Position: C; Ht/Wt: 6-3/220; B/T: L/R; Team: Chicago White Sox; DOB: 12.30.1976
|
Year |
Games |
HR |
RBI |
AVG |
|
1998 - MINN |
7 |
0 |
1 |
.300 |
|
1999 - MINN |
9 |
1 |
25 |
.273 |
|
2000 - MINN |
33 |
2 |
11 |
.307 |
|
2001 - MINN |
114 |
7 |
55 |
.289 |
|
2002 - MINN |
130 |
6 |
49 |
.300 |
|
2003 - MINN |
137 |
11 |
75 |
.312 |
|
2004 - SF |
131 |
11 |
77 |
.272 |
|
2005 - CHI |
128 |
18 |
56 |
.257 |
|
2006 - CHI |
31 |
0 |
8 |
.336 |
(Source: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/aj-pierzynski.shtml)
Outside of the south side of Chicago, A.J. Pierzynski might be considered the vilest athlete to exist. Well, that's not quite true. GQ magazine rated him as only the 9th-most hated person to grace the playing fields in America. But in Chicago, the consensus decision is that Pierzynski is the man that belongs behind the plate at US Cellular Field. This polarizing figure has lived two quite different lives.
The Giant Mistake
Late in the 2003-04 offseason, the Minnesota Twins realized the necessity of cutting costs. They were a small-market team and wished to keep their payroll low. It's simple economics. With future superstar Joe Mauer ready for the Show, the veteran Pierzynski knew he would soon be headed out of the door. After all, he would be making $3,500,000 in one entire season.
General manager Terry Ryan contacted his counterpart in San Francisco and got a significant offer -- relief pitcher Joe Nathan and prospects Boof Bonser and Francisco Liriano for A.J. Ryan pulled the trigger. The deal gave Mauer a spot in the Major Leagues, essentially allowing the Twins to receive equal production around the plate but for a fraction of the price. Also, Liriano and Bonser became boons to the Twins' farm system and both have solid futures ahead of them.
Bay Area fans probably remembered the name Pierzynski from the 2002 postseason. And those memories weren't good. Closer Billy Koch of the Oakland A's called the catcher a seven letter word unfit for reprinting, while outfielder Terrance Long said, after the A's lost in five games to the Twins, that 90 percent of baseball doesn't respect Pierzynski.
It didn't take long for the other team in the Bay to start hating the controversial catcher, either. Allegedly, Pierzynski kneed the Giants' trainer in the groin during spring training (there were no reports of this incident ever taking place, however) and played cards rather than reviewing opposing hitters with a pitcher (which Pierzynski admitted to only doing once). Soon, he became known as "a clubhouse catcher." Despite the negative atmosphere, Pierzynski played well, hitting .272 with 11 homers and 77 RBIs. He now offers a $100 reward for anyone who hits a home run off of Brett Tomko, the pitcher he believes called him the "C" word.
The Turnaround
The Giants released their catcher after the 2004 season and chased down Mike Matheny in the free agent market. They were happy with their new situation, but Pierzynski wasn't. No team took interest in him, and it was difficult for his agent to stir up much of a market for his client. Eventually, Pierzynski spent hours on the phone with GM Kenny Williams and soon became a White Sock.
After signing a one year, $2.25 million contract, the catcher immediately felt fit in with the new look White Sox. Manager Ozzie Guillen and designated hitter Carl Everett were both baseball men who spoke their minds quite liberally. This was a perfect fit. The catcher hit only .257, but with a career-high 18 homers and 56 RBIs. Behind the plate he led all catchers with a .999 fielding percentage and was third in the league in terms of innings caught. Pierzynski did everything you could want on the baseball field from a catcher.
Once in the postseason again, Pierzynski returned to his old ways. In game 2 of the ALCS, catcher Josh Bard failed to cleanly, by the umpire's (questionable) standards, catch the ball. Rather than tagging Pierzynski out, Bard rolled the ball back to the pitcher's mound and Pierzynski took off to first. The Sox would go on to win the game and eventually the World Series. Their success might not have occurred were it not for this heads-up play.
Pierzynski did everything asked of him: play
decent defense, produce at the plate, and stay out of trouble.
Kenny Williams lists the Pierzynski signing as one of the best
moves he has made in his career. With a three-year contract in
hand, it might be one of the best contract extensions he's
ever signed as well.
