Cubs implode!

It's not that Barrett can't catch - he does a great job. The problem, is, has been and will continue to be Zambrano. He is a hot head who has been performing badly since the beginning of the season. Get rid of him before he causes more trouble.

Roman responds: Sandy, my friend, please take back what you said about Barrett doing a great job catching. He led the NL in passed balls last season and is off to a worse season this year. He's horrible, can't catch, can't throw, not hitting this year and we've seen him make the worst baserunning mistakes of the season. Other than that ... oh yeah, other than that he's fighting his own teammates now. Although it did appear Zambrano started it.

This is a fitting way to end the pathetic ownership of this team. The tribune can't sell this team fast enough.

Roman? Uncle Lou must be regretting his decision to come here and take this job. Do you guys get a sense of that when you chat him up after games? There's visible frustration and then there's the look of sheer hopelessness. Does he have the latter yet? Is Uncle Lou getting a far away look in his eyes? Like he's thinking he'd rather be anywhere else?

Just another episode for a sad franchise......

I understand frustration, I understand anger, I understand loss.
Let's not forget, all those people who pay your salary.
Some where we forgot about those millions of fans.
The ones , that still hope.
The ones who work at a job, that makes them sick.
The ones, who send their kids to school, knowing they may never see them again.
The ones, over in another country, fighting for something to believe in.
We still got to believe.
After all, isn't that the american way?

Thank you Mr. Zambrano for slugging that knuckleheaded Barrett. The White Sox have not been the same since he threw that punch and A.J. Pierzynski didn't retaliate. I do not apologize, you don't let another man just cold-cock you like that and do nothing. And do NOT ONE PERSON tell me this is not Boxing!!

Hey Kenny, trade for Zambrano, we could use his arm, bat and fiestiness right about now.

Go White Sox!!

White Sox, please go-go before it is too late...

I believe the problem starts at the top, I know changes were made, but there is no chemistry with this club. Zambrano must go, try to trade him before the trade dead line. Last but not least give us Cubs fans a owner that will made this club go.

I believe the problem starts at the top, I know changes were made, but there is no chemistry with this club. Zambrano must go, try to trade him before the trade dead line. Last but not least give us Cubs fans a owner that will made this club go.

Roman is right. Barrett is a no-talent hack who had his "career year" at the plate last year, batting over .300 for the first time, and still his season wasn't all that great. Included in the season was the chickens%&t sucker punch on A.J., and some fans suddenly think he's a hero?

If there's anyone that needs to go away on this team right now (besides the worthless Kerry Wood), it's Barrett. Like Roman said, even if he COULD hit, he can't catch. And his fundamentals are typical Dusty Baker-era Cubs...terrible.

As Bob Uecker said in Major League II when Ricky Vaughn and Willie Mays Hayes went at it in the dugout, "For the first time this year the (substitute Cubs for Indians) are showing signs of life". Unfortunately, this isn't going to have a happy ending like the movie did.

Zambrano needs to win a game or two before he starts his chirping. When you are the ace and you have the 3rd worst ERA on the team, time to look in the mirror for where the trouble starts

Its not as if Barrett let in all those runs. He was responsible for one. Carlos should have punched himself in the face for how badly he pitched.

Regardless of Barrett's miscues, it takes a lot of arrogance to start pointing fingers after giving up 13 hits in five innings. Many of the hardest-hit balls off Zambrano today came on 1-2 or 2-2 counts. The guy has no command this year. That, I think, is a much bigger problem for the Cubs than Barrett, who's second on the club in HRs and third in RBIs.

Roman responds: No question Zambrano was out of line showing him up like that.

Some of this stuff gets blown out of proportion. How many of us, even playing pick-up ball games as kids, didn't get mad at someone on our team because they either struck out, or made a bad play at a critical time. This is just frustration that should be handled quietly behind closed Cub doors.

If they can't hit the ball, they might as hit each other.

The Cubs are a joke. They are a disgrace to baseball. Barrett got what was coming to him. It's ashame that the morons still will go see that piece of crap team.

Why the Cubs can't win is quite obvious. They are a dumb team and really aren't very good at playing fundamental baseball. Barret has always been suspect. The catcher position first of all requires sound defensive ability and Barrent gets a grade of D minus. Zambrano is a hot head and the Cubs should not invest big bucks. Let him walk if the price is high. Jones also is a mistake. He has no arm and you need that in center and right field. Murton can't field. All in all they need smart and good defensive players first as well as good athleets. Excuse the spelling errors.

What a bunch of basketcases. This goes beyond just underachieving. It's obvious that there's some "me" players on this team, and they need to go. And you want a raise Carlos? For what, being a bigger nutcase than you already were? How about earning your money by trying to actually prepare for a season and getting yourself ready from day one? Barrett's no better, who's actually surprised that he passed that ball in the 5th? Hard to catch anything when your head's in a dark place, as a cleaned up version of the saying goes. There are several Cubbies who right now are stealing paychecks, and I think they and we all know who they are.

Trade Zambrano. He's not worth what he is asking and is an obvious cancer on the team.

Maybe Barrett just wasn't warmed up yet given how few balls he had the opportunity to catch up until that point (since the Braves kept hitting everything Zambrano threw).

Oh, and the rest of the teams sucks big time too (except Lee...shout out to the big man!).

Implode? How about blow up. I am really tired of this. Being a Cubs fan is not much fun anymore. It's time to get rid of a bunch of these not so loveable losers! The only player/players that are untouchable are Lee, Hill, Wuertz, and Theriot. They can get rid of the rest of them including the GM Hendry. He is ultimately responsible for putting together this team. I live and S. Illinois and I can hear all the Crudnal fans laughing about this one. What an "expletive" mess! I feel sorry for Lou. I don't think he knew what he was getting into.

The main problem and it has been all year is fundamentals. What the hell is Lou doing w/ this team other than yelling at them? These guys cannot hit the cut off man, and half the time the ball is popped into the air they nearly collide into each other. They get thrown out on the basepaths, it is ridiculous. Would this have happened under the guidance of Joe Girardi? I don't think so. Lou has to go, and so does Hendry for compiling this sad sack of shingles!!

It's way too early to trade Zambrano. Him turning it around is one ingredient we have to have in order to get back into the race. But, it is way past time that we should have traded Barrett. He has cost us countless games this season. No one thinks of him as being the common factor in the bullpen being so bad. Maybe he makes bad decisions in his pitch calling, too. With the hitting we have we can stand to get a great defensive catcher who lacks pop, but calls a great game and throws out runners. Lets unload Barrett now.

Sounds to me like Zambrano, who was already frustrated by his pitching in the game at that point, got mad at Barrett for making a throwing error. One throwing error is the LEAST on the problems with the Cubs.

Part of the problem are the fans. They're too nice. If this was Philly, there'd have been a riot by now. Maybe if 20,000 showed up a few times instead of selling the joint out like a bunch of dumbed down sheep, management would concentrate on fielding a good team, instead of a pro wrastlin' act. If management thinks were gonna keep watchin' and paying to see this this crap, they'll never get it right. Why should they care if we keep on coming to the stadium like a bunch of morons.

