I’ve heard of a game finding a guy. But a series?
I mean, did A.J. Pierzynski go out and register this in his name, like some Internet domain? In the wonderful history of postseason baseball, non-marquee players have had significant one-time-only roles, either coming up with big hits (Bernie Carbo), big catches (Al Gionfriddo), big pitching stints (Moe Drabowsky) or by being involved in some whacked-out play (Nippy Jones).
But once is usually the limit. In what will be remembered as both the Turn Back The Clock/Complete Game and A.J. Pierzynski Series, the mouthy White Sox catcher played a central role in two bizarre plays as the White Sox ended a 46-year drought Sunday night by winning their first American League pennant since the legendary Richard J. Daley was Da Mayor.
About the complete games . . . Ozzie Guillen, we love you! And by we I mean those of us who are old enough to remember when it was considered dishonorable to go less than nine, when you didn’t see four pitches for four batters and seasoned pitchers were allowed to get themselves out of their own jams (not that the White Sox hurlers were in too many of those).
The White Sox closed out the ALCS with a 21st Century record of four consecutive postseason complete games when Jose Contreras threw a five-hitter at the Angels in the 6-3 triumph. Hey, Ozzie came within two outs of giving us five complete games, lifting Contreras with two outs in the ninth inning of Game 1.
Anyway, now it’s official. Guillen is out of the Manager’s Union. The other 29 aren’t going to tolerate this kind of deviant behavior. And what about Bobby Jenks, the White Sox closer? For all we know, he could be in the Federal Witness Protection Program. What will his agent have to say about all this?
And speaking of tolerance, the Orange County level of same for Mr. Pierzynski dropped to a new low Sunday night. It’s not as if he did anything, well, wrong, any more than he did anything wrong Wednesday when he thought it might be a good idea to run to first base after swinging and missing at a two-strike pitch from Kelvim Escobar that may or may not have skimmed the dirt before landing in the mitt of Angels catcher Josh Paul.
Pierzynski’s quick thinking turned the entire series around.
For he was indeed ruled safe, as half of America knows by now. And Pablo Ozuna did steal second without a throw. And Joe Crede did hit a hanging 3-2 Escobar splitter into the left-field corner for an improbable 2-1 victory.
And the Angels never recovered.
More Top Picks Best Tea Books
Does A.J.’s mystical power extend to a World Series? We’re about to find out.