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So, About That Drop In Violence...
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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
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and don't forget about Zambozo, whas amatta, you can dish it out but you can't take it?
nice photo
We all know that Pierzynski has been asking for a bunch to the face for some time now. He thrives on being the douchebag in the game.
We all know that Pierzynski has been asking for a punch to the face for some time now. He thrives on being the jerk. ( I had a better word, but Chicagoist wouldn't let me use it.)
Barrett's the douchebag and even admitted to be being sorry, embarrassed and wished he would have never done it.
AJ has never done anything to anybody, why is he a jerk or a douchebag? Because he helped the White Sox bring a championship to Chicago, something the cubs couldn't close the deal on in 03? Get over it Cub fans.
Barrett after sunday's game: Thanks for just booing me and not running on the field and trying to assault me.
And a single ball thrown on the field is nothing like two unprovoked assaults in the last 5 years by whitesox fans, but nice false moral equivalence, Whitesoxist.
Maybe Pierzynski didn't throw the first punch, but let's face it - the guy is a jerk. He slapped the plate as a slap to the face of Barrett, the Cubs and their fans. The slap was not, as Benjy put it, to "make sure he touched it to score," it was to be a jerk.
Was a punch warranted? Maybe not.
Did Barrett have a decent reason to hit him? I think so.
Do I like to answer my own questions? Sometimes.
A.J. veered into him - Michael likely thought it was a matter of who would hit first. And who knows what Pierzynski was saying to Barrett leading up to the punch - just those two and they're not to forthcoming.
He felt it was inevitable so he hit him.
Wrong was done on both sides, end of story. But boy did I love seeing Pierzynski finally get the hit he's deserved for years.
Wow, that took up a lot of space.
"And a single ball thrown on the field is nothing like two unprovoked assaults in the last 5 years by whitesox fans"
Did you forget about the wrigley bullpen incident? Haven't been in chicago long have ya?
Pierzynski being a jerk or not the play (barrett's plate blocking brought about) was clean and Barrett comes out looking like the sore frustrated loser. He said himself he didn't even see A.J. do the plate slap so A.J.'s attitude didn't really figure in to this situation.
First of all even if AJ did bang the plate, barret was still upside down in the fetal position 10 feet from the action when it happened so he doesn't even know about it while he's winding himself up.
AJ did not go to pick a fight with Barrett, (Barrett is a friend of the Sox organization, he is friends with AJ and ozzie), AJ was going to get his helmet and when Barret got up he was about to ask him if he was alright after the hit, then he gets sucker punched???? WTF!
AJ said Barrett misinterpreted his attempt to get around him to pick up his helmet and clocked him. Barrett (IMO) should not block the plate if he did not have the ball in his hand.
OTOH, the Sunday game was the best game of the weekend even if the wrong team won. It was more fun to watch and could have gone either way.
as a scientist, it's my obligation to point out that michael barrett is a doting dainty lass. even with a sucker punch he was unable to drop pierzynski. if this scientist was mr. barrett's father i would instruct him to, "go back out and try again, and don't come home unless someone gets knocked out cold."
i hope that barrett is tossed from the game altogether, in a global sense, and that he's required to take up knitting or needlepoint. i've seen several relevant articles on the chicagoist that might point mr. barrett in the right direction. maybe he could take up improv comedy, because punching aj was probably the funniest, saddest thing i've seen since "karate kid III."
oh, Pierzynski is a jerk (and I'm a Sox fan), everyone knows that, I'd probably have half a mind to give him a punch myself if I had to deal with him often (if I weren't a 5'6 girl that is) . But c'mon, to punch the guy during the middle of the game ... it isn't worth it and you're the one that looks like an idiot, whereas he just looks like the jerk we all know he is.
This is why I like having AJ Pierzynski on the White Sox. He doesn't even have to say or do anything to make the other team do something stupid. He just has to show up with that smug look on his face and everyone just assumes that he's a jerk and needs to get punched.
