A.J. didn't like playing for SF

*hoarse

Damn homonyms…

by GiantsFanInExile on May 16, 2008 8:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not that there’s anything wrong with them.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tell me about it

Already go the evite for the Whole-Hole wedding…

by GiantsFanInExile on May 16, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What a coincidence!

We didn’t like A.J. playing for SF, either.

I found that portion about the arbitration hearing quite interesting, though.

Proud adoptive parent of Tim Alderson.

by Anticon23 on May 16, 2008 9:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

when Pierzynski beat the club in arbitration in the spring, an angry Sabean told Pierzynski he’d be gone after the season. ’’Brian Sabean calling my agent when I went to arbitration for the week leading up to it and cursing at him,’’ Pierzynski said. ’’We were going to file a lawsuit because the Players Association wanted to sue him for breaking laws of ethical negotiations. He promised me if I went to arbitration, I’d be back for only one year and this and that.’‘

Considering the source, you can’t give this too much credit, but it does provide further anecdotal evidence for what Roger wrote yesterday about Sabean’s temper and tactical ineptitude.

by Evan on May 16, 2008 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i remember hearing about this...

i think Sabean talked about this on KNBR one time – before the fact or recently after it happened….

and i remember thinking that Pierzynski not going to be too happy…..

by slojoe on May 17, 2008 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AJP = POS

Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on May 16, 2008 9:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Holm could etch his legacy in the fanship of the lunatic fringe

if he punches AJ in the face this weekend. C’mon, son. It’s worth a few days’ suspension.

Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!

by UnleashTheGore on May 16, 2008 9:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Michael Barrett is my hero.

Jesse English: He is BAAAAAACCCCCKKKK!

by gianator on May 16, 2008 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry...but A.J. who?!?

Adoptive papa to Omar...so basically I'm screwed.

by PacBellBoozer on May 16, 2008 9:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.

by Cookyman on May 16, 2008 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

News Flash - Sky is blue

Delaying the disappointment: I adopt Hector Sanchez because he's only 17.

by tedfordfan on May 16, 2008 9:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I am absolutely shocked by this news

by rightcenterfielder on May 16, 2008 9:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Can he play first base?

Owner Peter Magowan asked Pierzynski if he could play some first base the first time the two met…

Bonds stands alone.

Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal

by nostocksjustbonds on May 16, 2008 9:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is the asking of this question supposed to be a negative?

I don’t see why that tidbit was thrown in the article? It seems like a legitimate question to find out if your players are possible fill-ins at other positions.

Oh, and the bad body language, 27 GIDP and the fact that he clearly was a clubhouse cancer had nothing to do with the fact he was disliked. Face it AJ, you are a horse’s ass.

by out machine on May 16, 2008 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can kinda see it.

“Hi, I’m your new boss. We’re looking forward to having you in the graphic design department. By the way, do you know anything about Windows system administration?”

All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DP Pierzynski

hoarse’s ass

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 16, 2008 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm looking for my surprised face

The two things AJ will be known for in SF are kicking Conte and THE TRADE.

by slcgiant on May 16, 2008 9:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What trade?

by withclubsauce on May 16, 2008 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No shit.

by ignition on May 16, 2008 9:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

if we could somehow contact everyone attending all the CWS games this weekend, and tell them that instead of booing, they should just be completely silent, deafeningly silent, when AJ steps into the box.

somehow I think if that actually happened it would in some way be more forceful that a bunch of boos.

Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis

by wjackalope on May 16, 2008 10:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Like one of my favorite sayings goes, The opposite of love isn’t hate…it’s indifference.

Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.

by Kitspool on May 16, 2008 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A true statement that is one of my favorites as well.

by withclubsauce on May 16, 2008 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad vibes indeed.

I hope those bad vibes give him an 0-for-12, 3 passed balls weekend.

All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 10:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why not just leave him alone?

Yes, A.J. was a bad Giant, but the real culprit clearly was Brian Sabean, who made three mistakes in the deal:

. He gave up three pretty good prospects, badly underestimating Joe Nathan, likely over-reacting to Joe’s playoff problems.

. He didn’t do his scouting on A.J. well enough, or he would have known what he was getting into.

. He didn’t offer arbitration to A.J., leaving the Giants with absolutely nothing after one year for three good prospects.

