It’s the middle of March and Texas Rangers closer C.J. Wilson has already found himself in the first jam of the season.

Jeff Pearlman recently released an article on ESPN’s Page 2 site talking about how major league baseball players should care more about the election in process. Aside from a few comments sprinkled in by Wilson one has to wonder if Pearlman even talked to any players or understood that this was not the general election but a primary. When asked why baseball players weren’t more interested in the ongoing primary Wilson responded.

“It’s frustrating. I’d say there are two reasons. One, there’s a general lack of education among us. But two — and most important — you’re talking about a population that makes a ton of money, so the ups and downs of the economy don’t impact whether we’re getting paid. Therefore, we often don’t care.”

Pearlman later goes on to imply that baseball players only care about the recent edition of Maxim or free sunglasses.

Needless to say the other members of the Texas Rangers, including Brandon McCarthy, were less then impressed. On a team blog ran by fans the right hander responded to the article and criticized Pearlman for not talking to more members of the clubhouse of finding appropriate times to talk to current players instead of talking about retired players.

“Your first line really makes no sense. Retired athletes are much different than athletes who are still playing. Jim Bunning didn’t change the political awareness for future generations of baseball players, so why would anyone else be different? I mentioned it earlier that retired players would give you much different answers than you got in our clubhouse. This brings me to my main point and my reason for thinking this is a terrible article. Why don’t athletes care? According to you it’s because we’re a bunch of trash mag reading, strip clubbing, selfish pampered rich kids with no sense of the outside world.

If I wrote an article on this subject I’d go on the theory that maybe baseball players don’t care because most of us are in our twenties and early thirties. I’d be interested to see how many people our age in other walks of life are discussing the Wisconsin Democratic Primaries.

Lastly, why do you care if we care? How does that affect any one of your readers? Do you want baseball cards that read: Mike Smith bats/throws R/L 6′4 200 lbs. Political views; Fiscal conservative, social liberal? For the life of me I can’t figure out your reasoning behind writing this article.”

Of course C.J. Wilson later responded on the blog praising McCarthy’s comments but downing his teammates.

“Come on man you have to admit the median or average guy in a baseball clubhouse does drive an SUV, drinks beer, golfs, likes college sports, chews or dips tobacco and is relatively a douchebag”

Wilson continued making inflaming comments for much of the day.

“I’m paying taxes no matter who the president is, just please god not hillary.”

The comments were later removed from the site.

Obviously that statement did not set well with veterans in the clubhouse most notably team captain Michael Young who told the Dallas Morning News “I had a very direct talk with him.”

Veteran Frank Catalanotto offered advise for Wilson.

“I think if you are going to be online, you have to choose your words wisely. And if you have something to say to someone, I think you should say that directly to them. Otherwise, it can misconstrued, even if it was meant in a joking manner. That doesn’t come across on the Web. Hopefully, C.J. has learned his lesson. You can say something online that makes yourself or your teammates look bad.”

Wilson later declined to comment on the story when asked. For those remember back to last year Wilson made some seemingly racist comments on Brandon McCarthy’s Myspace during spring training last year. McCarthy later removed the comments as well as everything from his profile.

Last season Wilson was moved into the closers role for the Texas Rangers following the trade of Eric Gagne and injury to Akinori Otsuka. Wilson pitched in 66 games last year picking up 12 saves with a 3.03 ERA. It was the best season of his career as he also set personal bets with 1.21 WHIP, .208 BAA over 68.1 innings.

He hopes to be ready for Opening Day following a bout with bicep tendinitis. He figures to be the closer to start the season with Joaquin Benoit and Eddie Guardado as fall back options to close games.