Braves fan here..

It's not Lou's fault. Fundamentals are taught way before players get to the MLB. How does he teach Murton to catch a ball, for example.
The Cubs have had manager after manager. It doesn't make a difference. The Cubs have to teach these guys beginning at Rookie League. That's how the Braves have done it. Bobby Cox is really not that great of a manager, but he has players who were taught from day 1 about how to do the fundamentals.

Good luck, Cubs.

Zambrano ace? How about head case? I think he has an informal answer on his massive salary request.

Barrett has never been good behind the plate. I think that if you check with other major leaguers you will find that he does not call a smart game or handle his pitchers very well. He had to know that Z as upset after all the gaffs but did not visit the mound to talk to HIS pitcher. TOO Many dumb mistakes by a guy that hasn't corrected his dumb mistakes.

For this, they fired Dusty Baker

WOW!!!!! Can it get any worse? Barrett I will say it now has been lackluster at best behind the plate. Zambrano? Can we get back 2 back big league pitching from him? "Mr. I will win the Cy!! We will win the division. This team is not meshing. Sorry Lou. It is not your fault.....

This was hilarious. $300 million dollars spent and this is the best action Cub fans have seen all year. The entire organization should be ashamed. If the Cubs sign Zambrano after this incident, they should be ashamed. The is the worst franchise in all of professional sports hands down.

Hey.Roman, ease up on Barrett. It's been a tough season for everybody.Lee struck out several times in R.B.I. situations,as did Ramirez, Soriano, Theriot, and almost everybody else. Tha big Z. needs to grow up and accept his own inadequacies rather than blaming umpires, teammates, and, I suspect, the locker room, which he probably trashed. I can understand slugging anything close when frustrated, but I quit doing that when I was about twelve.

Roman responds: Yeah, I know. But when I saw Barrett cough up another passed ball and then throw another one away, I just shook my head. What's he doing back there?

The Curse and The Goat.........what a pair!

Roman, I can't say that I agree with your statement that Barrett can't catch. You say he lead the league in Passed Balls (10), his pitching staff that same year combined for 54 Wild Pitches. So let's be fair that staff wasn't exactly stellar last year and as far as the baserunning mistakes, you have been watching this year. The whole team has practically dumbed down at one point or another this year. So come on. I will give you he may not be the best defensive catcher in the world but he is not the worst. And for all of the fair weather Cubs fans that are once again assigning blame remember you were the same ones that blamed Dusty for Cubs Nation's troubles and ran him out of town. So who's fault is it now?

Roman responds: Ian, I don't mean to ascribe all of the Cubs' problems to Barrett, but I think he is a big part of the problem. No pitcher seems to want him as the catcher. Maddux didn't and neither did Prior or Wood, and neither does Zambrano. There has to be a reason. Not only does he lead the league in passed balls, he can't throw anyone out. In fact, I think there's as much a chance his throw will go into the outfield as catch the runner. As far as the base-running, granted - he's a catcher, and catchers aren't great baserunners. So then he shouldn't stray off and get caught or try to stretch hits. Tell me one thing he does well, at least this season.

Z is not the problem, Barrett the sissy sucker puncher is. This guy makes more mistakes than a little leaguer...pitchers need consistency behind the plate and the only thing Barrett has brough is consitent poor play. Can't throw, can't call a game, can't catch, and now can't hit...also can't punch...should have let Z tear his sissy behind up right in the dugout then given Barrett his release immediately after.

Just face it the cubs are a bad organization. Hopefully the new owners will totally clean house. This is a train wreck going downhill fast.

Roman responds: It's hard to argue. I try to stay away from the knee-jerk reaction, but this does seem like it's as bad as it gets.

Blow it up!! Becoming sick and tired of being a long suffering cubs fan. Gotta trade Zambrano! and Barrett for that matter. Bullpen is a joke! Outfield isn't much better. Another incredibly dissapointing year. The division is up for grabs and these overpaid idiots cant play ball. Blow it up!!

lou go back to little leauge fundamentals? p.s. please hussle?

Big Z has no complaint. He was talking Cy Young before the season, now he's 5-5 with an ERA near 6. Maybe he should punch himself.

Carlos Zambrano did his team a favor. It's about time a Cub player called out one of his teammates for making dumb plays. Way to go Carlos!

Good Points Roman.

But then that seems to scream of an organizational problem doesn't it? If this guy isn't desired by his staff then why has he not been shown the door. I think some earlier posters hit the nail on the head. These guys get paid way too much money to make fundamental mistakes. When you're talking that much $$$ there's no excuse. Also whether it's a sport or not this is your job the fans of Cubs Nation deserve professionalism. In their execution and their behavior.

Thanks for the quick response.

Roman responds: Didn't Lou promise that the one thing Cubs fans can expect is sound, fundamental baseball? To some degree, he has to be held accountable. I can tell you this, if Dusty still were in charge, people would be calling for his head.

I agree with Lou's comments (Finally with some fire) about the team as a whole at the end of his news conference. This team is one of the worst Cubs teams in recent memory. They simply can't, or perhaps won't, play baseball.

Remember there is no "Team" in "I."

The fight isn't worth discussing in comparison!

Will Barrett and Zambrano be on a T-Shirt that I can buy tomorrow? I could add it to my T-Shirt with Barrett from last year.

Roman responds: That's funny. I bet you see a T-shirt with them no later than Sunday.

I wish the Cubs would trade D Lee. He doesn't deserve this crap.

Wow Roman isn't showing any favoritism at all. I suppose next up, we'll put the blame on how many walks Cubs pitchers gave up on his shoulder as well. Barrett is merely an average defensive catcher, with above average offense at that position.

We admire Zambrano for his fire, and his ability; but at the same time that 'fire' must be controlled and channeled into a productive manner. Of course this season he isn't pitching well at all, and this just magnifies his inability to control his emotions. Barrett was expecting the pitch to land on the left side of the plate, and instead it ended up moving away on the right side, and the hurried throw to third was off its mark. If that was the only run in that inning to cross the plate, then fine...but who's fault were the other runs? Is Zambrano going to start confronting everybody that made an error now? As if every run scored on him is some vast conspiracy from the team? His velocity is down, his mechanics are at best inconsistent, and on top of that he takes his frustrations out on his teammates. His ego, and cry-baby mentality is rapidly approaching Sosa-type levels. The only difference here is that the Cubs have the option of letting him go to free agency, and not have to swallow a huge contract.

Right now, Zambrano isn't helping himself no matter what the result. Pitching poorly, and punching teammates aren't exactly redeeming qualities that the Cubs, or any other team for that matter, really would want to fork over a huge contract for. I would love to see Zambrano grow up and pitch like he's capable of doing - we all know he has the talent. However, If all he's going to do is allow himself to completely unravel every time he makes a mistake, and cause the rest of the team to walk on eggshells around him, I would rather the Cubs not re-sign him, and spend that cash on a pitcher that may not be as talented, but at the very least takes out his frustrations on the other team.

