Outspoken Chicago White Sox Catcher Joins
MLB ON FOX for 2011 ALCS & World Series Coverage
Los Angeles – Ask any teammate or competitor about Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, and they will tell you one thing: He has no problem speaking his mind. A fitting attribute as the fiery, controversial big leaguer and playoff veteran is tasked to do just that as he joins FOX Sports as a pregame and postgame analyst for the network’s coverage of the 2011 American League Championship Series and World Series. The announcement was made today by Scott Ackerson, Executive Vice President/Coordinating Pregame/Studio Producer, FOX Sports Media Group.
Pierzynski, the White Sox’s starting catcher on the 2005 World Championship team, joins host Chris Rose and analyst Eric Karros live on-site for every postseason broadcast on FOX. He makes his MLB on FOX debut on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 PM ET when the network presents exclusive live coverage of the American League Championship Series Game 1.
“A.J. is intelligent, engaging and candid with a bit of an edge, every attribute we look for in an analyst,” said Ackerson. “He has 14 years of experience at the major league level, and he himself has had tremendous success in postseason play. We’re confident he’ll provide our audience contemporary insight and will be a major asset to our broadcasts.”
“Nothing beats the intensity of playing in the playoffs and World Series, but if I can’t be a part of the action on-field, joining the MLB on FOX team is the next best thing,” said Pierzynski. “Everyone knows that I’m not one to hold back, so I’m looking forward to watching this season’s best teams compete this October and giving fans my honest opinion about their performance.”
Pierzynski made his major league debut for the Minnesota Twins in 1998 at age 21. In addition to the Twins (’98-’03), he’s been a solid major leaguer with the San Francisco Giants (’04) and the Chicago White Sox (’05-present). Over his 14-year big-league career, the two-time All-Star (’02 & ’06) boasts a .284 lifetime batting average with 128 home runs and 653 runs batted in, and he’s averaging over a hit per game (1512 hits/1494 games). In 2005, his first season with the Sox, Pierzynski hit a career-high 18 home runs as the team earned their first pennant since 1959 and first World Series title in 88 years. In 30 career postseason games, Pierzynski has a .300 batting average with 30 hits, including five doubles and five home runs with 17 RBI and 16 runs scored.
Following is the 2011 MLB on FOX postseason schedule:
AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Date
Saturday, Oct. 8 Game #1 7:30pm ET
Sunday, Oct. 9 Game #2 7:00pm ET
Tuesday, Oct. 11 Game #3 7:30pm ET
Wednesday, Oct. 12 Game #4 4:00pm ET
Thursday, Oct. 13 Game #5* 4:00pm ET
Saturday, Oct. 15 Game #6* 7:30pm ET
Sunday, Oct. 16 Game #7* 8:00pm ET
(* if necessary)
WORLD SERIES
Date
Wednesday, Oct. 19 Game #1 7:30pm ET
Thursday, Oct. 20 Game #2 7:30pm ET
Saturday, Oct. 22 Game #3 7:30pm ET
Sunday, Oct. 23 Game #4 8:00pm ET
Monday, Oct. 24 Game #5* 7:30pm ET
Wednesday, Oct.26 Game #6* 7:30pm ET
Thursday, Oct. 27 Game #7* 7:30pm ET
(* if necessary)
During the 2011 postseason, please follow @MLBOBFOX, @ChrisRose and @Ken_Rosenthal on Twitter for insight and analysis that complements the on-air presentation, and use #postseason to be part of the conversation.
— #postseason —
Think we can get a play-by-play announcer covering baseball who knows how to call the action, FOX? J.B. only calls the stats; no action there. Here’s a sample of a good play-by-play announcer calling a home run hit to tie the game, “He hits it hard! It’s going back, waaaaaaaay back, and its’ GONE! The game is TIED!” Here’s J.B.’s description of the same home run, “(silence)…(silence, while the ball travels over the fence)…(silence)…Tie game.”
A boring play-by-play announcer simply calls the stats. An exciting play-by-play announcer calls the action.
A.j. Is a homer baby bitch