Notes: Burnett dazzles in debut
03/03/2006DUNEDIN, Fla. -- It's only Spring Training. It was only an exhibition game. And A.J. Burnett only pitched two innings. But his Toronto teammates were more than happy to be sitting in the dugout watching, rather than having to stand in the batter's box to face him.
"When I got traded to Toronto, I was like, 'Good deal, I don't have to face A.J. anymore,'" said Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay. "It's scary what kind of stuff he's got."
Burnett, who was making his first appearance in a game since signing a five-year, $55 million contract with Toronto in December, threw 42 pitches, including 27 for strikes. The right-hander struck out four and didn't allow a run in Friday's game against Team Canada.
In the second inning, Burnett got his first small test of the young season. He gave up a double, a single and a walk to load the bases, but he mixed in two strikeouts with runners in scoring position and forced a fly out to left field to end the threat.
"It's big to do that early, as well as in the season," Burnett said about getting out of the jam. "I'm a big believer in and big worker in that when guys get to second and third, in scoring position, you've got to make a pitch. You've got to bear down."
His teammates were impressed with the early results.
"A lot of guys, with a runner on third with less than two outs, we're going to concede that run. He can get that strikeout," Overbay said. "Those guys don't come along too often, and when you've got one of them on your side, it's nice."
Catcher Gregg Zaun said Burnett had a very effective curveball, mixed in with fastballs and changeups. Burnett showed something else that Overbay said he hadn't seen yet this spring: intensity.
"He's starting to get that fire out there and get that competitive attitude a little bit," Overbay said. "It looks like he's getting a little fire under him, and that's going to help him more than anything."
"I try to get out there and get the strut and get the glare," Burnett said. "It's my first Spring Training game with a new squad; I wanted to step off on the right foot."
Trading colors: When Ernie Whitt walked onto the field at Knology Park sporting his red and white Canadian uniform, he knew he was going to hear some jokes coming from the home dugout.
Whitt, who is Toronto's bench coach and is managing Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, was sitting on the visitors' side for a change.
"Well, it's good, except all the guys are calling me different names over there -- like I'm a traitor. I don't like that," joked Whitt, who was a catcher for Toronto from 1977-88. "I've been a Blue Jay since Day 1. Now I'm a traitor. But that's all part of the game, and it's ridiculous, but we'll have fun with it today."
Whitt said he was looking forward to squaring off against another former Jays catcher in the World Baseball Classic. On March 8, Team Canada will take on Team USA, which is managed by Buck Martinez. Martinez played for the Blue Jays from 1981-86 and later managed Toronto in 2001-02.
"Buck and I have had a good relationship. We spent a lot of years as a tandem behind the plate," Whitt said. "I always think catchers make really good managers. It'll be fun, no question about it. There will be some ribbing going between him and I."
Also suiting up for Canada is Toronto Minor Leaguer pitcher Vince Perkins, who is from Saanichton, British Columbia. Since he wasn't scheduled to pitch on Friday, Perkins said he was just taking in the whole experience.
"It's fun. I'm not in the game today," Perkins said. "So I'll just get to sit back and watch it. It'll be cool."
Take two: One of the main reasons the Blue Jays acquired Overbay from the Brewers was his reputation for hitting doubles. On Saturday, he gave fans in Florida a look at what the Jays have been talking about.
In the first inning, Overbay pulled a double down the right-field line, knocking in Toronto's first two runs. Two innings later, the left-handed hitter had another two-run double, this time sending the ball bouncing off the center-field wall.
"He hit the double today, and we were like, 'That's odd, another double for Lyle,'" Burnett said with a laugh. "He's got a great swing, and it's going to be great for him to play in [the Rogers Centre]."
Overbay had 34 doubles last season, and he led the Majors with 53 doubles in 2004. Only 27 Major Leaguers in history have managed at least 53 in a season.
First dinger: Outfielder Wayne Lydon, who played for Double-A Binghamton in the Mets organization last year, hit the first home run of Spring Training for the Blue Jays. The non-roster invitee played center field and finished 1-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. Last season, Lydon swiped 42 bases for Binghamton.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
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