How does a man make such a trio of related poor moves, follow them up with many more poor decisions—and then get re-hired before his contract expires?

by sharksrog on May 16, 2008 10:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How does a man make such a trio of related poor moves, follow them up with many more poor decisions—and then get re-hired before his contract expires?

Don’t forget the part about how we were in the basement of the division well past the half-way mark of the season when he got that fancy new extension.

Adoptive papa to Omar...so basically I'm screwed.

by PacBellBoozer on May 16, 2008 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not just leave him alone?

Because he’s an asshat!

Notgardo, I still love you -- but you're grounded. No Guitar Hero for a month, no Cheez-Its for two months, and NO BASEBALL! This hurts me as much as it hurts you.

by tk on May 16, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You’re turning into me! I knew it would happen sooner or later.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not his remarks about SF that make him an asshat

It’s just the ass, you know, for a hat.

Notgardo, I still love you -- but you're grounded. No Guitar Hero for a month, no Cheez-Its for two months, and NO BASEBALL! This hurts me as much as it hurts you.

by tk on May 16, 2008 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m just so proud of your articulate yet relentless malice towards another human. I’ve taught you well.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can read some more about our old friend on the Giants site. If this isn’t a shot at the Giants, I don’t know what is.

Pierzynski added. “It was one of those things where it worked out great for me. It worked out great for the Twins. They made a great move to get rid of me and get the guys they got. It worked out perfect for everyone.”

Both articles neglect to mention the fact that AJ grounded into 27 double plays that year, which contributed to the booing. Eh, oh well.

SAVE_US.RAY
Nattowear: now featuring new crap!

by Natto on May 16, 2008 10:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Dick.

people hate you, but why do they hate you? because the are jealous!

by satyricrash on May 16, 2008 11:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t buy a word that comes out of AJ’s mouth. I can understand why Sabean wanted to win the arbitration, but I don’t believe he was THAT angry about losing. Sabean just pulled off a huge trade for him that he wants to work out for the team’s sake and his own reputation and then he curses the guy out and alienates him?? If Sabean and the Giants were that upset about losing the arbitration they would have immediately put him on the trade market. They didn’t. AJ is full of shit as usual.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on May 16, 2008 11:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

actually

I remember hearing at the time that it was a very contentious and heated arbitration hearing.

by WTF on May 16, 2008 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think AJ's telling the truth on this one

and i think you’d have to ask Sabean why you trade for someone and then try to nickel and dime him…

by slojoe on May 17, 2008 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it’s always ok to boo a.j. pierzynski. it’s always ok to boo jeff kent. it’s always ok to boo eric gagne. now i may be forgetting someone, but that right there is pretty much the unholy trinity from my perspective.

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on May 16, 2008 12:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Andruw Jones.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Cain pwns him in the Home Run Derby

Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on May 16, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Andruwoo is currently catching it from the beachball community.

And why the Jones beef anyway?

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on May 17, 2008 5:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Michael Barrett for honorary mayor of MCC

by Ed Jew on May 16, 2008 1:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Most beautiful Picture, Ever.

Someone figure out a way to get that on the Jumbotron.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on May 16, 2008 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

standing ovation

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on May 16, 2008 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh fuck yea

by John Paulies on May 16, 2008 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

to be fair ...

you should include the picture after this one where Piersynski looks back at Barrett as if to say: “What was that? A mosquito?!”

by StickRat on May 16, 2008 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes you just need to more on and forward and let go of things

by wilriv21 on May 16, 2008 2:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of homophones.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what, are they allowed to marry now, too?

FIRE BRIAN SABEAN

by zenbitz on May 16, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, I just like the way “more on” sounds.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 17, 2008 2:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let go of the bottle , Pops. Or the keyboard.

You can’t have both , ya greedy bastid ya

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on May 17, 2008 5:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Find AJ's Side Very Easy To Believe.

The Giants management style ran Kent and Baker out of SF just like they ran AJ out. That God Magowan is leaving and let’s all hope and pray that Sabean’s departure is not far behind.

by giantsrainman on May 16, 2008 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"That God Magowan"

He is retiring to his condo on Mt Olympus

by Lars The Wanderer on May 16, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weren’t you, like, Sabean’s biggest supporter? Or am I confusing you with somebody else…

Barry Zito: Mike Hampton with a guitar

by JakeS on May 16, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wasnt there..

