MLB’s no. 1 heel A.J. Pierzynski was hit by a Kelvim Escobar pitch during the White Sox’s 2-1 win over the Angels last night. As you might expect, Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen had something to say about it to the Daily Herald’s Scott Gregor (link culled from Baseball Think Factory)
œIf Escobar is going to hit somebody, he should hit himself,™™ Guillen said. œA.J. didn™t have anything to do with the dumb(bleep) plays they made. Josh Paul and him, the two dumb (bleeping) plays they made and now they™re blaming A.J.
œYou have to be dumb enough to blame it on somebody when you screwed it up. If you™re going to blame somebody, look in the mirror. A.J. didn™t have anything to do with that. I think that™s a low-(bleep) way to play baseball.™™
Guillen was just getting warmed up.
œPeople in Los Angeles should remember that play like the Bill Buckner thing,™™ said Guillen, recalling Buckner™s infamous error in the 1986 World Series.
œIt™s nobody™s fault Josh Paul didn™t tag the guy. It™s nobody™s fault (Escobar) tagged the guy with the wrong hand. Blame yourself. And now you™re going to hit somebody for no reason? You can get somebody hurt with no reason.™™
Pierzynski appeared to have a few words for Escobar as he headed to first base after being hit, but he denied saying anything.
œI don™t know why the (heck) he™s hitting me,™™ Pierzynski said. œI just ran to first. Maybe he should hit the guy (Paul) that rolled the ball back to the mound. I didn™t do anything to show him up.™™
They’re tied at 2-2 in Anaheim this afternoon after 3 innings, with Jon Garland facing Ervin Santana. Jim Thome and Paul Konkero each have an RBI on a third inning single and sacrifice fly respectively.
Despite starting the season 0-13 in the Southern League, Atlanta catching prospect Jarrod Saltamacchia is apparently the subject of a tug-of-war between agents. As long as Salty stays far away from Michael Michaels (or Jay Mohr), things can’t be that bad.
Taylor Buchholz, obtained from Philly in the Billy Wagner trade, earned his second victory for the Astros today, throwing 6 and a third innings of 3-hit ball in Houston’s 3-2 defeat of Cincinnati. Lance Berkman (29 RBI’s in April) and Jason Lane homered for the Astros, while Brad Lidge collected his 8th save, striking out 3 in a scoreless 9th.