NorthsideAvenger

Fixed. And it ain't the Cubs. --------------------------- Any trade NOW, would be a feeble attempt at trying to salvage a crappy season. Let's call a spade a spade, this season is pretty much done, and the Cubs should be looking to UNLOAD, instead of RELOAD.

I really don't know if performance or fan reaction matters one bit in terms of Dusty getting his extension. Maybe...but Hendry knows he would be BURNED AT THE STAKE by the media if he even tried to give Baker an extension.

Silver lining: As long as the Cubs continue to play worse then the "Benchwarmers" (Heder/Schneider/Spade), then Hendry has to keep Baker's "extension" in his back pocket. And if the Cubs play bad long enough, then Hendry can not ever justify giving Baker and extension.

Yeah, well...those 79 pitches might be enough for Nolasco to throw a complete game shutout against the Cubs.

Mike Piazza was a 62nd round pick, and the only reason Lasorda took him was as a favor to Piazza's relative (I forget which one exactly). Why can't we catch that? Maybe because....Piazza is the exception and not the rule. Name another player from rds 45-60 who is likely going to the HOF? Heck name another from rds 45-60, who is EVEN playing in the majors? Well, since 1998 the MLB has limited the draft to 50 rounds, that limits a lot of "current" players who were in the 45-60 range. Yes Mike Piazza is an exception to the trend. But so are Keith Hernandez (rd 42 1971), Kenny Rogers (rd 39, 1982), Jeff Conine (rd 58, 1987), Isringhausen (rd 44, 1991), and Mark Buehrle (rd 37, 1998). And just as an aside, Scott Seabol, who was on the 2001 Yankees AL-Champions, was an 88th round pick. I drew my line in the sand at rd 35, because no matter where you draw it, it's rather arbitrary. These guys are exceptions. But looking at draft histories, the success of 1st rounders while becoming more commonly contributors in the Majors, success isn't a guarantee at all. Many of them never make it at all. And yet...only Buehrle is the only one that COULD be a HOF when it is said and done. The point is....somebody wonder why the Cubs couldn't catch a break and find a Mike Piazza late in the draft, and all I said was...the Dodgers were pretty much lucky in finding Piazza.

This is the best post out of all of them on the subject. I mean it will suck not having Barrett, but AJP is an idiot and needed a good punching...plus, his take on the fight i don't take a lot of stock into...he could have avoided barrett on the walk to his helmet.......plus, it made my saturday a lot more bearable Agreed. I'm tired of these "high morals" people (not naming anybody in particular)who think Barrett should had been the bigger person and not slug AJ. AJ's bowling over Barrett may have been considered "clean", but ask anybody in the clubhouse of any team(maybe outside of White Sox) and they will tell you...that AJ was in the wrong. You DON'T take out the cathcer, if he doesn't have the ball, regardless if he has the ball or not. How much simpler can I get. AJ should had done a hook slide, plain and simple. And I am GLAD Barrett punch AJ. Besides Barrett did not "sucker punch" AJ. Sucker punch means not to see the punch coming. AJ clearly was looking at Barrett, when he was swinging. AJ knew the punch was coming, just he couldn't react in time to block.

Can saying tell me why...Hidalgo is still available? Reason to me suggest he might be a decent platoon player in RF with Jacques Jones.

Kyle Farnsworth :) Well, d'uh. Name ANOTHER? :lol:

To me...Gonzalez didn't retired...he quit. He'll be back in 2 yrs, tops. Better IMB?

Those of you defending Hill for his comments can give it a rest now. He knows he screwed up, and that only hastened his departure to AAA. Please...all that tells me is that Hendry/Baker got to Rich Hill, and coached him into making those statements. I know, I know...Baker and "coached" in the same sentence? :?

I don't give a darn tootin' about the "social environment" or the "pecking order", if Hill wanted to make a comment on the play, he was entitle to his opinion, because he was playing at the time of the play. I don't believe a guy like Nefti Perez would have more say in situation like the "Barrett/AJP", a guy who is on the bench, then a guy like Hill who was ACTUALLY playing at the time of the incident. Sorry, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A VET, that have an opinion about a play, and I am refresh that a "young player" has the balls to call out a veteran.

I was asleep through the game.....and I wanted to add my two cents about the whole Hawk "trash-talking" statement. Of course...AJ hit harder then Barrett...HE WAS RUNNING AT FULL SPEED, Hawk you brain surgeon you. :roll: But Barrett took away AJ's "manhood" with that jab that even Muhommad Ali would have been proud of. Hawk Harrelson makes me so very happy....that he isn't the Cubs announcer. In fact, listening to Hawk (I have in the past) makes me appreciate Len Kasper/Bob Brenly all that much more. It also makes you wonder why Tom Paciorek left the White Sox? I know Tom said for family reasons, and that the ATL was a better opportunity, but COME ON.....something tells me Paciorek left the White Sox, cause he couldn't stand Hawk. Hawk needs to be HIGHLY sedated and put in a nursing home, cause the nursing home is the only place he can be ACTUALLY useful. AJ made hit "harder" at FULL SPEED, but when it comes to a stand up fight....AJ had his BUTT handed to him. :lol: Thus...Barrett=winner by KO. Is it me...or does anybody else remember when Hawk retired from baseball to pursue playing professional golf?