... a user named SabeanSupporter?

by sfgfan on May 16, 2008 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, there was/maybeis. Man, that guy sure supported Sabean.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rainman supports arguing.

We bash Sabean, he supports Sabean. We bash A.J., he supports A.J. Other things he is willing to support, if public consensus demands it: Bocock’s bat, Tim Flannery, $9 ballpark beer, Shea Hillenbrand, Tim Russert, ketchup on scrambled eggs, stubbing your toe on the coffee table, the City of Angels soundtrack, Saved by the Bell: The College Years, 19th century dentistry, global warming, advertisements before movies and Sidney Ponson.

Saving countless runs with my Brian Horwitz

by lyricalkiller on May 17, 2008 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Matt Morris

Last year, when everyone was saying Morris was lucky to have a good ERA and terrible peripherals early in the year, he asserted that was just evidence of his veteran savvy, that he could keep it up all year, and that he’d be valuable trade bait for contenders come the deadline.

He also said Sabean was doing a great job with the rebuilding process, which was “almost complete, but the lunatic fridge is too blind to see it”, and predicted we’d trade Barry Bonds to Seattle as soon as he broke the HR record. It seems that after Sabes failed to do that, rainman did a 180 on him. Poor Sabes—he doesn’t have any friends left.

"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on May 17, 2008 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t forget his bit about us having both the will and funds necessary to sign one Mr. Alex Rodriguez this last off-season.

A-rod Large

Adoptive papa to Omar...so basically I'm screwed.

by PacBellBoozer on May 19, 2008 2:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Further, I see Tomko and Herges (Not AJ) as the villians.

It was those two that shold zero class and were the true clubhouse cancers.

by giantsrainman on May 16, 2008 2:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I Mean How Stupid Could A Management Team Be

To trade so much for a player and then get so upset over arbitration and a $1M dollar loss? Could they have proven themselves to be any more penny wise and dollar folish?

by giantsrainman on May 16, 2008 2:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Zito

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on May 17, 2008 5:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I find it really hard to hatred of the Giants front office is blinding people into siding with this class A fuckwad. This A.J. is a prick who is trashing our organization. We, as fans, turned on Jeff Kent for trashing the god damned uniforms and a manager who everyone seemingly hated anyway (Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker), and Kent was a prick we kinda liked when he was here. And Kent was good. A.J. played for us one year, sucked, and has since proved to be as big prick in Chicago as he was in S.F. We’re not supposed to trash him, boo him, because Sabean was tight with the purse and was a little “tough” with him? Please. Boo freakin’ hoo.

people hate you, but why do they hate you? because the are jealous!

by satyricrash on May 16, 2008 2:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Kent

what does he say on that KNBR blurb?

“Enjoy the game more”

and

“You people in SF are so stupid, (paying all that money for houses(?))”

(something like that)

by slojoe on May 17, 2008 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Piersynski ...

Still the best signal caller I’ve ever seen in a Giants uniform. Molina is a close second, and a far better all-around catcher. Just giving credit where credit is due though. Not to rain on a good parade or anything. Especially on a day where we could use some rain up in this mofo.

by StickRat on May 16, 2008 4:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i don’t agree. with either your DP or your Molina call. just my opinion.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 16, 2008 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you not agreeing with him.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 17, 2008 2:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think maybe Mark Buerhle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia, and Jose Contreras would agree with me. Because calling four straight CGs in an ALCS is serious shite.

by StickRat on May 17, 2008 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So the struggles of those pitchers is also AJ's fault, right?

Only 929 games until the end of Zito's contract

by thehavenot on May 17, 2008 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

year following WS win

In recent history, most starting pitchers that play a cornerstone role in winning a World Series have subpar follow-up seasons. In my opinion, inverse logic doesn’t apply to Piersynski’s game-calling skills. I mean, he called a five-hit shutout last night, using five different pitchers.

by StickRat on May 17, 2008 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not just 2006

Garland had virtually the same 2007 as 2006. Buerhle is kind of bad this year so far. Contrares just blew up in 07. Garcia disappeared.

But I guess that was all the pitchers’ faults.

Only 929 games until the end of Zito's contract

by thehavenot on May 17, 2008 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sarcastic much?