Roman responds: I'm not blaming Barrett for the fight. It seems Zambrano started it by showing him up, as I wrote. You must have missed that. Although it will be interesting to learn what Barrett said.
So an "average" defensive catcher leads the league in passed balls? I don't think so. You can't blame anyone but the catcher for passed balls. Stolen bases? I'll give you that sometimes it's the pitcher's fault.
Like I wrote in another blog, I have Zambrano listed as the most disappointing player on either Chicago team. You must have missed that, too.
And as far as where Barrett was expecting the pitch, give me a break. Piniella said there was no miscommunication on the pitch.

Who cares? The Yankees of the seventies fought. The A's of the same era didn't get along. Both players are a HUGE disappointment this year so far. It easy to say Barrett can't throw out would be base stealers because the numbers say that. The numbers don't tell you who's pitching, their delivery, little things like that. In terms of the pass balls, the numbers don't include the number of different starters the Cubs have had the last couple of years. This is Zambrano letting his mouth overload his butt and the frustration of poor performance all year from this "ace."

The "Zambrano curse" is in effect. Isn't he the one who said he would win the CY Young award and the Cub's would go to the world series? It was actually more entertaining watching Zambrano and Barrett go at each other than watching the game!

This entire incident and this entire season so far has made me embarrassed to be a Cub fan.

This brawl obviously is the current culmination of this dissapointing Cubs season. I do not agree though with zambrano striking the man who is calling his pitches. It is still way too early in a not very competitive division to be letting this kind of behavior happen. A huge rift has now formed, and it's not between the north and south siders as it was the case last year, we're talking within the same team now. With the Cubs/Sox brawl, each guy was willing to put themselves in danger for their own team, but now with the Cubs, a team with clear chemistry problems as previous people have said, such is not the case. You wonder if a fight like this is going to spark your team, frankly, it appears that the spark has been long gone. Players need to take responsibility for their actions. Carlos needs to realize that Theriot and Murton made two garbage plays that gave the braves an early lead. Also, Carlos needs to realize that no other Cubs pitcher is having this bad of a slump as he is having. I don't even know if this is a slump anymore; it seems like consistency to me. I know he provides life to the team when he is pitching well, but I'd denounce myself as a diehard Cubs fan first before his horrible pitching ruins my faith in the Cubs.

This brawl obviously is the current culmination of this dissapointing Cubs season. I do not agree though with zambrano striking the man who is calling his pitches. It is still way too early in a not very competitive division to be letting this kind of behavior happen. A huge rift has now formed, and it's not between the north and south siders as it was the case last year, we're talking within the same team now. With the Cubs/Sox brawl, each guy was willing to put themselves in danger for their own team, but now with the Cubs, a team with clear chemistry problems as previous people have said, such is not the case. You wonder if a fight like this is going to spark your team, frankly, it appears that the spark has been long gone. Players need to take responsibility for their actions. Carlos needs to realize that Theriot and Murton made two garbage plays that gave the braves an early lead. Also, Carlos needs to realize that no other Cubs pitcher is having this bad of a slump as he is having. I don't even know if this is a slump anymore; it seems like consistency to me. I know he provides life to the team when he is pitching well, but I'd denounce myself as a diehard Cubs fan first before his horrible pitching ruins my faith in the Cubs.

$300 million to purchase these team members, and you cannot get a good fight! Should have gotten rid of Zambrano long ago; he has an attitude problem that is pervasive. In all my decades watching the Cubs, I have never seen a team this (totally) useless and not worth watching. It is ashame because being in Wrigely Field is an joy. Bring back the BEARS (to Wrigely Field) and give us some entertainment.

Slugfest is a complicated issue.

First, blame Cub fans who have been in a state of denial for many years; they are satisfied with a "you can't beat fun at the ole ball park" mentality and could care less about a pennant. Consequently, the players may now be realizing how bad the team has been for many decades, even though the fans are oblivious to the state of the team.

Second, the box office receipts at Wrigley validate the point above.

Third, the answer may be to sell the team and relocate it: start fresh with a new team with a new name as was the case with the Cleveland Browns.

Shame on the fans for not talking professional baseball on the Northside seriously!

ROMAN, YOU SEEM TO PUT THE BLAME ON BARRETT,BUT REMEMBER THAT BARRETT COUGHT MOST OF BIG Z'S GAME LAST YEAR WHEN HE HAD 16 WINS. BOTTOM LINE 'Z' IS NOT PITCHING LIKE HE USED TO. AS FAR AS PRIOR AND WOODS ARE CONCERNED, SEEMS TO ME THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING THE BLAME ON EVERY ONE EXCEPT THEMSEVES. I DO NOT BELIEVE BARRETT IS THE BEST CATCHER IN BASEBALL BUT HE IS FAR FROM BEING THE WORST. I WATCHED THE GAME AND TE REPLAY AND IF YOU SEEN WHAT I SEEN YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT HE WAS SET UP ON HIS RIGHT SIDE, WHICH IS WHERE HE EXPECTED THE PITCH TO BE PITCHED. Z'S PITCH CAME IN WAY TO BARRETTS LEFT SIDE. I DO NOT GIVE BARRETT A FREE PASS ON HIS HIGH NUMBER OF PASSED BALLS,BUT IF YOU NOTICE MOST OF HIS PASSED BALLS WERE TO HIS RIGHT. FOR WHICH I BLAME THE CATCHING
COACH. HE NEEDS TO LEARD HOW TO SHIFT TO HIS RIGHT, TO BLOCK THE BALL AND NOT JUST REACH FOR THE BALL WITH HIS LEFT HAND.

A- Rod needs to join this team and then it will complete our bush league team. Its hard enough living in Cardinal country with us losing but then this crapt almost makes it unbearable. Why not let some oung guys have a few more opportunities. Losing with Jones instead of Pie doesn't make much sense, Jones isn't going to raise his trade value any its obvious he is just a meaningless homer or hit guy. The Braves announcers where pretty much laughing at us and if Brenly and wgn has any balls they will rake this team over the coals but instead they will suck up afraid of what happened to Chip and Steve

Why all this fussin' about the altercation between Barrett and Zambrano? Anyone that has watched the Cubs with any frequency knows they never hit anything they swing at. If Barrett has a split lip it's only because he missed another fastball down the middle, the ball hit his catcher's mask and the mask did the damage!! This whole fiasco known as the Chicago Cubs has far surpassed priceless. In the field and running the bases they remind me of Jerry's Kids, their "icon" manager, Lou Pinella, has let the game pass him by as he has aged, the Tribune is watching the price they will get for the team whither away with each pathetic loss, McDonough and Hendry, well, perhaps Walgreen's is hiring, 100 million dollar payroll and most of the Portage Park little league teams can beat 'em, the booing of the home team by their own fans can be heard from Lake Michigan to Gurnee and all of this after Pinella flatly stated "We'll win here.....management went out and got me the players I need to win with". The only way the disgust of Cub fans will be recognized and addressed is if they simply refuse to support what amounts to a Double A team at major league prices. What a statement it would be if the majority of fans in attendance stood up and left in the 5th inning of the next lop-sided blow-out in which the Cubs were getting pasted (probably tomorrow's game). That would have a heckuva lot more effect than moanin' and criticizin' because counting your money means a whole lot more to them than your feelings....

