Pierzynski is pleased finally to be able to contribute on field
SAN FRANCISCO -- When A.J. Pierzynski was named to the Cardinals' roster for the National League Championship Series, he said he was happy to have a chance to contribute. Also, he didn't know quite what to tell his kids when they kept asking why he didn't play anymore.
"It will be nice not to have to answer that question anymore," said Pierzynski, who has been a starter for virtually his entire 17-year career.
Well, his two middle-school-aged children won't be the only ones who can watch Pierzynski on Tuesday afternoon at AT&T Park. Perhaps no player on the Cardinals or Giants will be scrutinized more closely in Game 3 than the 37-year-old veteran when he becomes the first Cardinal other than Yadier Molina to start a postseason game at catcher since the 2004 World Series.
The catcher for the first three games of that Red Sox sweep was Mike Matheny. When Molina started Game 4, what already had become clear became clearer: Matheny's days as Cardinals catcher were over. He signed with San Francisco that offseason.
Coincidentally, Matheny replaced Pierzynski as the Giants' catcher in 2005. Pierzynski had hit .272 with 11 homers and 77 RBI in 2004, his only season in San Francisco, but the Giants still released him. Their pitchers reportedly disliked working with him that much. San Francisco being a great baseball town with a long memory, Pierzynski is likely to hear more than a few boos when he is introduced before the game.
Molina is out because of a strained left oblique, though he could make a late-inning appearance on defense, Matheny said in his pregame presser.
"We reaffirmed today with our medical team, they are confident that he's not going to hurt himself worse with this," Matheny said. "There's a significant injury there, but it's just going to be dealing with the pain and figuring out how he can and if he can do the different movements we need him to make.
"He showed yesterday, and we'll wait until we watch him go out and throw again today if anything's changed. If he can't do it, he won't be used. But if he can, that's a valuable weapon we have to possibly bring in for defensive purposes late."
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Matheny said Molina would not be taking batting practice and he still can't swing a bat. His throwing, however, has been surprisingly good considering the injury.
With Molina not starting for the first time in 83 postseason games, Matheny opted for Pierzynski over Tony Cruz because the veteran caught starter John Lackey throughout the first half of this season when both were with the Red Sox. Pierzynski also has had some success against Giants starter Tim Hudson, going 5 for 18 with only two strikeouts. Cruz has gone 0 for 3 with two strikeouts against Hudson.
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