A.J. Pierzynski in comfort zone catching John Lackey
By Maureen Mullen / Boston Globe
At this stage of his career, he doesn’t need any vindication, but it certainly doesn’t hurt either. A.J. Pierzynski, a 17-year veteran, heard the flak that followed the three games he caught Jon Lester this season, all losses for the lefthander.
But Pierzynski has caught all of John Lackey’s 11 starts this season. Lackey, with a record of 6-3 and a 3.27 ERA after Wednesday night’s 4-0 win over the Braves at Fenway Park, is the only Red Sox starting pitcher with a winning record.
“I can’t control what people are going to say or what they’re going to write,” Pierzynski said. “All I can do is go out and give everything I have and that’s all I’ve ever done. And with Lack it’s fun. It’s fun to go out there with him. It’s fun to go out with all these pitchers. I think we have a good staff.
“I think the Lester thing has kind of been blown out of proportion. But I understand it. I’m fine with it. I know [David Ross] and him have a great relationship, and I don’t want to get in the way of that. So I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that I’m hurt by that. I just want the team to do well and win games, whatever it takes. But it’s fun to work with John and it’s fun to be out there and watch him compete because he’s one of the most competitive people I’ve ever seen.”
Perhaps it’s the familiarity from seeing Lackey from a different angle that helps. Pierzynski has faced Lackey 56 times, the third-highest number of plate appearances against any pitcher.
“It’s been pretty easy,” Lackey said of working with Pierzynski. “We faced each other so many times he knows kind of the way I like to go about it. He’s an aggressive game caller. I feel like I’m a pretty aggressive pitcher as far as pounding the strike zone. I think we’ve meshed pretty well.”
“With he and John the rapport has been there since the first time they paired up this season,” said manager John Farrell. “They work quick. John has done a great job of not only feeling comfortable with him but keeping the ball out of the middle of the plate.”
Pierzynski was brought in this season with the plan of catching 100-110 games. He’s appeared in 42 games with 34 starts behind the plate, which puts him on pace for about 105. He’s always been considered an offensive catcher, which helps to keep him in the lineup, as does the current seven-game hitting streak he’s on.
He went 2 for 4 with an RBI Wednesday night, and is hitting .387 in the streak, with two doubles and a home run, raising his average from .244 to .273.
“We’ve seen from A.J. he can be streaky,” said Farrell. “He’s aggressive, but when he gets pitches on the plate, particularly early in the count, he doesn’t miss them in these hot streaks as he’s in, whether it’s RBI situation or no one on, and a couple of key moments [in this game].”
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/05/28/pierzynski-comfort-zone-catching-john-lackey/IplmEeg9EhWovSHLhN5KiK/story.html
