rangercal Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 February 28, 2005 BY CHRIS DE LUCA Staff Reporter FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The White Sox spent the offseason improving their pitching, defense and speed. One other element was missing -- something trickier to label. The Sox had talent in recent years but never had the same kind of heart or fire as the Minnesota Twins. Enter catcher A.J. Pierzynski. His signing with the White Sox was controversial. And guess who was miffed the most. That's right, the Twins. ''I don't like the fact that the White Sox got him,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. ''He's straight game-on. He's going to help that team. I'd rather have seen him gone someplace else.'' Pierzynski came up with the Twins, debuting in 1998 and playing through the 2003 season. With rookie catcher Joe Mauer ready to replace him, the Twins traded Pierzynski to the Giants for closer Joe Nathan before last season. One season in San Francisco earned Pierzynski the label of clubhouse cancer. The Twins aren't buying it. ''A.J. plays the game the right way,'' center fielder Torii Hunter said. ''The opposing team doesn't like it because he tries to startle the pitcher. He tries to rile the team up and get them off their game. And he wins. [The Sox] don't know what they have in A.J. They think they have a cancer, but A.J. doesn't bother his teammates -- he bothers the other team.'' What about the notion that Hunter wouldn't have delivered his season-defining hit last July that sent Sox catcher Jamie Burke flying had Pierzynski been behind the plate? ''I would have run him over, too,'' Hunter said with a big laugh. ''That's my guy. I would have run him over, then I would have helped him up.'' Hunter's devastating hit of Burke delivered a crushing blow to the Sox, who never recovered -- or retaliated. Sox manager Ozzie Guillen complained this winter that Carlos Lee had a chance to retaliate on a double-play ball against the Twins but ''went into second base as if his wife were turning the double play.'' Hunter was just as surprised as Guillen. ''We couldn't believe it, either,'' Hunter said. ''But you know what, people got away from playing the game hard. So when something hard like that happens, they automatically say I was dirty. People don't want to see that anymore. I don't know why. That's the way you play the game.'' Guillen never complained. ''Because he's a player,'' Hunter said. ''Ozzie Guillen played the game the right way. I watched him when I was younger coming up in the major leagues; this guy played the game the right way -- hard-nosed. And that's what he saw.'' Copyright © The Sun-Times Company Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2HH Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Nice. I've loved getting AJ, attitude and all...I think he will bring a fire to this team it's been lacking since somewhere in late 2000. -y2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaseballNick Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 I hate Torii Hunter (mostly because he's a Twin, and that he damn near killed JB) but he's 100% correct with his statements. I admire the way he plays the game, and I think we need more hard-nosed guys like him in the league. C Lee had that chance to retaliate, but folded. Maybe that's part of the reason why "he gone." Pods, Rowand, Dye, Crede, Uribe, A.J., Gload, Timo, Everett (and apparently El Duque since ST): these guys are not afraid of a little contact. These gus aren't going to stand for getting pushed around or run over; these are the guys who do the running over. I love the make up of this team, and in a way I can't wait to see the first incident of the year and how the boys will come together and have each other's backs. Hey Torii :finger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daa84 Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 I know when pierzynski was in minn. gardenhire loved him, he was one of his favorite players. I just hope this "he needs to change" business from KW is only about minor issues in the clubhouse, and not on the field. Im looking foward to seein AJ barrel over derek lee at 1b the way he tried to with big frank a few years back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 This is exactly why Ozzie was quote that we "got rid of" the players that didnt want to get back at Hunter. They are all gone, Lee, Mike Jackson. I would rather have a team that plays hard and barely misses the playoffs, than the one we have been fielding. Ultimatley I would like to make the playoffs and go far, but one step at a time is fine by me. This is a major reason why I really like the new bulls, they play hard every game, which is what we need the sox to start doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthraxFan93 Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 WOW, I have to give props to hunter for calling it like it is.. I remember watching that game and hearing hawk lay into Clee for not going in hard.. That right there was the season for us ,basiclly laying down for the Twins to walk over us.. That is something the 2000 squad didn't do, we might have not had the talent to win more than the Divsion but those guys were "south side" guys, guys who if you looked at their mother the wrong way they fight and scrap.. something I hope we get with this squad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 02:15 PM) WOW, I have to give props to hunter for calling it like it is.. I remember watching that game and hearing hawk lay into Clee for not going in hard.. That right there was the season for us ,basiclly laying down for the Twins to walk over us.. That is something the 2000 squad didn't do, we might have not had the talent to win more than the Divsion but those guys were "south side" guys, guys who if you looked at their mother the wrong way they fight and scrap.. something I hope we get with this squad. That was not the season...that sent us into a huge slide. Our season ended when it became official that both Frank and Maggs were gone for the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthraxFan93 Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 That was not the season...that sent us into a huge slide. Our season ended when it became official that both Frank and Maggs were gone for the year. