December 9, 201114 yr http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-12...ynski-white-sox Pierzynski upbeat about White Sox future Catcher sorry to see teammates go but still believes team can win December 08, 2011|By Mark Gonzales, Chicago Tribune reporter DALLAS — After watching his team's top starting pitcher and closer depart this week, catcher A.J. Pierzynski had two wishes. "I want to be with the White Sox," said Pierzynski, who, with Paul Konerko, are the lone members of the 2005 World Series team still on the active roster. "I want to win with the White Sox." The latter task will be tougher after the departures of Mark Buehrle and Sergio Santos. Pierzynski and Konerko, among the few productive returning players, have full no-trade rights. One industry source said getting those players to agree to a trade and dealing them would further fracture a Sox fan base that has had its patience tested by three consecutive non-playoff seasons and a handful of big signings that haven't paid off. The Sox already are trying to entice fans for 2012 with season ticket prices that have been cut by as much as 31 percent. But general manager Ken Williams, trying to trim payroll and rebuild a pitching staff with cheaper high-end talent, will continue to listen to offers for left-hander John Danks and righty Gavin Floyd, as well as right fielder Carlos Quentin and left-handed reliever Matt Thornton. That will place further emphasis on rebound years from Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, as well as a full return from tender-armed Jake Peavy. "Sure, it's tough when your manager (Ozzie Guillen), Burls and Sergio leave," Pierzynski said in a telephone interview. "But there will be some young guys competing for jobs, and they can get better. And we can get some guys to bounce back and get back to their normal years." Williams said he didn't believe the Sox took a big step back. He pointed to the depth in the bullpen and the acquisition of Nestor Molina from the Blue Jays in the Santos deal as a future starting pitcher. "It already has been debated," Williams said. "I'm used to that. But we've got a little bit of a track record of being able to put together pretty good pitching staffs, and hopefully we'll continue to do so and see where we end up on the offensive side and if we can balance it out."
December 9, 201114 yr QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 9, 2011 -> 10:27 PM) Sadly AJ, you have to choose one or te other. Just being with the Sox versus being with the Sox and winning?
December 9, 201114 yr QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 9, 2011 -> 03:27 PM) Sadly AJ, you have to choose one or te other. This got me to LOL.
December 9, 201114 yr Sadly AJ, you have to choose one or te other. By the time the Sox are close, he will be retired.
December 10, 201114 yr QUOTE (Soxfest @ Dec 9, 2011 -> 08:16 PM) Rebuilding teams do not need a 6 mil aging catchers! Saaaay, you know who could use a catcher? The Marlins! /yes I know that they have John Buck
December 10, 201114 yr QUOTE (Soxfest @ Dec 9, 2011 -> 07:16 PM) Rebuilding teams do not need a 6 mil aging catchers! Is it $6 or $6.5 million? One of those two.
December 10, 201114 yr I'm glad I am not a person who ever thinks about contracts. Who gives a f*** if he makes 6 mill a year? It's not your money. Ticket prices are not going down; parking is not going down whether he's here or not. Pujols obviously won't be worth squat for the last few years of his deal. They are paying him to try to win a couple world championships and if they do, he'll have been worth it. If they win 2 WS in the next six years, they won't give a frick that he hits like Dunn the final 4 years. Edited December 10, 201114 yr by greg775
December 10, 201114 yr QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 9, 2011 -> 10:37 PM) I'm glad I am not a person who ever thinks about contracts. Who gives a f*** if he makes 6 mill a year? It's not your money. Ticket prices are not going down; parking is not going down whether he's here or not. Pujols obviously won't be worth squat for the last few years of his deal. They are paying him to try to win a couple world championships and if they do, he'll have been worth it. If they win 2 WS in the next six years, they won't give a frick that he hits like Dunn the final 4 years. Did I miss something? Did you just throw AJ, Pujols, Dunn, Parking, and two World Series championships into a post? I'm impressed. One of us is drinking heavily....I hope. Am I the only one lost here?
December 10, 201114 yr QUOTE (shakes @ Dec 9, 2011 -> 11:04 PM) Did I miss something? Did you just throw AJ, Pujols, Dunn, Parking, and two World Series championships into a post? I'm impressed. One of us is drinking heavily....I hope. Am I the only one lost here? Unfortunately, that's sober greg. You wouldn't want to witness a drunk greg.
December 10, 201114 yr QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 9, 2011 -> 11:12 PM) Unfortunately, that's sober greg. You wouldn't want to witness a drunk greg. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. He sometimes accused chestnuts of being lazy.
December 10, 201114 yr Author QUOTE (Soxfest @ Dec 9, 2011 -> 07:16 PM) Rebuilding teams do not need a 6 mil aging catchers! Its the return of Mr Obvious!
December 12, 201114 yr QUOTE (soxfan-kwman @ Dec 12, 2011 -> 08:50 AM) I believe AJ is making $4 million next year. He signed a back-loaded 2 year deal since the Sox were "all in" last year. $2 million in 2011, $6 million in 2012
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.