CHICAGO (AP) -- Michael Barrett was waiting for the ball when A.J. Pierzynski ran him over. Barrett's reaction? He got up and punched the White Sox catcher in the jaw, setting off a melee between Chicago's two baseball teams.
As a still-jaded Angels fan, I'm glad Pierzynski got one right in the mouth. And this was some good Saturday entertainment. I'm guessing Barrett gets at least 10 games, though.
That was REALLY fun to watch. Additionally, it adds more incentive to see the two teams play each other beyond "two franchises in one city playing each other OMG." I wonder how much of this was fueled by Guillen's "fuck the Cubs" comment from Thursday?*
That being said, I expect Barrett to get slightly more than 10 games. What he did was completely out of line and totally uncalled for...whether he had the ball or not, he was in the path of the baseline as Pierzynski was running to home. It's how you play the game. Admittedly, I might be a little biased since he's been my fantasy league catcher two seasons running.
Originally posted by ESPN.com articlePierzynski, who tried to contact Barrett after the game, said he wasn't sure why he was ejected, other than to restore peace.
I was wondering that myself. I didn't realize it was against the rules to no-sell a punch to the head and walk away without retaliating (and who needs to when you have Brian Anderson ready to throw some haymakers?).
What an entertaining week this has been for baseball.
*DISCLAIMER - I love Ozzie Guillen. Most entertaining manager in baseball, hands down.
When it happens, I said 20 games. Now, I'm down to 12. Either way, that's the last good hitter the Cubs have.
I think AJ gets thrown out for instigating with the hand slap of home plate and walking over to Barrett. It was probably for the best - with everyone involved out of there, there were no more ongoing shennagins.
Aj and Barrett are friends, and Barrett was saying he was completely in the wrong after the game, so I think they probably had a peaceful conversation.
Barrett says he thought AJ was going to do something to him, so he acted first - it had nothing to do with anything that happened before the collsiion. But he seems to have a short fuse when things are going bad. He almost started a fight with Dave Roberts eight days ago, and going back further, I think Astro fans might remember an incident a couple years ago which helped jump start their run.
almost enjoyable as AJ getting punched in the face (because, really, it's AJ after all - he might not have deserved it this time but I'm sure he was owed at least one) was SportsCenter announcers refering to him as associated with WWE; I could see the heads spinning from here.
"He looks like a perverted roofer who knocks off early on warm spring days to drink beer and ogle teenage girls at the river, but wrestles like a man who actually cares about his job." ---DVDVR's Raven Mack on "Gigolo" Jimmy Del Ray
If this was a last desperate attempt by Barrett to provide some sort of spark to a dead Cubs team, it failed. Since the White Sox have that World Series flag occupying its traditional spot, perhaps Reinsdorf will allow the Cubs to borrow the white flag from '97?
I have to say for a few years now i've wondered what happened to collisions at home plate, it seems most catchers don't block the plate and just try and tag the guy from the side. But this week there has been a ton of collisions all of a sudden. There was this collision, the Teixeira/Posada collision, there was one in the Mariners game where the runner (don't remember who it was) collided with Jojima. Brian McCann got injured on a collision in a Braves game. I think I saw one or two others this weekend too. Kudos to all the catchers for standing in there and taking the shot even on the plays where they didn't hold on to the ball.
(edited by Quezzy on 22.5.06 0125) Lance's Response:
Originally posted by redsoxnationIf this was a last desperate attempt by Barrett to provide some sort of spark to a dead Cubs team, it failed. Since the White Sox have that World Series flag occupying its traditional spot, perhaps Reinsdorf will allow the Cubs to borrow the white flag from '97?
I don't want to say you spoke too soon, but, the Cubbies looked pretty fired up today in the comeback win. Of course, I could be jumping the gun.
Originally posted by redsoxnationIf this was a last desperate attempt by Barrett to provide some sort of spark to a dead Cubs team, it failed. Since the White Sox have that World Series flag occupying its traditional spot, perhaps Reinsdorf will allow the Cubs to borrow the white flag from '97?