But yeah, it is kinda the pitchers’ faults. First of all, of these four pitchers, only Buerhle had been consistently great in his career. And his stuff has seen a dramatic decline over the past year. That happens to lefties. Not a surprise. But Contreras hasn’t been the same pitcher since the first half of ‘06. He was once a sneaky-fast pitcher with explosive life on his fastball. Now he has developed more of a sinkball approach, and is still a work in progress. He’s seen success this year, but is still grinding. Garland’s finish has completely collapsed. He is averaging less than 2/Ks per game, where he was over 4/Ks per game over ‘05-’06. Garcia was always a mess. That the Sox got a great season out of him is a testament in and of itself to Piersynski. Just because a catcher puts down good signals, pitchers still have to execute. When it was firing on all cylinders, Piersynski got the most out of that staff. That’s what good catchers do, and seldom get any of the credit. I mean, you can get one or two great pitchers that dominate at a time. But when you get four consecutive performances like that (holding Vlad Guerrero to a 1-for-20 in the ALCS) you’ve got to tip your hat to the catcher. I’m not saying those pitchers don’t deserve credit. They do. But you have to consider the common denominator.

by StickRat on May 17, 2008 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had a four day stretch where I beat every single person I played at cribbage. Like, honestly, dozens of players. We’re talking in the 30-40 quantity range, and some of them more than once. But I’m not a particularly masterful cribbage player.

The common denominator there was that I was playing all of those games through Yahoo! Games. Ipso facto (whatever that means….), Yahoo! Games makes me an undefeatable cribbage player.

Or, I just had a good four day run. You know, one of the two.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 18, 2008 1:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

how very nice for you

maybe when you have a chance to put on a Giants uniform and play cribbage for them on a daily basis, I’ll be able to evaluate your talents.

by StickRat on May 18, 2008 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Contreras had personal problems in 2007

His wife served him with divorce papers on Opening Day of 2007.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on May 18, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Opening Day? The holiest day? Ouch.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 18, 2008 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

concurred

I didn’t know that. Jose, sorry I wasn’t there for you buddy.

by StickRat on May 18, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lot’s of catchers who caught for pitchers who threw shutouts called games that were shutouts, though. In fact, I think all of them have, but I’d have to check the math.

Even putting aside the idea that there is statistical evidence to suggest that when dealing with major league talent specifically, the difference between a poorly called game and a skillfully called game tends to be negligible (whether because major league talent encompasses only the highest echelon signal callers or simply because the pitchers are good enough not to be significantly affected by signal calling, I can’t say), even putting that entire idea aside and rationally accepting the notion of good and bad signal calling as a qualifiably skill at the major league level (which, btw, I do accept, I just think that almost all of the time it’s a negligible qualification), even putting that idea aside, you can’t pick out five or six games when things went a guy’s way and use that as your pillar of proof. I could use the same method to prove that Tim Rattay deserves to be in the NFL HOF.

I’ve seen people (rlof? zenbits? somebody…) quote either catcher dependent stats for pitchers or pitching stats for games played by catchers (ERA+ would be vaguely useful, for example)... but I have no idea where they get them. My resourcification tends to end right around BBR and BBC, and neither of those is helping me in the matter.

In lieu of something statistical like that (since I won’t personally be reviewing hundreds of AJ caught games from which to base an opinion on his signal calling), I’m inclined to believe that AJ has neither a particularly positive nor negative impact on his pitchers’ performances as opposed to the impact that, really, any other major league capable catcher would have.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 18, 2008 1:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

good post

I’m just noting that four-game stretch as an example though. I could easily point to how the year he caught for the Giants, that Jason Schmidt had the bet season of his career. Or that Jerome Williams and Brett Tomko had the most effective seasons of theirs.

I’m not saying Piersynski is a HOF catcher. Is he Tim Rattay though? No. I’d liken what Piersynski did in the ‘05 ALCS to Dwight Clark’s performance in the ‘81 NFC Championship Game.

I don’t have any stat-specific data to back up how a catcher calls a game either. However, in baseball, for a player to get credit for a specific non-power talent, he usually need do many other things well. Jason Varitek is considered the best game caller in baseball. But he gets that credit because he can hit, he can throw, and that he is a consumately nice guy doesn’t hurt. Why don’t Kenji Johjima and Josh Bard ever get talked about? Because they aren’t all around powerhouses? But I would take either of those guys over Varitek in strictly a game-calling capacity. And I would take Piersynski over either of those two.

by StickRat on May 18, 2008 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Schmidt's best season was 03.

