2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

Red-ass? AJ is an extremely bright, funny, engaging guy who grew up on Long Island. He's also one of the top catchers in the game.

 

He grew up on Long Island? Well, that changes everything ...

Seriously, everybody hates Pierzynski. Everybody knows it.

And to his credit, he owns it.

 

During a Giants exhibition game last spring, Pierzynski took a shot to his, shall we say, private parts. Trainer Stan Conte rushed to the scene, placed his hands on Pierzynski's shoulders in a reassuring way, and asked how it felt. "Like this," said Pierzynski, viciously delivering a knee to Conte's groin.

Yeah, he's swell!

 

You're wrong. That's a rep that he's been stuck with since he first came up with the Twins when a few veterans took exception to his outspokenness. Yes, he talks a lot. Yes, he doesn't mind getting on opponents' nerves (gamesmanship?), but people don't hate Pierzynski, at least not anyone who's taken the time to have a two-minute conversation with the guy. He's very bright, personable and engaging guy, although a little too right wing for me.

 

Tigers close to signing Joe Nathan, per Ken Rosenthal:

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/407906096842821632

 

Also looks like Brian Wilson is staying with the Dodgers:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/dodgers-nearing-agreement-with-brian-wilson.html

 

Cran, the guy doesn't have to be a surly recluse to have the red ass as a player, especially as a catcher. Tall, relatively handsome and charming Carlton Fisk sure did.

 

AJ doesn't have a particularly bad temper, though. He'll try to get under an opponent's skin once in a while and he's smart enough to be very good at it. That's what some guys on other clubs don't like about him.

 

I think the key, cran, is what the guys on his own club don't like about him.

Another famous Giants story was when he wouldn't go into a pitchers pregame meeting because he wasn't done with his card game. Maybe that was just a bad juju year in San Francisco, but he hasn't exactly won a lot of friends in other places either.

 

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2012/06/aj-pierzynski-most-hated-player/1#.Up4VgHeDauQ

Even finished ahead of ARod, and it wasn't particularly close.

 

But have they had a two-minute conversation with the guy?