Zambrano needs to grow up and accept responsibility for his own poor performance today. If the rest of the team had the same work ethic as Barrett and the same level of personal accountability, perhaps the team would be performing closer to expectations. Barrett routinely steps up and admits his mistakes and pledges to try harder. He doesn't try to shift the blame to another teammate. Certainly can't say that about the hotheaded and immature Zambrano. And, how quickly we forget, but Barrett had a near all-star year last year, on a terrible team. By the way, it's only June 1- isn't it a little early to panic?

It seemed like we were playing better with Pie in the lineup earlier in the year. Pagan and Pie seem like the only consistent outfielders. I say play Pie, Pagan, and Soriano in the outfield, same infield as today and get a good defensive catcher, and that will make for a much better team. We'd have speed and pop. Two of the Cubs' worst "baseball thinkers" are at catcher and centerfielder when Jones plays there. That makes for a poor defensive team all around. And, let me reiterate what I said before...Trading Zambrano now would be a white flag statement. We'll get the same or more for him later, if need be.

Roman,
I would not consider this a knee jerk reaction. This team and organization has gone hill since the famous Bartman incident. The only thing they have gotten good at is macking excuses. Pinella was a breath of fresh air, but I am afraid the cubs sindrom will drag him down like it has everybody else.
Thank You

The Cubs need to make changes.... FAST!! Trade Zambrano and an outfielder for top notch pitchers and a middle infielder. Bring up Pie and start him in Center. Pie brings some fire and energy (along with solid fundamentals) that the Cubs are lacking big time.

Both Zambrano and Barrett have short fuses. Z has always had "potential," but it was painfully obvious to any real fan of the game that his head is not quite right. Find me one Hall of Fame pitcher that has so consistently "lost it" like Zambrano. Baseball is a game of control and strategy, not to mention execution, and a pitcher's emotions need to be in check. Part of being successful almost requires baseball's version of a poker face on the mound. All the great ones had it. Zambrano will never be a top-line pitcher because he doesn't act mature enough.
Barrett was Jim Hendry's answer in '04 to the fan's complaints that Damian Miller was an automatic out. They were right. But what Hendry didn't know was that Miller could call a better game, and seemed to know not only opposing hitters better than Barrett does, but also baseball strategy better as well. No one argues that offense is important from a catcher, but when you figure in how many runs the opposition is getting because of the catcher's bad signs, bad defense behind the plate, and bad positioning of other fielders, Barrett would have to be better than Derrek Lee at the plate to make up the difference. I won't even mention his bad decisions throwing the ball, his accuracy problems, and his base-running gaffes. Oh, I just did.
But the problem is mainly an outgrowth of the building pressure this team has felt - not only since Lou Pinella got here, or even since John McDonough announced it was time to win, but since game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. As more and more flaws have become exposed, and as Jim Hendry's (and other management's) moves have revealed themselves to be making the team worse rather than better, the Cubs have been panicking and struggling mightily to prove they're really a good team. What the players themselves are beginning to realize is that being good at baseball is more important than the collective high-priced talent they represent. Without admitting it, many of the guys on this team are beginning to realize that maybe they're not as good as they - or their agent - portrayed them to be to Mr. Hendry. Still, shame on Hendry for slapping together guys without doing the necessary homework. And when he did sign a proven winner - aka Maddux in '04 - the rest of the team didn't pull it's weight. It's a "bottoming-out" we're witnessing now, a catharsis whereby the team and it's management faces the music they've made together - so unsweetly. A collective breath will emerge from this, and perhaps a real commitment to home-grown talent, as well. It will take an honest admission on the part of everyone involved that bad decisions have ruined this team. Hendry, gone after this year, has always seemed genuine in his desire to field and build a winner. But the perfect storm of bad homework on his part, and overwhelmingly bad faith in under-performing, unhealthy players for 3 years in a row, has conspired - along with a depleted farm system with bad coaching and bad talent - to make the Cubs the absolute laughing stock of professional baseball. Only John McDonough deserves pity, having not been around long enough in a position of influence to have created this mess.
If I were the GM, I'd work tirelessly to rid the Cubs of the high-priced talent that has plagued them more than helped them. They've shown an inability to handle pressure and to perform as even so many of the experts expected. Ramirez and Lee would stay, and I'd build a nucleus of youth around Theriot, Murton, Hill etc. Soriano can still be all that and a bag of chips, but Pinella has to remove him from the the lead-off spot. Just because he did it well in Washington doesn't mean he'll do it well here. How can a guy with his huge swing and propensity to strike out ever be considered for leading off? Why not Theriot? Oh well, when I heard Soriano would lead-off, I wrote off the Cubs this year. Perhaps sanity will come back to Wrigley, but it'll probably be next year under a new regime.

i went to the game tuesday and it was the same crap and embarrassment!
only g m henry can be accountable for it
boot pinny to gm and fire rothschild.
put henry as pres and hire giradi.
you cant keep zambrano or barrett git rid of them.
and change a few others.
and bring in some new guys.
and hope fer the best.

Well sure, the A's and Yanks may have had problems getting along with each other, but both teams managed to win the World Series multiple times. When was the last time the Cubs won it? Oh yeah, 99 years, soon to be 100. Also, maybe getting into scrapes playing pickup ballgames as kids is understandable, but Zambrano and Barrett are supposedly grown-ups who should know better. And Zambrano gets the finger pointed at him as instigator as far as I'm concerned, because he's the one who started ripping on Barrett in front of the whole team in the dugout and threw the first punch.

This is the by far the most disappointing moment of a 30+ year Cubfan's life. Bad enough that we lose playoff games and series we should have won. Bad enough that we trade the good ones and acquire the bad ones. Now we have to watch our team held up to even more ridicule than 98 years of futility provide. I think Lou should seriously talk to Mr. Hendry about recalling Pie, benching, cutting Jones, and settle on which two guys are in the middle of the infield. His lineup could remain constant, guys MIGHT get comfortable, and there is a small chance we might start winning a few. Even if we continue to stink, at least Pie is either getting experience that will help, or will be exposed as not quite the 5-tool guy we're told he is. I'd rather watch a rebuilding project than suffer through another week of "Major League", before they meshed!! I hope this sad episode will enable someone to make some changes before we sink to the level of the early 2000's Tigers.

