FOX Sports adds Pierzynski to lineup

Officials at FOX Sports want White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski to speak his mind with the television cameras rolling, and they’ve added the fiery baseball veteran as a pregame and postgame analyst for the network’s coverage of the 2011 American League Championship Series and World Series.

Pierzynski, the starting catcher on the 2005 World Championship team, will join host Chris Rose and analyst Eric Karros live on-site for every postseason broadcast on FOX, beginning Oct. 8 with Game 1 live coverage of the American League title series.

“A.J. is intelligent, engaging and candid with a bit of an edge, every attribute we look for in an analyst,” said Scott Ackerson, executive vice president at FOX Sports Media Group.

“Nothing beats the intensity of playing in the playoffs and World Series,” said Pierzynski, “but if I can’t be a part of the action on-field, joining the MLB on FOX team is the next best thing.

“Everyone knows that I’m not one to hold back, so I’m looking forward to watching this season’s best teams compete this October and giving fans my honest opinion about their performance.”