Catching Heat

Andrew Baggarly of the Trib reports that the Giants pitching staff has had it up to here with A.J. Pierzynski. Already. All the juicy quotes are anonymous, so you have to be a bit cautious, but the overall effect is damning:

"He's the cancer in here."
"He doesn't watch hitters -- other than the Twins games when they're on TV."
"You know he's an abrasive person, and you tolerate it," a Giants pitcher said, "but when you're around it this long, it starts to wear you out."

Worn out after a month. That's got to be some kind of record. There a few factors that make me to believe this report: Pierzynski came in with a reputation as a red-ass, and there was a closed-door meeting with Sabean and Alou. Sabean doesn't normally meet with players privately just to shoot the breeze, although Pierzynski dismissed it as just a fun get-together. I'm guessing that he asked to get traded and Sabean told him fine, but you'll have to keep your nose clean and a sunny disposition until I can convince some other team to take you off our hands.

So who needs a lefty-hitting catcher? Someone must.