A brief review of history for casual Twins fans (and yes, I know there's a lot of you). From Wikipedia:
Pierzynski was drafted by the Minnesota Twins on June 2, 1994, out of high school.[2] After four years in the Twins organization, he was called up to the Major League team, and made his debut on September 9, 1998. He spent the next five seasons, through the 2003 season, with Minnesota, though he was not a regular starter until 2001. From 1998-2000, he appeared in just 49 games for the Twins. In 2002 he made the American League All-Star Team as a reserve catcher. In the 2002 American League Division Series, Pierzynski hit an important home run in the ninth inning of the final game, in which the Twins clinched the series.I lived in Minnesota all of that time and believe me, Twins fans had no problem with him then. After 2003 the Twins traded him to SF Giants for Francisco Liriano (a Cy Young level candidate), Joe Nathan (one of the top closers in the AL) and Boof Bonser (an average pitcher). Two All-Stars and a serviceable pitcher, not bad for a 'waste of skin'.
Also pay attention to the word 'traded'. He didn't force his way out of here a la Chuck Knoblauch. He didn't price his way out of the market like Torii Hunter or Johan Santana. He was moved (for value) to make way for the Twins whiz kid Joe Mauer. (You may have heard of him, someday he and Obama will compete for right to face Surtr.)
So what did he do to earn the anger of so many Twins fans? When he became a free agent he dared to sign with the dreaded White Sox, that's what. Even worse than playing for a competing team, he thrived there. Of course he was part of the World Series team and I think that's what gets to the heart of it.
After that World Series, I wrote a short thing dedicating various Journey songs to the season. Here's the relevant one:
Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' - This song is about breaking up with someone only to have them rebound better and be happy with someone else. In other words, it goes out to Twins fans and A.J. The Twins traded him away and he wound up on a divisional rival winning the World Series. Man, that's got to hurt.
(Video for anyone not familiar with the song.) After a few years, I still think that. Twins fans now sound like a jerk who dumped a woman for someone else. They're happy with the choice but they still find themselves outside the old apartment at 2am, shouting obscenities. It's time to move on.
You're happier with Mauer, aren't you? You certainly wouldn't trade them back. Do you really think that once a player plays for your team that they should never ever play for a competitor? You're familiar with sports here in the 21st century, aren't you? Once a team trades a player away they no longer control his destiny. Seriously, it's not a tough concept to understand.
So come on Twins fans, show some class and let it go. There are other emotions than self-righteousness. You might actually enjoy them.
4 comments:
Let me see...we should "show some class"? How about your dreamboat step up and do the same? He's the one who's running his mouth every chance he gets, bad-mouthing his former team whenever he plays us.
My opinion of the person stands; as soon as he left us, he turned into a major jerk. Funny how that did NOT happen with Mr. Hunter, isn't it? Weird...
*sighs* I guess this really does show how sports ignites the silliest of passions. I've never met the person in question, all I have to judge him on is his public pronouncements, and you and I are FRIENDS, for crying out loud. It's a baseball game.
Admittedly, it's for the playoffs, but still...it's a game. I need to relax.
"Do you really think that once a player plays for your team that they should never ever play for a competitor?"
What other "player", that once played for the Twins and then played for a competitor, is treated the way the MN fans treat A.J.? Of course we loved him when he was on our team. Ignorance is bliss! But come on! You truly don't understand why the MN fans hate him? Google "AJ Pierzynski cheater" and check out some of the sites. If you still don't understand, then you never will.
Andrew, give Torii some time. The Twins have only played against him six times or so. Let's see what happens if they face him in the playoffs or if he dares to hit a big home run against them. Then we'll see what happens to his rep.
Maureen, the Twins treated Knoblauch the same way (and with much better reason). And if you're trying to tell me that Twins fans hate AJ because he 'cheats', well, find yourself a different sucker.
Angels fans hate him because he forced an umpire into a mistake. Rays fans might hate him for the same reason. Twins fans hate him because he used to be one of them and now he's dating someone else.
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