Day 247: And I Was Just Learning How to Spell 'Saltalamacchia!'

In 2012, Men's Journal did a poll amongst about 100 major league baseball players regarding a few topics—most hated man in baseball, most obnoxious fans, etc. AJ Pierzynski was voted baseball's most hated player by 34% of those surveyed. One pitcher said he talks a lot of shit and is rumored to be a bad teammate. These results concern me. Why, you might ask?

Well, it turns out that Pierzynski has just been signed by the Red Sox to a reported $8.25 million one-year deal for the 2014 season. Huh? They just won the World Series with a team full of nice, pleasant guys and then they go ahead and sign this meany? I don't get it.

The nearly 37-year-old Pierzynski's numbers are not bad—last year with the Texas Rangers he batted .272 with 17 home runs and 70 RBIs in 134 games. His numbers are very similar to Jarrod Saltalamacchia's, but he has about a decade on ol' Salty. The Red Sox will be the 6th team in AJ's 16-year career where he's batted a respectable .283 with 172 home runs and 800 RBIs. Probably not Hall of Fame numbers, but enough to get him paid.

But word on the street is he's kind of a douche. How's he going to react to the camaraderie that has been established in the club house? How's he going to react the first time Jonny Gomes tugs on his beard... if he agrees to grow one? I fear his ability to play as part of a team and not bitch and complain the first time he thinks he's not getting his fair share of playing time.

Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Pierzynski has changed. Maybe he's seen the error of his ways and has seen the light of a positive work place. I can only hope that's the case. There have been too many pretentious assholes on this team in the past couple of years and there's no room for that anymore.

And shit... I just learned to spell "Saltalamacchia."