Burnett can't wait to contribute
02/06/2006TORONTO -- A.J. Burnett made it clear that he wants to contribute to the Blue Jays even before he gets to wear their uniform. In his first public appearance in Toronto, at an event for the Jays Care Foundation to which he donated $250,000, the right-hander laid out his views on his new team and his future.
"I'm more excited than I have been since I was a kid," said Burnett. "No one has anything bad to say about the organization, from ownership down to the batboys. I can't wait. I'm looking forward to it."
One of the factors motivating Burnett is the chance to again work with pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, who served in the same role for the Florida Marlins in 2002, arguably Burnett's best season. That year he went 12-9 with seven compete games and five shutouts. He struck out 203 and posted his best ERA of his Major League career, 3.30.
"We talk about every other day probably -- he calls all the time," said Burnett. "I believe he had a big part in my development.
"After six or seven years, how much of a pitching coach do you really need?" he said. "But you do need that one person that can reach you."
In addition to Arnsberg, Burnett is looking forward to working with veteran ace Roy Halladay.
"I'm going to learn a lot from Doc," said Burnett. "Roy is so passionate about the game and so focused on the day he goes to work, I feel like I used to be that way, and maybe I got away from that, and being around him again is going to bring that out."
After making his debut with the Marlins in 1999, Burnett has had a career sprinkled with injuries. He spent time on the disabled list in every season since 2000, with the exception of last year, in which he went 12-12 for Florida in 32 starts.
"I'm being paid for what I can do here, [not for what I've done in the past]," said Burnett, who seems excited to prove himself in his new home.
"Every time I come here, I love it even more, " he said. "The main thing I gather from coming here is that ... people are more nice, more polite."
He certainly likes the generous nature of the Jays front office, which announced on Monday night that they had signed catcher Bengie Molina to team with Gregg Zaun behind the plate.
"The first time I talked to [Jays general manager] J.P. Ricciardi, he had all these ideas, and you read that that came true and that came true," said Burnett. "He's building something in the right direction. ... J.P. Ricciardi is doing what he believes in."
The theme of the evening was supporting the Jays Care Foundation, which was conducting a reverse draw to benefit its programs, including Rookie League, which is designed to help local youth in Toronto Community Housing.
Now a Rookie League coach, Sebastiao Dinguana-Sivuilu started in the program 10 years ago, as a player.
"Learning baseball was a whole different sport for us. Meeting Vernon Wells and Joe Carter when I was a kid was a great experience," said Dinguana-Sivuilu. "It was a lot of fun to meet children from different communities."
Dinguana-Siuilu learned about more than just baseball through Rookie League.
"It's benefited me in a lot of ways -- commitment, dedication to what you love to do, and how everything pays off in the end," he said.
On Monday evening, Paul Godfrey, Jays president and CEO, announced a Jays Care Foundation scholarship fund to complement the Rookie League and assist young residents of Toronto Community Housing in pursuing post-secondary education.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
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