Enough with this AJitating

Message to the White Sox: Enough already with the A.J. Pierzynski nonsense.

Somebody has to tell the Sox’ catcher to play the game the way a pro is supposed to play it and conduct himself the way a pro is supposed to conduct himself.

Pierzynski has forced countless people in the Sox organization into the awkward position of having to apologize for him.

So yeah, enough already.

In the past, Pierzynski was compared to Dennis Rodman. On Tuesday morning, Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse compared him to Bart Simpson.

Reusse points out that “I didn’t do it” is Simpson’s common defense. It also was Rodman’s. Now it’s Pierzynski’s.

Personally, I’m ready to start referring to him as A.J. Gardini or Benito Pierzynski.

Pierzynski acts like Benito Gardini, one of the first great wrestling villains and a role model for all subsequent bad guys.

Gardini would club a guy from behind or gouge his eyes or bite his neck, then throw his hands up, widen his eyes and shake his head.

You know, as if to say, “I didn’t do it.”

That’s A.J. Pierzynski, who happens to be a wrestling fan who has participated in a few shows.

Pierzynski’s latest baseball, er, incident occurred on Memorial Day when the Twins thought he deliberately stepped on first baseman Justin Morneau’s foot.

This would be a serious violation of baseball etiquette. Pierzynski might not have done it purposely, but it sure did appear that he approached the bag unnaturally.

Regardless, intent isn’t an issue here anymore. The issue is Pierzynski keeps rewriting the game’s unwritten rules into scribblings on a washroom wall.

An Old English Sheep Dog’s intent doesn’t matter. All that matters is he keeps bumping into a hutch and breaking the good china.

Of course, Pierzynski pleaded not guilty to the media, Morneau and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. Publicly, all parties agreed the conflict was over — no retaliation.

The Twins left that to the Metrodome fans who booed Pierzynski all Tuesday night.

It should be noted that Pierzynski’s pro career began in the Twins’ organization and that Gardenhire managed him.

When Pierzynski returns to the Twin Cities, his reputation precedes him. When he steps on a first baseman’s foot, his history indicts him.

Pierzynski is considered a major AJitator around the major leagues. No wonder he was the target when Cubs catcher Michael Barrett chose to punch someone last year.

Seriously, enough already.

Just a couple weeks ago Pierzynski was the guy who compelled Sox manager Ozzie Guillen to be profane on the radio. He’s also the guy Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle spoke about unflatteringly that same weekend.

Pierzynski is the guy who once stepped on an opposing player’s hand. Now the Twins think he tried to step on Morneau’s foot.

Enough already with, “I didn’t do it.” When a baseball player has to keep issuing that same denial, it can be interpreted that he did do it.

An intervention should commence in the Sox’ clubhouse. Anyone who ever played first base — Paul Konerko, Jim Thome, Darin Erstad — should sit Pierzynski down and insist he cut it out.

Pierzynski’s behavior isn’t funny anymore, and a couple lines are on the verge of being crossed.

First, Pierzynski is in danger of plunging from diversion to distraction. Second, he’s close to becoming an annoyance you’d rather your team lost without than won with.

So enough already with the bad-guy wrestling routine.