First off I'd like to apologize for my assumption of favoritism on your part. That being said, I am a bit curious how much significance "leading the league" in passed balls alone, has against a catcher. If that's the case A.J. should be thankful that Mirabelli(11),Molina(11), Posada(13) and Hernandez(13) finished ahead of him in that category, because he also had 10 passed balls.

Barrett ranked 4th in FPCT in the league among catchers who caught 100 or more games, ranked the highest in stolen bases allowed, but ranked 8th in the number he caught stealing. 10th highest in number of errors, 8th in double plays, and 8th in Put Outs. I don't know about you, but that seems pretty average to me. Not that bad, not that good. Despite his problems, I'd still rather have him behind the plate (mainly for his bat) than Blanco.

as to the pitch location, check the replay...even Brenley commented about Barrett expecting the pitch to be in a different location than it ended up. Whether it was a miscomunication, or mis-execution that ball wasn't anywhere close to his glove.

Roman responds: I'll concede Barrett isn't the absolute worst catcher and may be closer to average than horrible. As far as the passed ball, I'll have to disagree the ball was "nowhere close to his glove.'' It actually hit his glove, and quite near the pocket.

The Cubs---like a majority of their alcoholic idiot fans and inbred tourists from Kansas--have zero class but all the money in the world to act like it. AND...AND NO WORLD SERIES WIN TO BOOT! I'm so glad I moved from Wrigleyville and back into the South Side.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned some drug testing on this Cubs team. When I see massive behavior changes and boneheaded ball playing, I gotta wonder if there isn't a chemical problem somewhere. It wouldn't surprise me if a beer guzzeling, pot smoking softball team couldn't beat these Cubbie Clowns.

This has got to be close to rock bottom, but we keep sinking. This is amazingly embarassing. Losing is one thing, but the organization is truly pathetic.

memo to new ownership: get rid of everyone starting at the top: hendry, mcdonough, and the rest of these tribune yes men (you too alderman tunney). all they cared about was getting their bleacher expansion and their new under armour ads in the outfield. wake up cubs fans! lou was brought in to sell tickets, the real move was to have hired giradi. they spent all that money this year for one reason- to increase the value of the team, do you really think they want to win when they know the lemmings will come out each and every year. cub nation is pathetic and really getting old. i have been a cub fan for 30 years and i can honestly say this is the bottom of the barrel. but hey who cares? hary carrys is coming to wrigleyville next year!

This is JUNE 1st, and Lou still hasn't come up with a starting line-up...how bad can it be. I know there aren't three good outfielders in the whole bunch. Last year I really liked Murton, but when he only plays part-time, and a new position,,,well, crap happens.

For someone to say Barrett is a good catcher must be his agent or a relative? I agree with Roman ,Barrett has 7 pass balls ,5 errors & numerous base running miscues.Barrett plays like his head is not in game. I can't blame Zambrano for going off on Barrett. Barrett gets paid big bucks & he's got to play smart ! All ballplayers make errors I have no problems with that. But in Barrett's case he continues to lead league as the worse fielding catcher year after year. Cubs need to rid themselves of the Jones's & Barrett's etc. who play with no brains errrr heart I mean!In Zambrano's case he hardly looks like a pitcher deserving of a huge contract. Cubs need to make some deals to rid themselves of the dead heads on team.

Zambrano will be pitching for one of the teams in New York next year and he will win 20 games. He will have no regrets about dusting off the crumbs of this sorry organization and moving on to better things like so many others before him. Cub fans will respond by giggling "Wait till next year" while they pack their rotting beer garden and all will be well in the house that losers built.
Line up for your 2008 tickets Cubbie fans and don’t let that silly baseball game distract you from your beer drinking.

The Cubs suck. They always have and they always will. The Sox aren't doing spectacular this season either, but they Cubs had way more hype around them. I love it when hyped people/teams crash horribly. See Michael Vick.

leave now lou. only the cubs could take a thoroughbred like lou pinella and break him down like a losing horse at sportsman park headed for the glue factory. leave now lou, what were you thinking taking this job? leave now while you still have your dignity. you didn't cause this mess and no one will blame you. these fools will blame the goat or the poor kid who wanted to catch a foul ball in a playoff game. leave now, you don't have to go down like the capatin of the titanic. the icebergs were placed in the field many years before you got here. leave now lou, we know you meant well.

Roman responds: Wait a minute, why are you feeling sorry for Lou? He's making a boatload of money for turning the Cubs into a fundamentally sound team. He hasn't done it.

Somewhere on some lake in a boat with his fishing rod laying across his lap and chewing on a toothpick is Dusty Baker. He must be really having a good laugh right now.

Zambrano is an amateur at best, so is Barrett - both should be sent to the minors for fundamental instruction. Cy Young?? Ha,that was a joke on us, now it's on "Z." Larry Rothschild has no control over his pitchers and never did. Lou has lost the fire. Hendry must be hiding. Ramirez looks bored. Murton and Jones seemed confused and D. Lee, well, he's at least trying. With the exception of Dempster the entrie bullpen needs to be sent to the minors. Call up what you can, why not? it can't be any worse.

If I were Lou, I'd try to find Dusty and go fishing.

The season for the cubs isn't over, it never started.

In another of your blogs I made the mistake of saying Jacque Jones has the arm of a 16 year old girl. I would like to apologize to any girls that may play baseball and has a + arm in the outfield. After seeing Jacque Jones throw a ball all of....let's say 14 feet......I would like to change that to him having the arm of any 7 year old, boy or girl.

Can we get a measurement on his throw? cuz if it went 15 feet I would be massively surprised.

I wonder how Marriotti is going to blame A J and Ozzie for this

is len casper ever going to put down his pacifier and make a critical comment about this team to show us that he is not a robot programed in the dark reaches of the tribune tower. where did they find this guy? he seems like a great guy but he is boring and an over the top tribune soldier. what would stone or harry say today? len casper like the rest of this team, has got to go in 08.

This is another sad day for any Chicago Cubs fan

For those who say trade Zambrano...you might as well trade the season with him. No one will be willing to give Major League talent close to his ability at this point in the season. The Cubs are lucky to be in the division they are in. They still have a chance.

Blanco going down now is terrible timing (typical for the Cubs). It lessens the likelyhood that the Cubs could trade Barrett now. That would be a good step one. Then, trade Jones and bring up Pie and give him centerfield. He'll make a few errors of judgement, but will win a lot of games with his hustle and natural ability. Jones and Barrett are by far the Cubs' least baseball-smart players.

Don't the Braves have a glut of catchers now? Maybe they would be willing to trade one of them for a good young arm. Bottom line is the Cubs have got to make a move to shake things up. Just complaining every game won't get anything. Now's the time we'll see if Hendry is worthy of a new contract. (My guess is no)

Somehow this fight doesn't surprise me. No, Barrett isn't the worst catcher in the league, but I agree that it's disturbing the number of pitchers who don't like pitching to him. He's not giving the Cubs much of anything right now. Could the Cubs sudden bullpen melt-downs be somewhat attributed to Barrett being behind the plate calling the pitches? Isn't it Barrett that calls for the 0-2 fastballs over the plate?