MVP! LOL
Pierzynski is an ass if not only for the fact that he is partially responsible for me hearing "Don't Stop Believin'" 23,324 times in the last year. Pick a better song jerk.
does anyone know what a sucker punch is? if you can see it coming IT'S NOT A SUCKER PUNCH! unexpected, sure, but that was no sucker punch. especially not after being acosted in a bear hug. he should have suspected either a punch or a kiss there. which, of course, doesn't make it right.
oh, and it is widely known that pierzynski is one of the most hated players in the majors. ask the twins or giants.
just so there's no issues of partisanship i don't give a flying crap about either of these two teams.
AJ being an ass or not is beside the point; the point is that the Cubs can't take the fact that they stink, and are frustrated. They also forgot that the south siders are tough. We've had to be; the whole rest of baseball fandom looks at the Cubs like they are the last word in baseball.
AJ got what he deserved. Pods was telling him to slide and instead he risked injury to himself and/or Michael Barrett with that collision. Then he slapped the plate as if he had actually knocked the ball out of Barrett's glove to score a run. Then he went to get his batting helmet, which is total BS. Isn't that what the bat boy is for? AJ's an asshole and this is the first time fans/teammates have actually liked the guy. He was hated in SF and hated in Minnesota because he's an asshole. Mark my words, the moment the Sox start tanking, AJ is going to start breaking bad and Pierzynski's Cancer will spread throughout the club house.
I love how whitesox fans have to constantly reassure themselves about their team.
If Pierzinski is such an asshole why would he extend an olive branch to Barrett after the game by calling him and if Barrett was such a stand up guy why would he not answer the phone, saying he was not ready to talk to AJ just yet...
If it were AJ who got bowled over and punched Barrett would you feel the same? Take off the blue sunglasses and you will see your team is full of whining losers who have absolutely nothing left.
Let's face it folks: I'm Barrett and A.J.'s Bill Laimbeer. I shouldn't have cold cocked Laimbeer in 1987, but if you don't think he had it coming, you're either from Detroit or you're A.J. Pierzynski.
Since when do they hate Pierzynski in Minnesota? He had trouble in San Francisco, but he was and is highly regarded in Minny.
cubs fans are so pathetic. i love hearing them drone on and on about how crazy our fans are, simply ignoring the fact that of the two on-field incidents in the last few years, one of them was a CUBS FAN running on the field.
also, cubs fans politely ignore the fact that someone was MURDERED after a cubs game last year for hitting another fan's car with his cubs mini-bat.
and as far as AJ goes, he didn't do anything illegal on that play. if anything, barrett was out of line by blocking the plate without the ball. but as cubs fans, i don't expect you to know what you're talking about.
maybe cubs fans have forgotten that mikey barrett tried to get into a fight with dave roberts last week? the man obviously needs help.
and trust me, if the sox fans needed reassuring about their team, all they'd have to do is check out their current record, or the record books to see who WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!
suckas!
I'm a die-hard Cubs fan...and Barrett shouldn't have punched Pierzynski...but I ain't gonna say that it doesn't do me right proud to see that photo of Pierzynski getting cocked on the front of the Trib. Pierzynski's a dick, a loud-mouth, and a show-off...and while for that PARTICULAR play, he didn't deserve to get punched specifically...there was a feeling of karmic retribution to it. As for those criticizing Barrett's punch for not knocking Pierzynski to the ground A)It was a much better blow than any of the 9 year-old-I-want-a-pony-for-christmas-pre-menarche-girl punches that Brian Anderson feebly (mayhaps even daintly) tossed at John Mabry. B) Baseball players rarely land HUGE punches b/c although Barrett was pissed...he probably didn't want to break Pierzynski's jaw...he had him in a bear hug so there wasn't enough room for a full wind-up and thank god for it.
What really impresses me, however, is that the Cubs actually played something resembling baseball yesterday.
Why did AJ extend the olive branch? Because he's a smart asshole. All weekend he was the victim. Saturday and yesterday. That BS about not mocking Carlos? C'mon! He's an asshole, he's always been an asshole and karma just punched him in the face on national TV.
Michael Sheahan said it best while being intervied at the park on Sunday (as a fan not an elected official). "It reminded me of a softball fight in a Chicago park, usually, [baseball] fights are phony. It was a good fight."
