Pierzynski feels right at home in return to South Side
A.J. Pierzynski gets booed everywhere he goes; it's just a part of his world.
Pierzynski still hears the wrath of the crowd in Minnesota, even though he broke in with the Twins and was a beloved player until being traded to the Giants in 2004.
Former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen used to joke that Pierzynski was booed by his family when he was a kid playing in the backyard.
The ironman catcher spent one miserable season in San Francisco before beginning an eight-year run with the White Sox, and that's when all the jeers started turning to cheers, at least at U.S. Cellular Field.
“I've always said that from Day One here they welcomed me with open arms,” said Pierzynski, who returned to the Cell on Friday night with his new team, the Rangers. “I remember walking into SoxFest the first time after I had signed and they were great. From Day One to the last day I was here, they've been nothing but awesome. People here were always respectful and I've tried to give that back to them.”
Pierzynski was wildly cheered by the crowd of 31,891 all night, and it comes as no surprise.
With the possible exception of Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle, there hasn't been a more popular White Sox player the past decade.
“It was definitely a good eight years when he was here,” Konerko said. “I mean, obviously A.J.'s A.J., but the guy comes to play and he's a great player.”
The Sox honored Pierzynski with a video tribute in the middle of the first inning and, naturally, his scrap with former Cubs catcher Michael Barrett during a 2006 interleague game was first up on the screen.
It was fitting, considering Pierzynski was always getting under the skin of opposing players and usually coming out with the edge.
“That's the ultimate goal, to win, right?” said Pierzynski, who was 1-for-4 with an RBI Friday night's 11-5 win over the White Sox. “I'm not a Frank Thomas or a guy that's a Hall of Fame guy, so at the end of the day it's about winning games. I think I've tried to do everything in my career to help my team win and if it's rubbed people the wrong way I can't worry about that. I just know the guys on my side know I want to come out and I want to win and I'm going to give everything I have that day to win that game for my team.
“The guys I have played with I hope understand that, and I've learned a lot from guys. A guy like Konerko, who goes about it the way he does, and Buerhle and (Jake) Peavy, the guys who have been here and you sit down and talk to, and Dunner (Adam Dunn). I think the last couple of years I've actually kind of calmed it down a little bit. Maybe I'm just old now and I don't have enough energy left anymore.”
That's doubtful.
On Aug. 12, the 36-year-old Pierzynski was ejected from a game against the Astros for arguing balls and strikes with umpire Ron Kulpa. Rangers starter Yu Darvish was working on a no-hitter at the time, so you know the fire is still burning.
Pierzynski is part of a large ex-Chicago contingent on Texas' 25-man roster.
Right fielder Alex Rios was traded from the White Sox to the Rangers two weeks ago, and relief pitchers Neal Cotts and Jason Frasor spent time on the South Side.
Texas also has three ex-Cubs — starter Matt Garza, first baseman Jeff Baker and catcher Geovany Soto.
Rios has been batting sixth his new club, one spot behind Pierzynski.
“They welcomed me with open arms,” Rios said of being with the first-place Rangers. “It was a very warm welcome. Since the first day I thought that I was part of the family. That's how good they received me. It hasn't been that bad.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com