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry I don't bye the injuries as the reason, Both the Twins and ANgels had injuries last year and still were able to make it to the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 03:06 PM) Sorry I don't bye the injuries as the reason, Both the Twins and ANgels had injuries last year and still were able to make it to the playoffs. Yeah, except neither of those teams lost their two best players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Torri Hunter is right, but he added a little arrogance in there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backman Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 i love the addition of A. J. the guy is big and powerful, and he stand up for himself,he reminds me of a guy wioth no fear. When barrett got mad at oswalt and held that grudge with oswalt every time they saw the astro's for the rest of the year. thats how it should of been with the sox and the twins, after hunter took out jb. i feel that Priezinkski, is the kind of guy who wouldnt take that hit without dishen one back,even after the play, and that type of fire is what our team needs right now, after that collapse last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddisonStSox Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 We are going to love Pierzynski on the SouthSide. The perfect start to the Twins series, to set the tempo for the year, would be El Duque going up and in on Torri with the first pitch and Pierzynski getting up and tossing it back to Hernandez. There's been a changing of the guard. No nonsense this time around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 03:13 PM) Yeah, except neither of those teams lost their two best players. Also both teams were superior to the sox and it is easier for teams like them to overcome injuries like that. I would say it was a s*** load harder for the angels considering the only two threats they had in the line-up at one point were vlad and guillen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 03:06 PM) Sorry I don't bye the injuries as the reason, Both the Twins and ANgels had injuries last year and still were able to make it to the playoffs. Take the very best two players from any team for half of the season +and see where they end up. One possibly two teams would be able to squeak by. You are telling me if you took santana and say radke out of the equation for the second half of the year they would have made the playoffs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonkeyKongerko Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 Next year I hope we can field a much more balanced team. A team shouldn't HAVE to rely on two guys to produce in order to succeed. The way it looks right now, we are gonna be playing small ball and not suffer so much losing big bats. Still, God forbid if Paulie ever went down, would we have a chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodAsGould Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 take out Manny and Ortiz and the red sox dont make the playoffs but you dont buy injuries right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 09:21 PM) take out Manny and Ortiz and the red sox dont make the playoffs but you dont buy injuries right manny+ortiz>>>>>>>>>>maggs+frank plus without those two, we scored more runs than most, and hit more bombs than most Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthraxFan93 Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 (edited) take out Manny and Ortiz and the red sox dont make the playoffs but you dont buy injuries right <{POST_SNAPBACK}> They have the talent to back it up.. This is what a farm system is for. Not saying that Anyone can replace manny and ortiz, but they have guys who step up.. We don't when our first option for an OF is Joe Bochard.. yo have issues. Edited March 1, 2005 by AnthraxFan93 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Mar 1, 2005 -> 03:08 PM) They have the talent to back it up.. This is what a farm system is for. I hope you aren't implying that the Red Sox's farm system is good. Can you name some of their prospects besides Hanley Ramirez for me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthraxFan93 Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 I hope you aren't implying that the Red Sox's farm system is good. Can you name some of their prospects besides Hanley Ramirez for me? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You guys are right, lets blame injuries instead of the real problems.. it is easier that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 10:16 PM) You guys are right, lets blame injuries instead of the real problems.. it is easier that way Way to not answer a question once more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 09:25 PM) manny+ortiz>>>>>>>>>>maggs+frank plus without those two, we scored more runs than most, and hit more bombs than most When healthy i disagree very much so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 10:16 PM) You guys are right, lets blame injuries instead of the real problems.. it is easier that way You got owned, so you try to flip the topic and not answer Dbaho's question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthraxFan93 Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 You got owned, so you try to flip the topic and not answer Dbaho's question. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> :sleep Hey your right injuries are the reasons for eveything.. lets just say that it is easier I am done trying to prove basic logic with you guys on the topic at hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 11:40 PM) :sleep Hey your right injuries are the reasons for eveything.. lets just say that it is easier I am done trying to prove basic logic with you guys on the topic at hand. I took this post to AltaVista translation guys, and I got the following: Yeah, you guys are right. I was wrong, no surprise there. I'm just going to change the subject because I can't win this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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