[ThePundit]

Blue Jays right-hander A.J. Burnett threw a four-inning simulated game Wednesday.

Burnett was scheduled to make a minor league rehab start for the Gulf Coast Blue Jays, but rain forced the 30-year-old to throw a 61-pitch outing instead at Tropicana Field before the Blue Jays played Tampa Bay.

"Throwing balls felt good," Burnett said. "Curveball was sharp, and it felt good to be on the hill. I mean, I feel ready. My arm feels great and my command looks sharp. I'm ready to go."

He looked good from here," Gibbons said. "I think he probably needs to get into a game situation, but there's nothing set yet."

For the Jays, does it matter, anymore this year?

[snooker]

This guy is just an average pitcher 50 / 50 winner , I don't really care for him , I wish they could trade him and get something else in return but I don't think he worth much in return

[ThePundit]

Now that A.J. Burnett has rejoined a rotation that includes Roy Halladay, the Toronto Blue Jays believe they are poised for improvement -- and they're only 6 1/2 games out of the wild card.

Fresh off the disabled list, the right-hander gave up three hits pitching into the eighth inning and the Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 Sunday night.

Burnett (6-6) limited the Royals to two singles and Alex Gordon's home run over 7 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked three in his first outing since June 28 and didn't allow a run until Gordon led off the eighth with his 10th homer of the year.

"I think he's going to give us a boost and finish strong, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "I think it's going to help us out. All he's doing is making a strong rotation even stronger." Burnett, who went on the disabled list twice in June due to shoulder strains, won for the first time since May 22 at Baltimore. He was 0-3 in his past five starts.

MLB - Toronto Blue Jays/Kansas City Royals Recap Sunday August 12, 2007 - Yahoo! Sports

Unfortunately for the Jays, Burnett's return is too little too late. He has to figure out a way to stay on the field an entire season.

[snooker]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

MLB - Toronto Blue Jays/Kansas City Royals Recap Sunday August 12, 2007 - Yahoo! Sports

Unfortunately for the Jays, Burnett's return is too little too late. He has to figure out a way to stay on the field an entire season.

He will never win the big important games , If by chance he does ? I doubt if he goes pass 6 innings , I haven't yet seen him pitch consistently and I doubt if he can ( 50 / 50 if the jays are lucky )

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by snooker

He will never win the big important games , If by chance he does ? I doubt if he goes pass 6 innings , I haven't yet seen him pitch consistently and I doubt if he can ( 50 / 50 if the jays are lucky )

Not sure if I can track it down anywhere to prove it, but I personally thought the Blue Jays were nuts to give Burnett as much money as they did, and the recent past has pretty much proven me right. I like my pitchers to be a little more proven and a little less injury prone, thank you very much. I bet their next big free agent acquisition is Kerry Wood.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Not sure if I can track it down anywhere to prove it, but I personally thought the Blue Jays were nuts to give Burnett as much money as they did, and the recent past has pretty much proven me right. I like my pitchers to be a little more proven and a little less injury prone, thank you very much. I bet their next big free agent acquisition is Kerry Wood.

....

Or Carl Pavano....

[ThePundit]

He pitched good the other day, too.

Burnett (7-6) gave up two runs and three hits over 6 1-3 innings, walking three and striking out six while overcoming winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour....... Burnett has gone 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in two starts since returning from the disabled list Aug. 12, after missing 37 games with a sore shoulder. He said he's been using the change-up more often.

MLB - Baltimore Orioles/Toronto Blue Jays Recap Friday August 17, 2007 - Yahoo! Sports

The guy can pitch, no question, but will he ever stay on the field long enough to make a difference?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

....

Or Carl Pavano....

Ha ha, yeah. That might actually be worse.

[ThePundit]

He pitches this afternoon against the A's - a very winnable game.