2 pros and 1 con for hiring AJ Pierzynski as the next White Sox manager

The Chicago White Sox may consider AJ Pierzynski as their next manager. There are pros and cons to that idea.

Division Series - Houston Astros v Minnesota Twins - Game Three
Division Series - Houston Astros v Minnesota Twins - Game Three | Stephen Maturen/GettyImages
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A con is that AJ Pierzynski has never coached or managed in MLB before

The Chicago White Sox have had tons of different managers over the years. There are the Pedro Grifol types who made their managing debut, guys like Rick Renteria who had previous experience but nothing too long, and even a guy like Tony La Russa who has multiple decades of high-end experience. 

All of them have mostly failed while wearing a White Sox uniform. With that said, you’d still prefer someone with experience coaching before they become a manager. Managerial experience is a bonus. 

AJ Pierzynski’s biggest con is that he doesn’t have any of that experience in MLB. He was never a coach or a manager. If he followed Grifol, it would be two managers in a row lacking managerial experience (Grifol was the bench coach for the Kansas City Royals). 

Pierzynski was an incredible leader as a player. He was also a catcher which requires leadership skills as the only person who can see everyone on the field in front of them. With that said, there is nothing like being the manager in games that count. 

If hired, the White Sox would be hoping that his experience as a catcher along with everything he learned from others along the way will make him a good manager. It may be risky but could could also be genius. 

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