Should we be worried?
Pierzynski has a reputation around the league as a clubhouse cancer. A reputation that apparently goes back to at least 2004.
The Red Sox were undoubtedly aware of his reputation before they signed him to a one-year $8.25 million deal.
According to Ricky Doyle of NESN, Pierzynski has received the following "honors" from his peers in his career:
- the player they would most like to see beaned (2006);
- the meanest player (2011); and
- the most hated player (2012).
fit the Red Sox’s mold.
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2014/07/a-j-pierzynskis-on-field-work-made-catcher-imperfect-fit-for-red-sox/
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2014/07/a-j-pierzynskis-on-field-work-made-catcher-imperfect-fit-for-red-sox/
fit the Red Sox’s mold.
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2014/07/a-j-pierzynskis-on-field-work-made-catcher-imperfect-fit-for-red-sox/
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2014/07/a-j-pierzynskis-on-field-work-made-catcher-imperfect-fit-for-red-sox/
Others were not so kind. Rob Bradford of WEEI didn't hold any punches saying that "the A.J. Pierzynski problem was worse than anybody could have imagined." Bradford further states that, "according to multiple sources within the Red Sox clubhouse, Pierzynski had become such a negative influence on the team that players approached both the Sox coaches and front office to address the problem."
So, the Cardinals are bringing in a catcher with a bad reputation, at least some of which is probably warranted. The questions is whether he is a cancer only when his team is losing, as was the case with the Red Sox, or if he is a cancer all the time. The Cardinals will find out soon enough.
I don't like this signing. Pierzynski just seems like trouble down the road and we got enough troubles already.
ReplyDeleteregardless of talent...worst signing of this GM, could kill season and cause others to second guess the allure of coming to St Louis
ReplyDeleteThis will not be a bad signing and will help the cardinals. People who don't like aj just don't really know squat about baseball or about truly wanting to win. The guy is old school baseball. He won't fill Molina's shoes, but let's face it...no one can do that.
Deleteworst signing of this GM, will likely kill season from within the clubhouse and worse...change the rep St Louis has of being where players want to stay or come to...to becoming the place to not trust that "past reputation"
ReplyDeleteI like this signing. AJ may be a jackass, but now he's OUR jackass. Liked him with the White Sox, and I like that his attitude doesn't fit with the hugging crowd where everything is all rainbows and unicorns.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand this signing either. Pierzynski is not enough of an offensive upgrade to make up for his attitude. This could come back to bite the team in the butt.
ReplyDeletePierzynski has a lifetime 0.282 lifetime batting average. He averages 16 homers.
DeletePierzynski is a very good addition to the Cardinals. He will make an impact and the Cardinals will make a significant improvement.
ReplyDeletePierzynski is a good addition at this point. He will make an impact and the Cardinals will make a significant team improvement with him.
ReplyDeletePierzynski went 3 for 4 today and the Cardinals won a big game. Get behind him and give him a chance. It quite a while before Yadiar Molina is back and Tony Cruz can't do it all by himself.
ReplyDeleteThe Cardinal clubhouse is infectious there is a reason that players in the twilight of their careers like to come to St Louis and they have success....Larry Walker, Will Clark, Lance Berkman, Eric Davis to name a few.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what all the fuss is about AJ. As another lifelong Cardinal fan who lives in the Chicago area, I also like the signing. Pierzynski was a pain in the butt to opponents when he played for the White Sox. Got under the other teams skin somehow, presumably talking trash to other hitters while catching. Hawk Harrelson loved AJ's style - I am thinking he's a throwback type of guy - Dizzy Dean and Bob Gibson talked a lot of trash (maybe Gibson just glared and threw inside) but I think thats the way the game is supposed to be played.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is the Red SOx have a bunch of primadonas who just want to collect their paycheck and then anybody who riles up the other team could get them hit by the opponents pitcher. My guess is the guy's who call Pierzynski a cancer are a bunch of wimps who don't care about winning.
With Molina out the Cardinals desperately needed a catcher. Hopefully Pierzynski still has something left. As for this "worst signing" nonsense - how could signing a catcher when Molina is hurt be worse than signing Jhonny Peralta, who offends the organization with his history of PEDs? That signing was the worst in decades of Cardinal baseball and I don't care what numbers he puts up.