Same for Williams. Tomko and Pierzynski hated each other and Tomko complained about his preparation. Take that for what it is worth.

As for your last point, I’m not so sure about that. Brad Ausmus and Mike Matheny were pretty lousy hitters but were widely regarded as two of the best defensive catchers in the game. I don’t know how their game-calling skills were talked about because, quite frankly, I rarely hear about a catcher’s game-calling skills. Probably because it’s such a difficult skill to measure (both the player’s skill and the effectiveness of said skill).

Only 928 games until the end of Zito's contract

by thehavenot on May 18, 2008 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Schmidty had better stuff in ‘03 but I think he was a better pitcher in ‘04. And he got better results, pitching deeper into games, and challenging more - working inside out - because he didn’t have the same dominance high in the zone.

Matheny is a great contrast to Piersynski. He was methodical, and was adept at executing a game plan. He rarely improvised though, and it cost his pitchers. I still remember Matt Morris with the Cards struggling in the late innings of the ‘02 ALCS. Matheny had faith in Morris’ stubborness to the strikezone and it cost him. What has always amazed me about Piersynski is his ability to shift gears from batter-to-batter, and from pitch-to-pitch. I think he also sets better tempos and is more savvy at working the ins and outs of the zone. He sets great targets. And his pitchers always seem to understand the importance of knowing when to throw to the target and when to throw away from the target.

Piersynski may be old school. He may be boisterous. He certainly doesn’t stand toe-to-toe defensively with most catchers tools wise. There is a reason he has been at the position for as long as he has though. Today was a perfect example. He can surrender a nine-run audible, and still win a game. That probably sounds like horseshit, but in my opinion it is a testament to his skill as an engineer behind the plate.

by StickRat on May 18, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t most major league pitchers call their own games?

by GiantsFanInExile on May 17, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Matheny wants me to tell you to piss off.

Adoptive papa to Omar...so basically I'm screwed.

by PacBellBoozer on May 19, 2008 2:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AJ was actually hitting over .300 as late as August, but he slumped badly in September as did the rest of the team, which made it stand out even more. I actually agree that the Giants are more to blame for what happened than AJ was. They didn’t want to pay him, so they cut him loose after one season. Then all he did was go to the White Sox and play an instrumental role in winning a World Series. AJ acted like an ass with the Giants, but from what I’ve read he was an ass with the Twins and is still an ass with the White Sox, but the organization and his teammates have somehow been able to tolerate him and not let his behavior be a distraction. AJ found out what Jeff Kent also found out, that the Giants only allowed one player on their team to act like an ass, and that was number 25.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on May 16, 2008 10:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

are you fuckin nuts???

his batting 300 was the weakest 300 i have ever seen….but who gives a shit what he was hitting, his attitude permeated the entire org

they didnt want to pay him??? he had no fuckin intention of staying

no org lo-balls an all star

oh, right…blame bonds again

fuck you

he was an ass with the twins, and that is why they wanted him gone (plus they had mauer, who is twice the man as the ball knocker)

the chisox dont care that he’s an ass, cuz they have a bigger ass sitting in the manager’s seat

look, when an org trades for you and then you immediatly file for arbitration, you are sending out a huge sign….I DONT WANNA BE HERE, AND I AINT GONNA NEGOTIATE WITH YOU

by bacci40 on May 17, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AJ's problem in SF

He sucked as well as being a completely self-centered jerk-off. In Minn. he was decent and in Chicago he was pretty good but here he was a complete and utter drain. Incidentally, I think that was a decent amount of his antipathy toward SF, as well.

Also, the reason why we hate him and Kent but not Barry is because Barry took much more than his share of abuse (and still does) while Kent and AJ get fluff pieces written about them; fluff pieces like this one about AJ.

Only 930 games until the end of Zito's contract

by thehavenot on May 17, 2008 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone here

remember if Conte confirmed the Pierzynski groin story?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on May 17, 2008 12:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Conte left the Giants for the Dodgers and he testified against the Giants for the Mitchell Report. I’d like to kick him in the groin myself. Seriously though, I have to say I don’t like the way he left for the Giants for the Dodgers. It would be one thing if he simply left for more money like Jason Schmidt did, but to announce he was leaving because he was leaving the field to pursue education opportunities, only to surface with the Dodgers a couple of weeks later, was beyond dishonest.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on May 17, 2008 5:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs