CSF Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 From the Oakland Tribune: Giants pitchers rip into Pierzynski Players say 'he's the cancer in here' and doesn't help staff By Andrew Baggarly, STAFF WRITER SAN FRANCISCO -- Struggling Giants catcher A.J. Pierzynski was called into Felipe Alou's office for a closed-door meeting Thursday with the manager and general manager Brian Sabean before a 4-3 loss to the Marlins, and while Pierzynski said he did not ask to be traded, several teammates said they wouldn't mind seeing him shipped off the roster. "He's the cancer in here," said one Giant, who requested anonymity. "The pitchers aren't happy with him. If they can trade him, that would be fine with me. We all know Yorvie (Yorvit Torrealba) can catch this staff." Pierzynski, who came over from Minnesota in an off-season trade, denied he wants out of San Francisco, and said he has worked hard to develop a rapport with the pitchers here. But several pitchers disagreed, and questioned Pierzynski's work ethic. The latest incident occurred before Wednesday's game, when two players confirmed Pierzynski ignored starting pitcher Brett Tomko's request to go over opposing hitters. Instead, the players said, Pierzynski resumed playing cards for another 20 minutes. "I've never in all my years seen a catcher who didn't watch video before games," one pitcher said. "He doesn't watch hitters -- other than the Twins games when they're on TV." Another disturbing story made its way through the clubhouse last week. According to two Giants players, the Padres' Phil Nevin said Pierzynski was criticizing Giants pitchers while Nevin was at the plate. "That did it for me," one Giants pitcher said. "If a pitching staff doesn't have the respect of their catcher, that's it. That's what it's all about. "I can understand if you're a veteran who's been here six years, somebody like Benito (Santiago). That's one thing. You're entitled to do things your way. But when you're coming into a new situation, you're the one that has to earn respect. This is an established pitching staff." Added another pitcher: "He's my catcher. I've got to work with the guy. But if they make a change, that would be fine by me." Neither Alou nor Sabean would comment on the meeting, though Sabean said it wasn't about finding Pierzynski a change of scenery. Two other major league GMs said they didn't believe the Giants were actively shopping him. "Absolutely, unequivocally no," Sabean said. "Not on his part, not on our part. Whoever is saying that is giving an utter line of bull." Said Pierzynski: "Me, Brian and Felipe sat down and talked about things, about what's going on with the team. It was a constructive and fun conversation. No problems were brought up at all." But according to two players, Pierzynski has privately said he is unhappy in San Francisco and wants out. When asked directly if that was the case, Pierzynski laughed. "Hell no," he said. "I'd never ask to be traded. First of all, I'd never do that. Why would I request to be traded? We've played 20 games. This is a great park, a great place to play. "If they trade me, I'll go wherever they send me and be happy there. It's kind of funny, actually. I've already been traded once this year. I'll go somewhere else if that's what they want. There's nothing I can do. I don't have a no-trade clause. I can just pack up and go." Pierzynski developed a reputation as a hothead in Minnesota and was unpopular with many opposing teams who accused him of chirping behind the plate and other unsportsmanlike conduct. This spring, the Giants accepted him and several players praised his feisty, emotional style of play. A month into the season, the honeymoon apparently is over. "You know he's an abrasive person, and you tolerate it," a Giants pitcher said, "but when you're around it this long, it starts to wear you out." A career .301 hitter entering the season, Pierzynski has four hits over his past nine at-bats to raise his average to .236. He has grounded into a team-leading seven double plays and has become a magnet for boos at China Basin. Some pitchers wondered aloud if Pierzynski hasn't continued to sulk over his hitting slump while he's supposed to be focusing on calling pitches -- a charge Pierzynski pointedly denied. "My job is to help this staff," he said. "Hitting is a bonus. I take pride in not taking my at-bats into the field. Defensively, I think I've been pretty good, and I feel it's getting better. "It's always a work in progress when they get a new guy. I'm working to get better, and the guys have been great to me. I talked to Woody (Kirk Rueter) after his start, I talked to Tomko today. It's all about getting a feel for what they need to do to get better. We talk about pitch selection between innings all the time." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighHeat45 Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 yea they were just talking about that on the score, its pretty funny. They said the only tape he watches are twins games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Wow, what a dick. That is totally unprofessional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Never was a big Pierszynski fan, but I did respect him alot because he plays with alot of heart. Reading this is telling me he doesn't give a rat's ass about his teammates and would rather be traded. (Twins would make his ass happy) I wouldn't mind them shipping his ass to a sucky team in the NL or AL. Pierszynski= :dips*** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Wow, what a dick. That is totally unprofessional. And it's totally professional to yap to the press about clubhouse issues... ? The press who likely made this out to be 500 times worse than it is. JMO.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFanForever Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Was reading on another site about this. At first I guess they thought he was a fun guy with attitude and good to have around, now not so much. "He's the cancer in here," said one Giant, who requested anonymity. "The pitchers aren't happy with him. If they can trade him, that would be fine with me. We all know Yorvie (Yorvit Torrealba) can catch this staff." "I've never in all my years seen a catcher who didn't watch video before games," one pitcher said. "He doesn't watch hitters -- other than the Twins games when they're on TV." http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,14...2118249,00.html Enjoy the story on our favorite catcher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 see the 'sports bar' forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFanForever Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 see the 'sports bar' forum Sorry about that, was just about to go read over there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Sorry about that, was just about to go read over there. lol nothing to be sorry about, just some opinions there to read on this subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steaming Willy Harris Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Good, i hated the sob and im real glad the sox dont play against him anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobDylan Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 I wouldn't mind them shipping his ass to a sucky team in the NL or AL. He already is on a sucky NL team. Well, atleast I think last place is sucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 Wow, I think Minny would trade back for him if they didn't hav Joe Mauer. I think he ends up in Milwaukee for a prospect or 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 And it's totally professional to yap to the press about clubhouse issues... ? The press who likely made this out to be 500 times worse than it is. JMO.. I dunno about "500 times worse". It certainly doesn't help to take it to the media, and two wrongs don't make a right, but if AJ's really refusing to review tape in favor of playing cards, and if he's really ONLY watching Twins games on videotape, then the situation is already 500 times too f***ed up. Pierszynski has always struck me as a self-promoting loudmouth twat, and this does nothing to change that opinion. I'd like to see him "be happy somewhere else" in Milwaukee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Lopez Ghost (old) Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 From ProSportsDaily.com 4/30/04 Oakland Tribune: "Struggling Giants catcher A.J. P was called into Felipe Alou's office for a closed door meeting Thursday with the manager and the GM Brian Sabean before a 4 to 3 loss to the Marlins, and while AJP said he did not ask to be traded, several teammates said they wouldn't mind seeing him shipped off the roster." This surprised the heck out of me, cause he always seemed to do the right thing at Minnie to kill us. The Joe Nathan trade looks pretty bad for the Giants right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssHatSoxFan Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 thanks for playing the "echo" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 I dunno about "500 times worse". It certainly doesn't help to take it to the media, and two wrongs don't make a right, but if AJ's really refusing to review tape in favor of playing cards, and if he's really ONLY watching Twins games on videotape, then the situation is already 500 times too f***ed up. Pierszynski has always struck me as a self-promoting loudmouth twat, and this does nothing to change that opinion. I'd like to see him "be happy somewhere else" in Milwaukee. Agree.. It's just the yappin that I can't stand. Sounds like a bunch of 2 years olds... "I'm tellin...." bla, bla.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confederate_48 Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 http://www.ryano.net/iraq/?59007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 Agree.. It's just the yappin that I can't stand. Sounds like a bunch of 2 years olds... "I'm tellin...." bla, bla.. Hey...that sounds like a description of this board.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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