Burnett brilliant in season debut

By Jim Ralabate PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

So far, so good for A.J. Burnett.

On a cold night in the Bronx, Burnett turned up the heat in his season debut, overpowering one of baseball's best lineups and leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees.

It certainly was an encouraging performance for Burnett, who is entering what is essentially a make or break year - both for himself and the Blue Jays.

Less than three years removed from signing a five-year, $55 million contract with the Blue Jays, Burnett can opt out of the remaining two years of the deal after this season.

Testing the free-agent market likely would yield another lucrative contract for Burnett, who always has been considered one of the majors' most talented starting pitchers.

The 31-year-old Burnett put all of those talents on display Wednesday night, mixing his high-90s fastball with a devastating curveball over six-plus innings.

"That's kind of what I expect of (Burnett)," Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells said. "He's got that kind of stuff to do that every night he steps on the mound. He can be electric and he can do some things that not too many (other pitchers) can do."

After blanking the Yankees over the first six frames, Burnett departed after allowing a two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez with no outs in the seventh.

But despite the late blemish on an otherwise pristine pitching line, Burnett seemed pleased with his first start of the season.

"To come in here and pitch here at this place with these fans and against this lineup, it's just a good ballgame all around," said Burnett, who did not allow a baserunner to advance beyond first until Rodriguez's homer.

"A.J. was definitely dominating today," Toronto manager John Gibbons added. "He had a good changeup and breaking ball going tonight."

Electric, dominating - most baseball people offer these adjectives when describing Burnett. But another term that often comes up is injury-prone, a sore subject with both Burnett and the Blue Jays.

The flame-throwing yet fragile Burnett was placed on the disabled list four times in his first two seasons with Toronto and has eclipsed the 30-star mark only twice in his nine-year career.

Burnett landed on the DL twice last season and made just 25 starts, creating a serious pitching void for a Blue Jays team desperate to compete with the Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

But there is some good news for Toronto - the last time Burnett made more than 30 starts was in 2005, when he had 32 outings with the Florida Marlins. Burnett landed his huge contract with Toronto the following winter, and he has money on the table again this year.

Perhaps money really is the No. 1 motivator for Burnett, who undoubtedly would be one of the most sought-after pitchers in next winter's free agent market.

If that is the case and Wednesday's game is any indication, the Blue Jays should be in for a big year from Burnett, who could turn out to be their most pivotal player.

"We're going to score some runs," he said. "So if this pitching staff and this bullpen stay healthy, it's going to be a good year."

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