That's garbage. He's not defending him because what he did was stupid. He should still be fired, though, along with the rest of his coaches and the front office. So defending yourself, in what it looks like a "dirty play" by a "dirty player" is what you call "stupid?" Remind me, to never play baseball/softball with you.

Mike Piazza was a 62nd round pick, and the only reason Lasorda took him was as a favor to Piazza's relative (I forget which one exactly). Why can't we catch that? Maybe because....Piazza is the exception and not the rule. Name another player from rds 45-60 who is likely going to the HOF? Heck name another from rds 45-60, who is EVEN playing in the majors?

four times. billingsley's the better prospect. Why because he can throw the ball harder then Marshall? Well...so can Angel Guzman. And I DO consider Angel is the same class with Billingsley. So, yeah...Billingsley is the better "prospect", but the Cubs IMO, have the better PITCHER.

To the NAYSAYER of Michael Barrett: From: And upset fan Subject: Calling what Barrett did, "stupid" and "embarrassing." How many of you people have EVER played the position of catcher? It's not a position that ALOT of people volunteer to play. In fact...there is a reason why catcher has the mantra of "Tools of ignorance." Now, with that said....I was a FORMER catcher. Played the position till I tore up my knee so bad, that the docs told me that I could continue to play and have a lasting limp (the Darren Daulton syndrome, so to speak), or give up being a catcher and walk perfectically normal. I chose walking normal. To say...I've been "bowled over" a few times, is an understatement. So to say....I have a unique POV of the situation. What AJP did was by far, classless, stupid, and beyond "reckless." All Barrett was doing was trying to defend himself against a player who was trying to hurt him. Barrett didn't do ANYTHING that any of us would have done in the same situation. As a former player/catcher, I would be have been rougher on AJ then Barrett was. Barrett had NO DEEP INCENTIVES to starting this fight....no he was protecting himself. And for those who are downplaying what Barrett did, needs to play the position in a high level competition before you pass judgement on what Barrett did. And the cruel irony of this situation is....AJ will get a "day off" tomorrow to heal up his pride, and Barrett will suspended, even tho is was AJ who instigated the the whole fight with his actions. Michael Barrett is my hero. He is "THE MAN."

"Hey, AJ, your mama call, she says she wants her baseballs back." "Hey AJ, N'Sync is reforming. They are looking for their "tough guy." "AJ, this isn't wrestling, you have to hit harder then a small child." "Hey AJ, can you translate what Ozzie Guillen is saying, since you are the MASTER of the bullcrap." "AJ, I hear your name is up for the leading role in TransAmerica 2."(For those who don't know...Transamerica stars Felocity Huffman as a man trying to crossdress as a woman) .....

First: The play" was "pathetic, and AJ is "gutless." Rich Hill is correct in his comments. Second: Is it me, or is Ozzie profanity just about the only words, that can made out when he talks? Listening to Ozzie speak is prolly the most challenging thing these reporters have to cover. I swear, after every few minutes, you have to ask Ozzie, "Dude, say what? "

Well, basically... The bases were loaded, AJP at third, Barrett catching. Sac fly to left, murton throws home. The ball was still bouncing down the third base line and AJP absouloutley PLOWED into barrett, elbows up. Uncalled for. Then after that he turned arouned and SLAPPED the plate real hard, just being an ass. So as he walks away barrett stood up and grabbed him, and said something ot him, then JACKED him square in the jaw. Then turned and did the same to whoever was on deck, who of course came running to the plate. THen the ump pulled barrett back onto his back and a huge brawl erupted Mabry and Anderson got into a little cat fight and they got ejected as well. Hil was terrible. First: :twisted: :lol: on Barrett beating the crap out of AJP. I don't have a personal problems with any White Sox players, outside of AJP and Jenks. And to hear Barrett beat the crap out of him....BEAUTIFUL. Second: Why is Barrett the only player to show some "fire" in the last couple of weeks? Third: Why is Hill still in Chicago, and Ryu in AAA?

Sometimes, a move is just a move. Why waste the time and effort on a talented, but YET very raw kid like Negron. Couldn't hurt by taking this gamble. And no, picking up Negron, does not automatically mean Pierre is going anywhere.....at least not till the deadline.

Nah.....Hendry doesn't have to be defensive about this team. :roll:

Why is anybody surprise that the Cubs have performed this badly against the White Sox? In the last 2 to 3 weeks, the ONLY team the Cubs could "beat up on" was the Washington Nationals, the only team that would be WORSE then the Cubs offensively. The lack of baseball IQ is astounding, (I guess IQ to the Cubs means, "I quit.")

I hope these "tongue lashings" continue to light a fire under McGrath and Sullivan. I hope they KEEP POUNDING Hendry/MacPhail and the Cubs organization for their lack of integrity, their lack of baseball plan, and flat out their lack of common sense. Keep these guys FEELING THE HEAT. They have been too comfortable with there roles for too long. Enough is enough. If you read this, Bruce Miles, same applies to you. Keep th heat on.

Ozzie may be right, but Ozzie has his OWN club to contend with. Ozzie isn't on the Cubs payroll, thus he needs to keep his nose out of the Cubs business. Maybe Ozzie consistancy ripping the Cubs is his way of trying to get the White Sox more press, but...it goes back to the old "you worry about your own team, before you worry about mine team" theory. Ozzie needs to just "shut the heck up."

(heavy sighs)