They’ve helped set a new tone for the Braves in the clubhouse and on the field, and veterans Jonny Gomes, A.J. Pierzysnki and Jason Grilli did the same Monday at the team’s annual Leadoff Luncheon, turning it into a highly entertaining event for teammates as well as the sponsors and fans on hand at the 755 Club at Turner Field.
There was Gomes, when asked why he’d signed with the Braves.
“I wanted to be wanted,” replied Gomes, who added dryly, “The Braves were the first team that called in the offseason. And I said, ‘Trade the whole team, then I’ll sign.’ So that’s why it took so long.”
That had the crowd in stitches, as did this exchange from veteran reliever Jason Grilli and catcher A.J. Pierzysnki when Grilli was asked about the Braves being his eighth major league team.
“I’ve played for a third of the league, now I’m working on the second third. The life of a relief pitcher,” Grilli said. “Jon Hart treated me to a cheeseburger, and that’s all it took.”
At that point Pierzynski, who’s known fellow Orlando resident Hart for about 20 years, interjected: “For those of you don’t know John Hart that well, him buy anything is a big deal. Him buying a cheeseburger, that’s a huge deal.”
Braves broadcaster and Hall of Famer pitcher Don Sutton, one of the event emcees, noted Pierzynski’s reputation – once voted the most hated player in baseball in a survey of major league players – and said he probably wouldn’t win a Ms. Congeniality Award.
“No, I’m not going to win that one,” Pierzysnki said. “I’ve won a lot of other awards, as far as the other way (being disliked). But it’s like Jonny said, you play to win the game, you play as hard as you can. Sometimes people don’t like that because you won’t back down. Playing against all these guys, there’s times where you love ‘em to death when they’re on your team, and you hate them (on the other team). Like Jonny, I hated Jonny….”
Gomes interjected: “I hated him.” (Much laughter.)
Pierzysnki continued: “And I’m OK with that. Like with Ian Kinsler, I hated Ian Kinsler before I went to Texas, now we’re good friends. When you’re on the team with somebody, you get a different respect for them, a different feel for them. But I’m not going to apologize. Look, I’m here to win the game and that’s it.”
The veteran newcomers, including the more reserved but equally intense Nick Markakis, have done nothing short of changing the Braves’ clubhouse culture. First baseman Freddie Freeman said within the first weeks of spring training Gomes convinced the rest of the Braves they could win, despite being picked by many pundits to lose 90 games.
A person who was in the Braves hitters’ meeting before the opening series at Miami, the session where they go over opposing pitchers’ tendencies in detail, said that after hitting coach Kevin Seitzer asked at the end of the session if there were any questions, Gomes spoke up. Gomes said he didn’t know everything about percentages of pitches that each pitcher threw, but he knew that the Braves were going to bust their tails giving 100 percent to run out every ground ball and to try to break up every double play, and that if anyone had any problem with that, they should see him.
“I don’t think hustle and playing the game right shouldn’t be applauded, I think it should be expected,” Gomes said Monday.
Braves rookie second baseman Jace Peterson said, “Ever since Day 1 of spring training, these guys (veterans) have shown everyone else how it’s going to be. It’s either jump on or get left behind. I think they’re doing a great job, and I love being here and following these guys.”
Utility infielder Phil Gosselin said, “The difference in the clubhouse is tremendous. The veteran leadership that we have, the younger guys and some of the guys who’ve been here – it’s incredible.”
Gomes was asked about his philosophy of playing every game as if it’s his last. He has told the story before about his best friend and teammate, Adam Westcott, who died in a car crash with Gomes in the vehicle, when they were in high school. Gomes has the Westcott’s initials tattooed on his right biceps.
“He was supposed to be the big-leaguer, he was supposed to be the the All-American,” Gomes said.
The loss of his friend, and another near-death experience when Gomes survived a heart attack at age 22, were incidents that helped form his philosophy of going all-out all the time, every game. He said he conjures an image of a bird landing on his shoulder and asking, “’If today was going to be the last game you ever played, how would you play it?’ You probably won’t go 4-for-4, but the one thing you can guarantee is to give 100 percent of your effort on the field.”
Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons smiled when he said of Gomes and Pierzysnki that he wanted to play the game the right way and “try not to (tick) them off.”