I agree with the other folks here that we need to clean house of the pointless veterans. I was so thrilled when Lou was hired, because I figured here was a manager that will play to win, regardless of how much salary has to ride the bench or hit the waiver wire to do it. Pie can't do any worse than Jones right now. Theriot, despite today's error, is more of a spark than DeRosa and Izturis put together, and needs to be in the lineup daily. Scott Eyre--it was nice knowing ya, but we've got to have someone with a burning desire to play in the bigs who can pitch at least as well as him. Even when he "only" gives up one run, he still gave up five hits in two innings... Same with Bob Howry.

Look, the money is spent. Howry, Eyre, Jones, DeRosa, Barrett...they're going to get paid no matter how often (or poorly) they play. What's the harm in seeing if Felix Pie can provide some spark? Okay--maybe he hits .240, but at least he'll flash the leather in CF and bring some excitement (that doesn't involve assault charges) to the team. While we're at it, can Jake Fox be much worse defensively than Barrett? He's crushing the ball at Tennessee...let's move Barrett on and see if this Lou-esque player can do it at Wrigley...

One frustrated Cubs fan.

This team sucks. I have been a loyal fan since 1970 and this is the worst crap I have ever seen.I will never in my last deep breath ever spend another dime on this sorry ass team EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

40,000 today, 40,000 tomorrow and 40,000 sunday. cha ching, cha ching. keep buying those tickets cubs fans, keep coming in from peoria and iowa on those buses that stretch on irving park rd from the lake to clark street, keep packing the bars and keep this incredible phenomena alive where a profesional sports team can stink it up year after pathetic year, take a total crap on its fans and still draw millions. and they talk about new ownership leaving or tearing down wrigley fied....come on!!!!

Roman responds: I know, I went to a bunch of games last season, even after covering about 12 of them. A friend wanted to go this weekend, but I just can't bring myself to go. They're just too bad, too much of a joke.

we're gettin to quick to praise barrett. a catcher should know how the game works and be a good baserunner at the least. much less the one situation that proves a barrett sucks is 1st and 2nd w/ no one out, 10th inning, huge game; runner on 2nd falls down, don't run at the guy, my god what an idea throw the ball to 2nd base. Why not run at the guy, what a stupid catcher barrett sucks, trade him

Before today's controversy, who were the last two Cubs players involved in extracurricular incidents? Barrett and Zambrano. Coincidentally, those two were both channeling their hatred toward the Talking Mullet, A.J. Pierzynski. Now they're channeling it toward one another. I say rid the organization of both of them.

Anyone else notice how bad this allegedly epic pitching staff has been since Girardi left? A reflection on Barrett's ability to call a game perhaps? You betcha. Anyone remember the last time Barrett threw a runner out trying to steal? Or caught a strike-three foul tip? Ever seen him try to block a ball in the dirt? His fundamentals pale in comparison to the fictional character, Roger Dorn, of the movie "Major League." His bat can be good, and he can be clutch, but the last time the Cubs did anything in October wasn't because they had a catcher that could hit. They had one who could call a game.

And on to Zambrano. This has been brewing for a long time. This isn't the first time he's shown up a teammate, and it definitely won't be the last. It darn near happens every game - at least every game that he's losing, which is happening at an exceptional rate. Given that the Cubs failed to sign him long-term anyway and that today's fracas is unlikely to bring him back next season, Hendry could make his first good move since 2003 and get something instead of investing in a mental midget.

Barrett's decision to confront Zambrano in the clubhouse turned out to be his last error of the day.

First of all, Hendry must go. This is all his B.S. Why do we have two of a kind at two different spots. Why would Hendry sign Derosa and then say he is our second baseman . With Theriot ready to step in until E. Patterson is ready to play ! Or do they want to ruin him too like his brother Corey . Pie should be the C.F . unless he plays himself out of the job. Pagan can hit against the lefties. Barett sucks - give me a catcher who hits .233 but can catch -throw runners out and call a game and not be a distraction to the rest of the team. I can punch people in the face but it does not make me a better baseball player or a better person. I know Barret is talented but both Z and HE should find new teams...

This is bull@@@@

Before today's controversy, who were the last two Cubs players involved in extracurricular incidents? Barrett and Zambrano. Coincidentally, those two were both channeling their hatred toward the Talking Mullet, A.J. Pierzynski. Now they're channeling it toward one another. I say rid the organization of both of them.

Anyone else notice how bad this allegedly epic pitching staff has been since Girardi left? A reflection on Barrett's ability to call a game perhaps? You betcha. Anyone remember the last time Barrett threw a runner out trying to steal? Or caught a strike-three foul tip? Ever seen him try to block a ball in the dirt? His fundamentals pale in comparison to the fictional character, Roger Dorn, of the movie "Major League." His bat can be good, and he can be clutch, but the last time the Cubs did anything in October wasn't because they had a catcher that could hit. They had one who could call a game.

And on to Zambrano. This has been brewing for a long time. This isn't the first time he's shown up a teammate, and it definitely won't be the last. It darn near happens every game - at least every game that he's losing, which is happening at an exceptional rate. Given that the Cubs failed to sign him long-term anyway and that today's fracas is unlikely to bring him back next season, Hendry could make his first good move since 2003 and get something instead of investing in a mental midget.

Many seem to want to take a side between Zambrano and Barrett. They are both trouble in my mind. It's questionable whether Zambrano will ever develop the emotional control to be the big winner he could be. Forget about whether Barrett can catch, he always seems to be involved in something not good. He lit a fire under the Astros with his whining a couple of years ago, there was the White Sox fight last year and now this. These guys are not winners, no wonder the team stinks.

I have to admit i thought we was gonna have a heck of a lineup. But to me, I would trade jones and murton, put pie in center and pagan in right. If you have to keep murton keep him as a bench player. Who is a top catching prospect? Bring him up. If hill is it then use him. I can honestly say i have never ever been so ashamed to be a cubs fan. Im not talking about just the fight. Just the lack of heart, lack of fight, and the awful mistakes they make. I still love my cubbies. But oh my god how much can cub fans take? I say go young,start over and get some young players mixed in with lee,ramirez,derose ETC. Izturis has been awful as well. That is shocking. Finally. Get off Lous back. He can't field,hit, or run anymore. Im sure him and the coaches taught them, but heck they should know what to do anyways. Its not lous job to babysit these overpaid millionaire crybabies. The cubs make me sick to my stomach. i took the NLCS in 1984 and 2003 better then im taking this season. We as cub fans was all duped.

SHAME ON YOU CUBS.

First of all, Hendry must go. This is all his B.S. Why do we have two of a kind at two different spots. Why would Hendry sign Derosa and then say he is our second baseman . With Theriot ready to step in until E. Patterson is ready to play ! Or do they want to ruin him too like his brother Corey . Pie should be the C.F . unless he plays himself out of the job. Pagan can hit against the lefties. Barett sucks - give me a catcher who hits .233 but can catch -throw runners out and call a game and not be a distraction to the rest of the team. I can punch people in the face but it does not make me a better baseball player or a better person. I know Barret is talented but both Z and HE should find new teams...