I don't want to say you spoke too soon, but, the Cubbies looked pretty fired up today in the comeback win. Of course, I could be jumping the gun.
They looked like crap. Problem is, the White Sox decided that they were going to try a new form of playing the field wherein every other throw to first base goes into the dugout. If Juan Uribe turns the DP in the eighth the way he alwyas has the game likely ends 4-2. But he didn't, Jacques Jones did what he always does to the White Sox, and the Cubs get a win out of the series.
What this fight succeeded in doing is killing off any chance of the fans in this city starting to get over the rivalry, like all the talk was on Friday and Saturday morning. It's going to be nasty at Wrigley at the end of June.
So how long until AJ and Brian Anderson guest manage a team at a TNA show against a team managed by Barrett and John Mabry?
Originally posted by thecubsfanBarrett says he thought AJ was going to do something to him, so he acted first - it had nothing to do with anything that happened before the collsiion.
I find that to be the most hilarious thing a player has ever said about a fight that HE started. He must've continued like this:
"Yeah, AJ had just layed me out, so when I saw him - going around me to get his helmet - I naturally thought he was going to finish me off. So, I grabbed him and saw something evil in his eyes even though he didn't make one move with his hands. Of course, that was motivation to cheap shot him straight in the mouth because I felt threatened by his non-action."
Originally posted by thecubsfanBarrett says he thought AJ was going to do something to him, so he acted first - it had nothing to do with anything that happened before the collsiion.
I find that to be the most hilarious thing a player has ever said about a fight that HE started. He must've continued like this:
"Yeah, AJ had just layed me out, so when I saw him - going around me to get his helmet - I naturally thought he was going to finish me off. So, I grabbed him and saw something evil in his eyes even though he didn't make one move with his hands. Of course, that was motivation to cheap shot him straight in the mouth because I felt threatened by his non-action."
Enjoy the 3-week vacation, Barrett.
My thoughts exactly. He in no way appeared to be "walking over to Barrett." I also find it hard to believe that his slapping of the plate could be seen as inflammatory. It was basically the same as if he pumped his fist. Shame shame, Barrett.
I've never had an opinion on AJ prior to this. However, combined with his point to the sky following taking Zambrano long -- I want him on MY team. He's the kind of guy that gets under the other team's skin, and he plays tough.
What's not to like about him?
[the above post is not intended to be sarcastic, nor is this line]
Originally posted by Reverend J ShaftEnjoy the 3-week vacation, Barrett.
Mike's probably going to get a 10 game suspsension, pleaded to 7 after appeal. That would be one week, possibly a week and a couple of days, depending on how off days fall. Derrek Lee will probably get five games for leaving the bench, and Mabry a three gamer. At least on the Cubs side. I'd imagine Anderson will get a decent sized suspsension. I'd also heard that he'd done the point while rounding first, and had said something to Z while running, causing Z to get into it with the third base coach.
Originally posted by Sec19Row53I've never had an opinion on AJ prior to this. However, combined with his point to the sky following taking Zambrano long -- I want him on MY team. He's the kind of guy that gets under the other team's skin, and he plays tough.
What's not to like about him?
[the above post is not intended to be sarcastic, nor is this line]
Watching AJ mock Zambrano only assures me that next time he gets knocked in the jaw, he'll actually deserve it.
Originally posted by Reverend J ShaftEnjoy the 3-week vacation, Barrett.
Mike's probably going to get a 10 game suspsension, pleaded to 7 after appeal. That would be one week, possibly a week and a couple of days, depending on how off days fall. Derrek Lee will probably get five games for leaving the bench, and Mabry a three gamer. At least on the Cubs side. I'd imagine Anderson will get a decent sized suspsension. I'd also heard that he'd done the point while rounding first, and had said something to Z while running, causing Z to get into it with the third base coach.
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