Hey Zak, Are you talking about the dainty punches that cracked Mabry's ribs and sent him to the hospital?
The only person who is going to really be affected by anything here is Baker and the loveable losers. Anything that warrants a ten game suspension is not worth celebrating.
I think the one word that describes this whole thing is "weak". With the exception of yesterday, the Cubs have been playing weak this season, and Barrett's reaction was a weak punch in a moment of weakness. The play by Pierzynski might have been rough, but it was totally legal. Suck it up, and move on. If you can't take that kind of playing, then find a different profession.
And the line by Barrett about him misconstruing Piezynski going for his helmet is totally crap. He wasn't going straight towards Barrett, and Barrett is seen saying "I didn't even have the f*cking ball, b*tch." He hit him out of pure frustation, and he deserves whatever suspension/ fines he gets hit with.
Weak punch? That punch was perfect. It wasn't a sucker punch, it was just a sweet punch on national TV and it landed on the face of one of the biggest assholes in sports. Was he right? 50/50 I'd say. Is the suspension going to hurt the team? Probably but hopefully it'll fire the team up a little bit. Michael Barrett, in one punch, took out his frustation and the frustation of his team and cubs fans everywhere and it was glorious.
Cubs fans have frustrated .230 catcher sucker punching aggresive future hall of famer
Sox fans have 2005 World Series
And they lost. Badly that day.
I don't see how taking a hit badly, getting thrown out, having your team lose, apologizing in the press, and being suspended is "glorious".
It might have made your day, but if that's the only real highlight, that's really sad.
And the plot thickens!
WSCR interviewed Barrett BEFORE Saturday's game, and Barrett said that a fight might energize the team. The Score is forwarding the tape to the Commisioner's office. To Barrett I say NA NA NA NA, NA NA NA NA, HEY HEY HEY..... GOOD BYE!
AJ is full of crap and was trying to punk Barrett by lowering his shoulder. Barrett did the right thing by socking that trash talking piece of garbage in his fat face.
Who cares about bowling him over- thats part of the game- but to try and stand over Barrett was an obvious attempt at intimidation.
If you actually believe AJs bull crap about the helmet then watch the tape- the helmet is like 15 ft away and AJ didn't need to walk through Barrett for it.
NSH-did barrett punch someone else? if pierzynski's a future hall of famer i'm willie mays.
Pier-whatever, deserved to get punched, because he has a last name that's too difficult to pronounce, and he's ugly.
AJ is a future hall of fame? Give me an f'ing break. Maybe the Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame, or the White Trash Piece of Shit Hall of Fame but not the baseball. Pull your head out of your ass.
Please don't confuse me, curmudgeon, with "The" curmudgeon. I am a nice Polish girl that knows how to pronounce Polish names. And A White Sox fan. AND PROUD OF IT!
At the end of the day The Sox are the World Champs and one of the best teams in baseball while The Cubs remain one of the worst. Enjoy Barrett's temper tantrum and we'll enjoy Iguchi's grand slam and good baseball.
AJ is a bitch, no two ways about it. It was a questionable play, the plate-slap was unwarranted and then he shoulder checked Barrett all under the guise of "getting his helmet." Maybe AJ doesn't like the bat boys doing stuff like that for him. Whenever he hits the ball he first runs his bat over to the dugout and then makes his way to first. That's the kind of stand up guy he is.
And please don't confuse me, The Curmedgeon, with "curmedgeon". I'm a bitter caucasian Lakeview resident that knows how to pronounce things like "beer," "whiskey," and "rock & roll." While not entirely partial to either team, I'd rather eat glass then go to a Sox game.
i love that you cubs fans are thinking that AJ shoulder checked barrett. he was clearly walking around him, which is why barrett needed to extend his arm and pull him into a hug.
you guys are hilarious.
He was shoulder checking him. He wasn't getting his helmet, that's total BS. The helmet was 15 feet away from him and AJ didn't like being called a bitch so he checked him and Barrett took the next step.
Listen things happened.
But remember, it's not hockey, it's baseball.
ps.