This is bull@@@@

First, shouldn't Z have punched Murton, Soriano and Theriot too?

Second, today, I was truly embarassed to be a Cub fan, and given their success in the last 100 years, that's saying a lot.

Who signed Jacque (2 useless HR) Jones? Who went out and got Barrett? Who signed Scott (Batting practice) Eyre? Who traded for Matt ("Clank") Murton? Hendry put this "team" together.

Z is a child. He can be amusing when he wins, but his performance today was a DISGRACE on and off the field. You NEVER show up a teammate in the Big Show. BTW, who coughed up a big lead in Game of the '03 Playoffs vs. Fla? Z. Who was throwing consistently in the high 80's Friday instead of the 90's? Z. Why didn't he slug himself? And I am sick of this contract thing as an excuse. If Z pitches good, SOMEONE would sign him. I saw his tantrum today and was reminded of Moises Alou going mental in Game 6. Look what happened then.

Nobody is going to give value for him now.

What a wasted opportunity, given the division the Cubs are in.

I live in an apartment at Racine and Waveland. I share the alley with Yakzies and Tuscany. I went to five games in May (two were extra innings) and we won once. The 1-0 Marquis game. I got this apartment so I could someday look back on a beautiful summer of Cubs games when I'm 80, and honestly I don't want to go to another friggin' game at this point.

I don't even mind them losing as much as the fact that they play HORRIBLE baseball. No fundamentals, no clutch hitting, disgusting baserunning, and a couch who looks like someone interrupted his midday nap on the couch.

The only thing that keeps me going is watching Ryan Theriot, Angel Pagan, Angel Guzman, and Derek Lee play like they give a crap. But until we can successfully get a runner in from third with less than two outs, I refuse to walk through the gates of Wrigley Field.

If I was Jim Hendry, I'd designate BOTH Zambrano & Barrett for assignment...meaning that both of these losers are not only off the roster as of right now, but in ten days they will either be traded (for, at most, a quarter-pound of Philadelphia scrapple), outrighted to the minors...or, hopefully, released outright with the Cubs owing neither of them a penny.

I'd also torch their jerseys at home plate before the next home game. (Gotta send a message, y'know.)

If I was Lou Piniella and/or Randy Bush, I'd put on my World Series rings and smack both of these corndogs upside the head!

Who would replace them? If not some ready-to-play talent from the farm system, then some ready-to-put-up-or-shut-up talent from the bleachers.

The way the Flubs are "playing" right now, they make the Tampa Bay Devil Rays look like contenders--after all, they've been ahead of the Yankees for a good part of this season.

Like I've been saying all along, the next owner of the Cubs should be that guy who owns "Girls Gone Wild". Friday's game would have been a perfect cross-marketing thing.

Barrett is the typical Cub cry baby. The Cubs have to make a statement and get rid of this guy. They can then follow with Jones, Wood and Eyre. These are the same guys that blamed Steve Stone for all their woes. Character should count for something.

I guess this must be that "Cubbie Swagger" that Lou was talking about.

See what happens when Barrett gets a taste of his own medicine?
How's that blood taste you coward?
The only person laughing louder than me was no doubt A.J. Pierzynski. But seriously Zambrano's fat ass should pick on someone his own size. How about Jenks or the state of Vermont.
Happy 26th Birthday Chunk!

These two clowns have really embarrassed the franchise and fan base with their moronic antics.Only june 1st and the season looks pretty bad.I would be suprised if these clowns can climb above .500 again this season.

Why is no one mentioning the fact that Barrett went back to the clubhouse to confront Zambrano after the incident in the dugout? Is that Zambrano's fault too? Everyone wants to point the finger at Z for being hot-headed, but it's not as if Barrett is Mr. Cool.

Kudos Roman for pointing out the defensive inadequecies of the Cubs' catcher. Anyone with any knowledge of that position can see he is terrible. He can't frame pitches at all, and if the ball crosses the plate six inches away from where he's set-up he has to turn his glove sideways just to make the catch, which eliminates the possibility of the ball being called a strike.

Someone on this site pointed out that the Cubs' pitchers had a lot of wild pitches last year - of course they did, since Barrett can't block anything in the dirt. Scorekeepers call anything in the dirt a wild pitch, whether it was a difficult play for the catcher or not. Good catchers prevent wild pitches. Bad catchers erode their pitchers' confidence and force them to keep the ball up, since anything down is almost an automatic wild pitch.

Barrett does have a strong arm, but he displays this far too often by throwing the ball into the outfield. Our weakest defensive player is in the most important defensive position, which is a recipe for disaster.

On the plus side, Barrett hits pretty well, which makes him somewhat valuable as trade bait. His defensive miscues lead to more runs for the opposing team than he has RBIs, but we don't have to tell his new team that. If we could get a decent middle reliever for him we'd kill two birds with one stone.

It's no surprise that this team hasn't had any success - look at the career numbers of our relievers. We have a catcher who can't catch and a bullpen that can't throw. It would only take a few moves to make this into a competitive team, and middle relief is cheap compared to just about everything else.

As for trading Zambrano, you'd have to be retarded to think that was smart. He's been one of the best pitchers in baseball for three years running, and the Cubs need someone with a passion to win on their team. Yeah, he's been weak so far this year, but even Nolan Ryan had his ups and downs. He'll come around like he always has, but Barrett will continue to stink defensively... like he always has. Z has a habit of striking back at players that are really hurting his team - this time it just so happens that the player hurting his team the most is on his team.

Roman responds: There do seem to be an awful lot of Barrett apologists out there. And yes, he was going to stay in the game, but he went into the clubhouse to escalate matters. And he obviously didn't care about his team, knowing Blanco was out and they would be out of major-league catchers. It was extremely selfish. And he got a busted lip for it.

The cubs will always be losers. Other than Lee and Ramirez who do they have? Matt Murton? what a joke how is that guy even playing in the majors? The cubs are and always will be the butt of good bseball jokes. Yet they are one of THE top grossing teams in all of baseball. Makes you wonder who the real idiots are!!!!!

How sweet it is - the 2 CHUBS players I hate the most - Gangbanger Z and Cheap Shot Mike getting into a fight during a game. Now that's what I call role models - role models for Taliban!

GO WHITE SOX!

How sweet it is - the 2 CHUBS players I hate the most - Gangbanger Z and Cheap Shot Mike getting into a fight during a game. Now that's what I call role models - role models for Taliban!

GO WHITE SOX!

81 people have responded to this thread? The season is way too young still. However, as I had said all along. Lou Pinella is not capable of leadership anymore. Sometimes it is better to have none, than an ineffective one. Now that Zambrano finally has something to prove....maybe he will pitch better. I think, he is the type of person who would throw games on purpose. However the most interesting question is: Why does Michael barret end up going to the hospital everytime he fights? C'mon man-it's Carlos Zambrano!!!!! Apparently he can not handle sissy slaps. Get a man in there to knock his a@# out. Unfortunately,he is the best the cubs have. They need better coaches.

