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DUNEDIN, Fla. — A.J. Burnett's injury history would never suggest he is tough as nails.
Now he is on a product that he hopes at least will grow them, and fast.
And if his hair happens to sprout as big as a female country singer, don't be concerned. That's just a byproduct of the supplement, according to Burnett.
"That's all I'm doing, taking a healthy nail and hair pill," Burnett said yesterday before the Toronto Blue Jays went out and spanked the Cleveland Indians 6-1 at breezy Knology Park, their second consecutive win of the Grapefruit League schedule. The Jays outhit Cleveland 10-8, with Alex Rios and Marco Scutaro both collecting two hits.
Related Information
- Cleveland Indians
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Josh Barfield
- A.J. Burnett
- Fausto Carmona
- David Dellucci
- Shaun Marcum
- John Parrish
- Alex Rios
- Marco Scutaro
For those of you keeping track, Toronto's spring record is now 2-3, with the New York Yankees strutting into town for a game this afternoon.
Jesse Litsch is scheduled to make his second start of spring training for the Jays, while Phil Hughes is expected to go for the Yankees.
It was a day after Brad Arnsberg, the Jays' pitching coach, revealed to reporters that Burnett has been held back from throwing his daunting curveball during training camp because of a torn fingernail on the index finger of his right hand.
It seems Burnett injured himself when he accidentally slammed a car door on the digit.
That's the problem right there. Normally, these athletes are used to having car doors opened for them.
Burnett must be a slow grower.
He said he suffered the injury in November, but the nail has not yet grown back to the length required so he can "spike" it into the ball, the secret to his big curve.
That's where Biotin comes in, Burnett said, pointing to a bottle of the stuff sitting in his locker. Biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that is supposed to promote the growth of healthy nails and hair.
If Burnett's not careful, he might suddenly sprout the best set of fingernails in sports since Florence Griffith Joyner was running track.
"That's fine, as long as I have that one," he said, referring to his injured pincer. "They can all fall out, as long as I have that one."
Since the injury, Burnett said everybody has been weighing in with treatment methods, from his wife to his mother to his new-found manicurist in Dunedin.
"You know, put the nail polish on it for maximum growth," he said.
"I'm trying everything. I was in the nail salon yesterday, so I picked up some stuff."
Arnsberg said it might be two more weeks before the nail is long enough for Burnett to get a grip for his curve, but the pitcher said that is of no concern right now.
"Right now, I'm not worried about it because I didn't throw a hook [curve] for a while [during spring training] last year," he said. "I'm just looking ahead, because if it doesn't grow out before the all-star break, then we're in trouble."
Toronto's Shawn Marcum made his first start of the exhibition season against the Indians yesterday and he was solid over his scheduled two innings of work, giving up only one hit and striking out two batters.
After retiring the side in order in the first inning, Marcum gave up a leadoff single to Ryan Garko in the second.
But Marcum got out of the little jam by inducing Ben Francisco to hit into a double play before striking out Andy Marte looking.
After enjoying a breakout season last year as Toronto's fourth starter, with a 12-6 record and 4.13 earned-run-average, Marcum had his season end late in September when he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
He said the knee feels fine and that an off-season of rehabilitation and weightlifting has left him feeling much stronger.
"I think that's going to help me come August, September," Marcum said.