I smell a certain Centennial Celebration coming!
GO SOX!
My favorite thing about Sox fans is now that they've won the World Series, they act like their team has been doing it for the last 88 years.
Mike, your team is in chambles and the only joy you have is watching Barrett sucker punch Pierzinski. Dude, seek some counseling
You mean shambles?...and yes, the Cubs are in shambles and yes I got a lot of satisfaction from the fight. But get off your high horse. It wasn't too long ago that Sox fans (with their team in the toilet) got a lot of satisfaction out of the Cubs losing a game. You can still go to Comiskullar Field and hear cheers throughout the park as fans look up to the scoreboard and see a Cubs loss. Pretty pathetic.
You're turning loss into hate Michael, seriously seek counseling, you have more issues than the Cubs losing
I love the Cubs, but I don't particularly love the fact that I was PUNCHED in the BACK by a fellow Cubs fan (a large middle-aged man-- I am a small 20-something woman) for no particular reason after a game a couple weeks ago. I hate to admit that there's any truth to the notion of Cubs fans being violent, but the gigantic bruise on my back said otherwise.
Um Mike, you might want to check the two teams W-L percentages for the last 50+ years.
Sure there have been some down seasons, but the Sox have clearly been the better team. Not just last year, but for, oh, three generations.
White Sox
Wins=4552 / Losses=4288 / Win Percentage=.515
Cubs
Wins=4142 / Losses=4691 / Win Percentage=.469
The Sox have only won a single title, but how many have the Cubs won again?
Sorry, but Cubs fans can NEVER talk seriously about the Cubs playing better baseball than the Sox overall. The numbers don't lie.
AJ might be the biggest jerk in the world. He did slap the plate, which was probably to show up Barrett. Neither things are a legimate reason for Barrett to punch him. This is baseball, not hockey. If showing up another player is cause for a punch, then Carlos Zambrano has a lot of beatings coming his way.
Barrett has a history of overreacting to plays. Funny that this is rarely mentioned, yet AJ's rep as an instigator is tossed all over the place. This is called "blaming the victim" in this case. I'm not going to argue that AJ is a good guy or anything like that. I'm very well aware of his repuation. If you like see Pierzynski being punched, that's fine, but face the fact the Michael Barrett is 100% in the wrong. His punch was clearly motivated by the play itself (which was clean and legal), as evidenced by his "I didn't have the ball..." comment as he swung his fist at AJ. As for all this "Pierzynski should have slid" nonsense...well, no, that's not true. Barrett should not have been blocking the plate when he didn't have the ball. AJ was in his rights to do what he did and Barrett was not.
I met Barrett at O'Hare once and was actually on the same flight as him. He had a freezer-sized zip-lock bag filled with bacon that he snacked on before boarding the plane, and for most of the flight to Miami. He declined water and instead had black coffee, eating the bacon all the while.
I'm so glad I wasn't sitting any closer, that breath had to have smelled like a dead dog.
The Barrett-Pierzynski melodrama has legs because it's such a perfect metaphor of Soxdom vs. Cubdom. Barrett is the clean-cut kid who is at least slightly repelled by his counterpart to the south. With plenty of encouragement from the whiny parts of his team's fan base, he can't help playing the victim, even though he knows he's wrong.
On the other hand, AJ is a rough-edged guy who thrives more by guile and determination than by sheer talent. He ain't pretty, but all he does is win. He has fun playing up his street cred until that image overtakes the reality and the mainstream media start demonizing him as some kind of thug. Any wonder why Sox fans love him?
And to Cub fans, AJ symbolizes everything they hate about the Sox. No sportswriter could've invented a more perfect pair of stereotypes to represent these two teams, and that's partly why this controversy won't go away overnight.
Maybe it should have been William Donohue of the bogus catholic front, And a free-for-all, LOL!!!!!!!.
Or Jerry Falwell.
God, I hate the White Sox.
God, is there anything more annoying than White Sox fans? Nope. Ok, just checking.
I really hate Cub fans they are so annoying and they complain about everything just give it up your team sucks and will always suck.