"Punch A.J."

So, even your own organization thinks you're an arsehole?

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060703&content_id=1537170&vkey=allstar2006&fext=.jsp

 

If Pierzynski played for the sacred Red Sox or Yankees, all the talk would be about he's a "character" and desperately needed in baseball, as well as being a big-time "gamer."

But in the U.S. baseball media, players who play in the heartland are supposed to know their place and not be too uppity. They are especially NOT supposed to win World Series.

 

I'm in the heartland, and I think the guy's a total prick.

Anyone else who acts like him is a total prick, too.

 

It's the thing to do to hate A.J., so the journalist groupthink is in full force here.

And of course all his bad qualities would become great characteristics if he was on the Yankees or Red Sox.

I'm just curious: What exactly makes him so hated? You've got players blatantly cheating, beating their wives/girlfriends, etc., but because Pierzynski has an attitude, he's MLB's biggest prick? Back to my original point, it's just easier to pile on than put anything into context.

 

Why is A.J. the biggest prick in baseball? You could ask the trainer for the Oakland A's, for starters.

 

Look, I certainly don't want to get into defending any professional athlete. I'm sure most are pricks in their own special way. I'm just saying that the "I hate A.J." bandwagon is getting out of hand.

Anyway, it's a holiday, no need to waste anymore time arguing about this.

Enjoy the Fourth everyone, I'm off to eat, drink and hopefully be merry.

 

Why would anyone ask the Oakland A's trainer about Pierzynski?

 

I might get this a little wrong, but if memory serves, the story begins when A.J. somehow took a ball in the nuts.

Trainer comes out and asks him how he feels.

A.J. knees said unsuspecting trainer in his cupless balls says, "Like that."

 

My point in the original post, Pallister, is that you have a problem when the same people writing your paycheck are marketing you as a thug.

 

What he said. Dude was a prick in Minnesota and San Francisco, too. That rep wasn't earned with one incident.

 

No way that happened on a major league field.

 

What does that uncomfirmed story have to do with the Oakland A's trainer?