Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 2, 2008 19:37:05 GMT -5
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Three weeks into spring training, Toronto Blue Jays flame-thrower A.J. Burnett has yet to visit the doctor.
He has, however, been to see a manicurist.
"That fingernail, he slammed it in the door of his car and it's still not back to where they can even put a false nail on it," pitching coach Brad Arnsberg revealed Sunday, after Burnett threw two innings in an 8-4 Grapefruit League win over the Cincinnati Reds.
"He just went to see a gal about it and they can't do anything about it right now," Arnsberg added. "It's nothing to hook on to. No doctors. We'll keep him away from doctors."
Arnsberg said the last part with a laugh, knowing that injuries and Burnett are a bit of a touchy subject around the team.
The lost half-nail on the right-hander's index finger -- it happened just before camp opened, Arnsberg said -- is the latest twist in the never-boring Burnett saga, which has seen him make 10 appearances on the disabled list in the last nine years and four in his two seasons with the Blue Jays.
Eyebrows were raised last month when the team said it would bring Burnett along a bit slower this spring and slotted him behind Dustin McGowan in the pre-season rotation. But Arnsberg said that was happening because Burnett is unable to throw his curveball.
"I think we're looking at 10-14 days before he's going to be able to feature his hook again," said Arnsberg. "Yeah, it's unfortunate. But if you want to talk about being behind, that would be the thing he's behind on because right now he'd be at least flipping his hook in his bullpens and his in-between days. But he's not even able to do that."
Burnett -- who said the slower pace this spring "was not my doing" -- made no mention of the fingernail following his outing. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk, threw 35 pitches, 21 for strikes, and seemed frustrated afterwards.
"Things were fine, my health was there," he said. "That's all that matters. What are you going to tell after two innings? I feel fine."
Burnett, 31, did mention that it would be a long time before he would throw his curveball in a spring game, but that's not unusual for him. He traditionally saves the hook for the latter part of the month.
"Command, that's what everybody is working on now because it's early," said Burnett. "Next time go three or four and the next time go six or seven. Just building arm strength."
Arnsberg believes Burnett's delay in throwing his curveball could end up being a blessing, as it will force him to throw his changeup more often. The change is something Burnett has run mostly cold with in recent years but it would be a tremendous asset to keep hitters honest against his fastball, which can creep towards 100 m.p.h.
"It's giving him a chance to work on his other pitches but he's a little frustrated with his changeup right now," said Arnsberg. "We'll probably go to the drawing board, see if we can play with another grip or change the grip he has (on his curveball) and try to get it where it's more usable.
"Most of his changeups today were non-factors."
Burnett has made just 46 starts over the past two seasons since signing a US$55 million, five-year deal with the Blue Jays, who are desperate for him to make 30 starts in 2008. He was 10-8 with a 3.98 earned-run average in 2006, when elbow soreness twice sidelined him, and 10-8 with a 3.75 ERA last year, when a sore shoulder twice shelved him.
There's also a sense he's primed for a big season since he can opt out of the final two years in his contract in the fall. Some big numbers would set him up for an even bigger payday on the open market.
Burnett has stayed away from that talk this spring and stressed that nothing is wrong with him. Sunday was just a first step for him to get ready for the season.
"I'm fine," said Burnett. "We're just building arm strength, getting to when innings count so you're really able to tell more about these outings than two innings."
He has, however, been to see a manicurist.
"That fingernail, he slammed it in the door of his car and it's still not back to where they can even put a false nail on it," pitching coach Brad Arnsberg revealed Sunday, after Burnett threw two innings in an 8-4 Grapefruit League win over the Cincinnati Reds.
"He just went to see a gal about it and they can't do anything about it right now," Arnsberg added. "It's nothing to hook on to. No doctors. We'll keep him away from doctors."
Arnsberg said the last part with a laugh, knowing that injuries and Burnett are a bit of a touchy subject around the team.
The lost half-nail on the right-hander's index finger -- it happened just before camp opened, Arnsberg said -- is the latest twist in the never-boring Burnett saga, which has seen him make 10 appearances on the disabled list in the last nine years and four in his two seasons with the Blue Jays.
Eyebrows were raised last month when the team said it would bring Burnett along a bit slower this spring and slotted him behind Dustin McGowan in the pre-season rotation. But Arnsberg said that was happening because Burnett is unable to throw his curveball.
"I think we're looking at 10-14 days before he's going to be able to feature his hook again," said Arnsberg. "Yeah, it's unfortunate. But if you want to talk about being behind, that would be the thing he's behind on because right now he'd be at least flipping his hook in his bullpens and his in-between days. But he's not even able to do that."
Burnett -- who said the slower pace this spring "was not my doing" -- made no mention of the fingernail following his outing. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk, threw 35 pitches, 21 for strikes, and seemed frustrated afterwards.
"Things were fine, my health was there," he said. "That's all that matters. What are you going to tell after two innings? I feel fine."
Burnett, 31, did mention that it would be a long time before he would throw his curveball in a spring game, but that's not unusual for him. He traditionally saves the hook for the latter part of the month.
"Command, that's what everybody is working on now because it's early," said Burnett. "Next time go three or four and the next time go six or seven. Just building arm strength."
Arnsberg believes Burnett's delay in throwing his curveball could end up being a blessing, as it will force him to throw his changeup more often. The change is something Burnett has run mostly cold with in recent years but it would be a tremendous asset to keep hitters honest against his fastball, which can creep towards 100 m.p.h.
"It's giving him a chance to work on his other pitches but he's a little frustrated with his changeup right now," said Arnsberg. "We'll probably go to the drawing board, see if we can play with another grip or change the grip he has (on his curveball) and try to get it where it's more usable.
"Most of his changeups today were non-factors."
Burnett has made just 46 starts over the past two seasons since signing a US$55 million, five-year deal with the Blue Jays, who are desperate for him to make 30 starts in 2008. He was 10-8 with a 3.98 earned-run average in 2006, when elbow soreness twice sidelined him, and 10-8 with a 3.75 ERA last year, when a sore shoulder twice shelved him.
There's also a sense he's primed for a big season since he can opt out of the final two years in his contract in the fall. Some big numbers would set him up for an even bigger payday on the open market.
Burnett has stayed away from that talk this spring and stressed that nothing is wrong with him. Sunday was just a first step for him to get ready for the season.
"I'm fine," said Burnett. "We're just building arm strength, getting to when innings count so you're really able to tell more about these outings than two innings."
