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Cubs fire Sosa's assistant

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Sep 30, 2004 3:53PM

2004_09_sports_sosa_asst.jpgChicagoist questions Cubs management's decision to piss off their star slugger while the team is trying to win the Wild Card playoff spot. Nonetheless, the Cubs fired Julian Martinez, the personal assistant and friend to Sammy Sosa, after an altercation with a Wrigley Field security guard.

Last season, Sosa paid Martinez to take care of his equipment and the Cubs let his take batting practice and sit in the dugout during games. With tighter MLB rules governing hired entourages, the Cubs gave Martinez a job charting pitches and manning the radar gun so he could remain with the team. Sosa was lucky -- Barry Bonds and Jeremy Giambi lost their personal helpers.

However, an altercation with a Wrigley security guard two weeks ago led to the Cubs letting Martinez go, leaving Sosa without his lackey. Couldn't the team have waited until the season ended? Now who's going to cork Sosa's bats?

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