MLB

Burnett hoping for fun times ahead with Pirates

BRADENTON, Fla. — A smiling A.J. Burnett has put the Yankees in his rear view mirror. The pie thrower is thrilled to be a Pie-rate.

“It’s a fresh start,’’ Burnett told The Post yesterday of pitching for Pittsburgh, his first interview since the trade talks began. “They’ve got a young, good team here and coming on back to the National League, it’s going to be fun again. I’m also looking forward to getting back to where the game is fun.’’

In New York, the game is fun when you win the World Series, something Burnett and the Yankees did in 2009. Burnett, 35, had many struggles with the Yankees, compiling a 34-35 record, but he does not have any regrets about being traded to a bottom-rung team in the NL Central.

“I’ve got no regrets,’’ Burnett insisted. “I got to play with teammates that people don’t get to play with, I got my ring that a lot of guys will never get and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. That page is closed now. It’s time to turn to the next chapter.’’

Burnett spoke with The Post as he was leaving Pirates City after passing his physical.

Burnett knows he did not live up to expectations and could have pitched better. He knows a lot was expected of him because of the big money he was paid, $82 million over five years and because he had success with the Blue Jays pitching against the Yankees and Red Sox.

“In ’08, I pretty much dominated those guys so every time I went into Yankee Stadium they pretty much saw what I should have done,’’ Burnett said. “I didn’t produce during the season. I’m not going to lie. I had good games, I had bad games. I had good games when it counted. But it’s a different animal up there. I wouldn’t trade it. I learned a lot from it. It’s going to help me a lot here.’’

The right-hander made sure to thank Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

“Joe was like a second dad to me,’’ Burnett said. “I love Joe.’’

As for his skirmishes on the mound with Girardi when the manager would come out to pull him from a game, Burnett smiled and said: “I don’t ever want to come out of the game.’’

Asked by the Post in today’s formal press conference his view of the Yankees staff, Burnett responded: “Without sounding too arrogant, I don’t care. They’re good dudes over there and they got a good leader in CC but I need to get over here and learn my staff and I’m looking forward to that.’’

Burnett took blame for his failures with the Yankees but also said he may have let too many people “tinker’’ with his mechanics.

The Pirates are counting heavily on Burnett, who returns to the NL after pitching for the Marlins from 1999-2005. The Pirates have not had a winning season since 1992.

“I’m sure he would have wanted to finish in New York on a better note,’’ Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “That being said, the plug is pulled, he’s got a chance to re-ignite a career here and put a better finish to how many ever years he’s got left. The ballpark will help him. Rod Barajas is going to help him. There is something to be said sometimes for guys just getting a clean break.’’

Barajas will try to keep Burnett on task. The ex-Met was Burnett’s catcher in Toronto in 2008 when Burnett put up the best season of his career, going 18-10 over 34 starts and leading the AL in strikeouts with 231.

“The AL East has the best lineups in all of baseball,’’ Barajas said. “I think everybody is extremely optimistic about A.J. We built a great relationship together.’’

Life is easier in the NL Central and the pressure in Pittsburgh is just not the same, just think of Jason Bay. Burnett has faith in Barajas, who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million.

“I think I earned his trust,’’ Barajas said. “Every time we went out there, there was never a doubt in our mind we knew what we were going to do and it was going to be a successful outing and we were going to end up on top. A pitcher has to believe in you.’’

Burnett believed in Barajas, how he kept him from going side-to-side, called a game and blocked balls. The Pirates believe in A.J. Burnett.