KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - A.J. Pierzynski has been called a lot of things during his lengthy major league career, and not many of them are very nice.
Pierzynski realizes he is known for being an irritant, a pest, and quite a handful for any team wearing a different-colored uniform.
He's also one of the most respected players in baseball as far as his home clubhouse. He said all he cares about is being a good teammate and he doesn't care what opponents think about him.
New to the Braves, the catcher was laughing it up with the Atlanta players during a workout this weekend. He knows he may have annoyed some of them along the way, but Pierzynski has a way of endearing himself to new teammates.
When the Braves signed him over the offseason, it became his seventh major-league stop. He split time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox last season before signing with the Braves, who are looking for a mentor to young Christian Bethancourt.
Pierzynski has played in five postseasons and was the catcher when the Chicago White Sox won the 2005 World Series.
He knows he is in Atlanta partly to work with Bethancourt, but he's also with the Braves to win.
"This team has a tradition of winning and I want to be a part of that. I still have a lot to give this team and it is a great group of guys," he said.
Pierzynski said he knows his role with the Braves. He'll mix time with Bethancourt and do some teaching on the side.
So far in spring training, Pierzynski seems to be one of the leaders on a team that went through a transitional offseason. He said he knows he isn't on the team to make friends, even though his team attitude is already evident around the batting cage.
"My job is to do whatever it takes to help the Braves," Pierzynski said. "I know what my role is and I do it the best I can."
Pierzynski has heard the criticism and said he could care less.
"I know you don't have to go all out of your way to be all nice and normal," Pierzynski said. "I can't play any differently. I have to be myself. Every team I go to seems to win."