Fireworks During Cubs-White Sox Series

By Benjy Lipsman in News on May 22, 2006 3:56PM

On Friday, we pondered whether the Crosstown series still had the same meaning following the White Sox's World Series title. This weekend's series showed that, at least on the field, it sure does!

The White Sox won the series, taking 2 of 3 games. While the Cubs won 7-4 on Sunday, the Sox won Friday's opener 6-1, behind Mark Buehrle's 2-hit complete game, and won Saturday's game 7-0 thanks to Tadahito Iguchi's 2 HRs and 6 RBIs.

Of course, Saturday's game also featured the biggest hit of the series and it didn't even score a run. The Cubs' catcher, Michael Barrett, decked the Sox's A.J. Pierzynski following a collision at home plate. With Barrett blocking the plate as he awaited a throw from the outfield, Pierzynski bowled through him. A.J. beat the throw and slapped the plant emphatically to make sure he touched it to score. Upon getting up to retrieve his batting helmet, Barrett grabbed Pierzynski in a bear hug, and then decked him. The benches cleared, a brawl ensued, and after 15 minutes of deliberation, the umps ejected 4 players. Barrett and Pierzynski were both tossed, as were Brian Anderson and Job Mabry, who also got into the scrum.

While baseball fans across the city continue to debate the incident, League officials are busy reviewing tape of the incident, and there will certainly be fines and suspensions. Barrett deserves at least 5-7 games for his unprovoked violence. Brian Anderson might see 1-2 game suspensions. Will the league punish A.J. Pierzynski? They certainly shouldn't. In fact, Chicagoist still hasn't figured out exactly why he was even tossed from Saturday's game!

While Cubs fans continue to insist that Sox fans are the violent ones, it seems that both the Cubs players and fans are the violent ones of late. Fans throwing balls on the field. Players punching others for no reason. We guess that's what 100 years without a title can do that to people.

Image via Yahoo! News