Matt Herges regrets AJ comments

[CSF]

Herges goes on penance drive

 

March 25, 2005

 

BY DOUG PADILLA Staff Reporter

 

 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- While White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski continues to do maintenance on his damaged reputation, one member of his former team still seeks penance.

 

Pierzynski was not part of the traveling squad Thursday for the Sox' game against the San Francisco Giants, but his presence still was felt.

 

At least two of Pierzynski's teammates with the Giants last season ripped him anonymously in a now-infamous Oakland Tribune article, saying he was selfish and put his own numbers above all else. Those teammates later were revealed to be pitchers Matt Herges and Brett Tomko, both of whom remain with the Giants.

 

While Tomko was working out Thursday and unavailable for comment, Herges expressed deep regret for making the issue a public matter in the early May article.

 

"What happened was, it was a conversation with a person and it was just ... I was wrong,'' Herges said Thursday. "I entertained a conversation with someone that was negative about a teammate. Above all, I wish I could have taken it back.

 

"It happened, and the second I heard [the article was printed], I went straight to the field. I even went early and I walked straight in the door and I said, 'I want you to know what I said. You can hit me in the face if you want, and I'll take it.' It's something I take pride in, being a good teammate.''

 

Whether a teammate is good or bad, the cardinal rule is never to bash him publicly. Herges crossed that line and now is willing to pay the price.

 

"Let's put it this way, A.J. can say anything he wants to now,'' Herges said. "He has that right.''

 

To that extent, Herges is fine with Pierzynski's actions earlier this spring when he offered any Sox teammate $100 to hit a home run off Tomko in a game in Tucson. Joe Borchard delivered with a shot to right field, and even though Pierzynski was not playing that day, he made sure to leave a crisp $100 bill in Borchard's locker before he left.

 

Tomko, though, apparently has not offered Pierzynski free rein for revenge and was less than thrilled with the $100 bounty.

 

"Once an ass, always an ass,'' Tomko told a San Francisco reporter after learning of Pierzynski's actions.

 

Whether he was the victim of inappropriate bashing from his former teammates or the criticism was deserved, the entire incident has made Pierzynski introspective. Last year was Pierzynski's first away from the Minnesota Twins, and the assimilation process did not go well. This year he vows it will be different.

 

"I definitely made some adjustments from what I did last year, and it's been a little more open-minded here,'' Pierzynski said earlier this week. "They have been a lot more with open arms, and I appreciate that. You never want to have to move around a bunch, but it's part of the game now and guys do it all the time, so you have to find a way to get it done.''

 

Herges said there were no lingering hard feelings after Pierzynski was bashed in the article, but the catcher's contract was not renewed at the end of the season and the Sox obtained him for more than $1 million less than his 2004 contract.

 

"It was one of those things that where, although I'll feel bad for it the rest of my life, he didn't show me any more ill will the rest of the year,'' Herges said. "I even shook his hand and gave him a semi-hug at the end of the year. I think he understood how bad I felt about it, how I wished it never occurred. It's probably the low point of my career, no question about it.''

[WHarris1]

Well I have some respect for Herges...Tomko; not so much

[YASNY]

Well I have some respect for Herges...Tomko; not so much

 

 

Once an ass, always an ass. So to speak.

[Jabroni]

Now you see what role the media plays in this s***. A.J.'s career was almost ruined because of some guy mouthing off. I'm not saying that A.J. is a saint but he damn sure isn't the guy that Tomko is saying he was.

[southsider2k5]

Once an ass, always an ass.  So to speak.

[SnB]

I'm willing to bet all this talk dies down a month into the season when all sox fans see how dumb an article that was.

AJ is gonna be good for this team, period.

[SoxFan1]

I hope Aj doesn't say anything bad back because that would ruin his perspective by the media again. He has been good with the Sox, and although he has, the media is always looking for something sneaky to say. Aj should just come out, accept the apology, and leave.