there from the beginning of the season when he won't be as effective.

 

 

Still, amazing news...

This is kind of putting me halfway. AJ is my favorite Marlins pitcher and I'd love to see him come back as soon as possible, because maybe when he puts up the Josh numbers (like we all know he's capable of and better) then maybe our staff will finally get the respect it deserves. But, at the same time, I don't want him to be rushed back and then we lose him forever. We don't need him right away, make sure he's doing well in the Minors first.

I don't think they should rush him. At least give him the month of April in the minors, and if he looks good/healthy, bring him up in May. But certainly not for the beginning of the season.

he told me this back in Chitown in the NLCS.....

 

he is good at predicting the future I see

I hope he doesn't try to go premature like John Rocker, Brandon Claussen, and Kevin Brown did from their surgeries.

 

I don't know where you guys stand on this, but personally I would want to have him relieve a bit before starting right away. However, "I would have you pitch tommorrow" is astonishingly good news.

This is great news. IMO it is a mistake if he starts a major league game before May 1. That will be 1 year. It simply is not worth the risk.

 

He will not be 100% what he was at that point as far as his stuff. Why not let him work some kinks out in the minors. We have seen that this guy is such a competitor that he threw 90+ without the ligament. I would not risk it. His compettiveness taking over when he is on the mound in a tight game may cause him to over do it.

 

The focus should be having him as close to 100% in August.

Does anyone here really think that between Jack, Rosie and the FO, that they're going to let the guy take the mound before they all are 100% sure his arm is capable of it?

 

Nevermind the onfield stuff, imagine the PR nightmare the franchise would face if they hurried him back and he reinjured himself, or even if they didn't and he was reinjured? They are going to handle this guy with kid gloves and take no chances.

Does anyone here really think that between Jack, Rosie and the FO, that they're going to let the guy take the mound before they all 100% sure his arm is capable of it?

 

Nevermind the onfield stuff, imagine the PR nightmare the franchise would face if they hurried him back and he reinjured himself, or even if they didn't and he was reinjured? They are going to handle this guy with kid gloves and take no chances.

I would have to say this is great news!

I would hope the Marlins continue to keep the future in mind and dont rush AJ to starting anytime in April. If he wants to go relief then ok, but I hope he gets some minor league starts in April.

 

With the whole stadium deal going down and etc, I hope the Marlins FO keep up their good work and team management and keep AJ stable and strong until he is positive he is ready to pitch in an MLB game situation.

 

Cant wait till April!

I agree with MARLINSFANATIC We should wait until he is fully ready. And not when he is just ready to go a little.

just because he is coming back early does not mean that he is forcing it. if he feels like he can throw, and the doctors say he's OK, why just sit around for no reason? i'm sure that of all people, AJ himself knows that there's no reason to force this thing.

Let his Doctor and himself decide when he should be back.

I think he will be back for the start of the season but he can't rush.

Take it easy.

Latest he will return I think may 1st and that is good enough for me but would love to see him at the start of the season as fifth starter and work his way up the rotation but right now he is number 5 because he hasn't pitched in a long time.

I dont want the Marlins to rush him but i do want him pitching in April. I dont wanna go and get another starter which we wont use anymore. Thats very good to hear AJ is ahead of schedule, not keep it that way!

Just another reason why getting an expensive starting pitcher to fill out the rotation may be a mistake.....It sounds like the 5th starter will make maybe 5 starts....just stick Phelps, Wayne or Tejera in there.

Just another reason why getting an expensive starting pitcher to fill out the rotation may be a mistake.....It sounds like the 5th starter will make maybe 5 starts....just stick Phelps, Wayne or Tejera in there.

 

That would be all fine and good if we could be guaranteed that none of our other starting pitchers would start the season without a problem. As I've said before starting the season with four SP is iffy, we're a blister or bone spur or a sore tendon away from having a three man rotation.

 

Better to bring in a fifth guy you can dangle for tradebait later on if all goes well with AJ and everyone else is/stays healthy than to start the season one guy short praying no one gets hurt.