It’s hard to remember what the City Series was like before the arrival of A.J. Pierzynski, whose special talent for inserting himself into the middle of controversies may be unrivaled.
The White Sox catcher did it again on Friday, complaining on Mike North’s radio show that he wasn’t in the starting lineup, leading to a profanity-laced phone call to North from manager Ozzie Guillen.
While Guillen and Pierzynski eventually hugged it out, and Pierzynski added to his growing legend with a grand slam on Sunday, it appears some of Pierzynski’s teammates are tired of his act.
Pitcher Mark Buehrle said Pierzynski’s remarks to North showed little respect to backup catcher Toby Hall.
“I think it is disrespecting Toby,” Buehrle said before Sunday’s game. “It’s kind of saying: ‘You can’t do your job.’ I don’t see where he has to be in there just because it’s a big rivalry. That doesn’t matter. He needs a day off. Whether it’s against the Cubs or anyone else, he needs a day off.”
Buehrle was not surprised that Pierzynski was putting himself ahead of his team with his public griping, putting Guillen in a tough spot.
“It’s just A.J.,” Buehrle said. “Everything I keep hearing is ‘Oh, A.J. is not in the lineup. He’s a big part of this team and with the big rivalry, and with him being such a part of it because Cubs fans don’t like him
…’ We don’t look at it that way. And I’m sure Cubs fans don’t care if he plays.
“He can’t play every game. Yeah, it’s a big series, but that’s why we signed Toby — to play against [selected left-handers].”
Buehrle believes Pierzynski enjoys playing the role of the villain at Wrigley Field because he craves the attention.
“I think some of the stuff he does during the course of the season he could not do, to kind of clear his name up a little,” Buehrle said. “He likes to be that [villain]. He likes to see his name in the paper.
“He likes to, well, not to be in the middle of controversy — I don’t think he purposely tries to cause some of it — but he just speaks his mind and pretty much causes controversy.”
Aside from the Bermuda Triangle of instigators — Pierzynski, Guillen and North — there was plenty of other action in Round 1 of the City Series.
Here are some of the highlights and lowlights:
Best moment (tie): Derrek Lee’s pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning of Game 2, easily the biggest hit of the season for the inconsistent Cubs. Pierzynski’s grand slam off Neal Cotts in the seventh inning of Game 3, easily the biggest hit of the season for the inconsistent Sox.
Strangest moment: Ryan Dempster had a nine-minute press briefing on moving into a starter’s role, followed by a six-minute news conference on staying in the closer’s role. “To be honest, really, really, really honest, I don’t care how strange it seems to you guys. … It’s kind of neat, because you guys can write two different stories.”
Best move: North brought some candy into Guillen’s office Friday morning. Guillen threw it in the garbage after North left.
Worst move: The Cubs’ media relations department deciding to open the press box windows despite forecasts for 40-degree temperatures on Sunday.
Best play: Sox shortstop Juan Uribe went deep into the hole in the first inning of Game 2 to rob Matt Murton of a hit.
Worst play: Alfonso Soriano failing to corral a catchable foul pop off Rob Mackowiak’s bat in the second inning of Game 3. Mackowiak singled and scored in the inning.
Best Sox quote: Sox GM Ken Williams on a report that Guillen is losing his clubhouse: “As far as Ozzie losing control of the clubhouse, that’s just ridiculous. Whoever is saying that doesn’t have a pulse of what this clubhouse is all about. Sorry.”
Best Cubs quote: Cubs manager Lou Piniella on the Sox’s seven-run seventh in Game 3: “It’s hard to score seven runs with two outs and nobody on. … Last week in Philadelphia we had a similar situation, and we held ’em to six.”