The Cubs problems are systemic. For a big market team, they have a decades long track record of failing to identify, acquire, and (most important) develop talent. I can only assume that they do not allocate sufficient resources to these areas. How long has it been since the the Cubs brought up an all-star caliber postion player? Mark Grace? I recall when the Cubs where dealing with the Marlins during the D. Lee trade, Hendry made some remark along the lines of "the Marlins seem to know our farm system better than we do." He was kidding (I think), but that was a telling revelation.

The organizations that succeed consistently over time are built with home grown talent, augmented by free agents acquired to fill-in a key missing piece. You are always going to overpay for free agents, and the Cubs did so last winter without giving any thought to how the pieces would fit. The result is an incoherent mess. They need to put money into scouting, minor league coaching, and player development. Most players are already formed by the time they reach the big leagues. They need to learn fundamentals (and professionalism) at every minor league stop within the organization. Seriously, when is the last time the Cubs developed a player that became a ten year fixture at his position? Who is their Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, or Ken Griffey Jr.? The Cubs problems go beyond the shortcomings of the current big league roster or their manager. This is failure on an epic scale.

Jim Belushi and Bill Murray please buy the Cubs! at least then they would have owners that WANT to WIN!

Grats on the 100+ posts Roman.

What would we do without the Cubs!!!

Do you think WGN will get higher ratings today than The View did the day after the Rosie fight?

GO CUBS!!

Roman responds: I love how some of you guys notice things like the number of posts. Sweeney, don't you realize all that does is give me more work? I'm off today. I'm about to go watch your sister play softball the way the Cubs play baseball. Kidding, of course.

Isn't it amazing how much response a baseball fight attracts! Boxing should be so lucky in terms of fan reaction. I can hardly wait to hear what spin the unimaginative Cub TV announcers put on that childish stupidity. Does anyone remember that serious things are taking place on the real battle front? Maybe Z. and B. can go show the troops how it's done, but that's right, we're losing there too.

Yo Roman,
ease up on the cubs. Also it aint Barrett's fault that Carlos is crazy. Roman your too negative on the cubs, enough with the criticism, the Cubs will pull through and win the wild card. This fight will galvinize the team and turn around their season and battle for the NLCS.

Roman responds: Will, there's like 100 people on this thread absolutely ripping the Cubs, and you're telling me to ease up?

Roman, I have to agree with stuckinwisconsin. The latest 2007 disaster isn't an overwhelming surprise. Just look at Hendry's latest acquisitions: Lilly & Marquis are #4 starters at best and Soriano while having some excellent tools still strikes out too much to be a lead-off hitter.

Cubs' management has a long and storied history of acquiring mediocre talent hoping to appease the uninformed masses who flock to Wrigley. Bread & Circuses. They do occasionally get it right; ergo D Lee and Ramirez but it's not enough to overcome the woeful state of the farm system. They draft mostly 1-2 tool players with too many limitations at the pro level. Bobby Hill where are you ?

It's an embarassment watching small market franchises like St. Louis,Florida,Texas & Cleveland repeatedly outperform the Cubs in drafting quality offensive talent or acquiring quality free agents to enhance the team.

The Cards get Edmonds(trade-2000),Rolen (trade-2002),Carpenter (free agt-2002)and draft Pujols(Rookie of the Year-2001) to form a nucleus that was successful until this year.

The Indians developed Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome among many others & currently have stars Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore helping the Indians in their drive for the pennant.

The Cubs sign Michael Barrett,Jacque Jones and Cliff Floyd hoping their offensive prowess will overshadow their deficiencies. You can see the pattern here. Homerun power above plate awareness,contact hitting and defense. Bread & Circuses.

Sadly, I have been a Cub fan for 40 of my 50 years. In that time I have seen class players playing for the lovable losers and I've seen not so classy players. These 2 boneheads take the cake. Maybe they should both be traded to the WWE at least there they can showcase their lack of talent in a forum that befits their lack of class. A pitcher who's control is highly questionable, both throwing and mentally. Then we have a catcher who has the attention span of a rat terrier (appologies to terrier fans) and the accuracy of a fly in a hurricane. All hail Hendry's Cub doom, when the team is sold I vote we get rid of Hendry as well as the rest of the low talent bums. We cann't even claim the name lovable losers anymore. More like the whiner babies, then again if we merged the Sox and the Cubs (I know hearesy) at least we might have a whole team and almost enough talent to compete.

I guarantee you that the Sun Times softball team can beat the Cubs right now.

I think Sneed would go 4-4 against Cub pitching.

Roman responds: Sad to say, but we lost today, too. At least we didn't fight amongst ourselves. But get this, the Trib played in the game before us, and I saw one of their batters in the on-deck area swinging TWO bats like he needs to prepare to catch up to a fastball. IT'S SLOW-PITCH REC LEAGUE SOFTBALL!

Roman, I usually post comments in your UFC/Mixed Martial Arts blogs but I feel I need to give my opinion on this.

Everybody wants to stick their two cents in about how horrible and Dirty(I'll get to this in a second) Michael Barrett is. I'd be willing to bet that a good majority of the people that have posted comments have no real basis for what they're saying and have probably never even played baseball before in their lives.

I HAVE PLAYED baseball for most of my life, starting with pee wee league, and all the way up through high school. I loved playing and had a passion for it. and you want to know what position I played?? Catcher.

Let me tell you, it's a lot more work than just squatting your ass down behind the plate and catching pitches. There's a lot that goes into it, so much that it would take up a whole page of your blog just for me to explain it entirety.

The most important thing that I learned from my high school coach (who happened to be a catcher in his playing days too) and that I think all these experts should know is that as a catcher you need to have an attitude. You can't be a nice guy behind the plate. You're the general out there, and you have to command that authority on the field. While Barrett isn't Johnny Bench when it comes to his skills he does possess the qualities that I just mentioned.

And now it's Barrett's fault for follwing Zambrano into the locker room and getting into it again? Zambrano pushed and threw a punch at Barrett in the dugout first, showing him up. Barrett did the right thing by returning the favor and letting Zambrano know who he was messing with and that he wasn't gonna get over on him like that. But I suppose Barrett was supposed to be a chump about it right? Just like he was supposed to be a chump when it came to Pierzynski last year. I have no problem with the play at home plate and Pierzynski trucking Barrett cause it was a clean play, but anybody who believes that crap about Pierzynski trying to go for his helmet and all that stuff, I want to know what you're smokin. Pierzynski was trying to show him up and get over on him in that moment also. But Barrett stood his ground, not just for himself but for the whole Cubs team too, letting everyone know that they weren't gonna be messed with like that.

I think everyone should reconsider what kind of a player Michael Barrett is before running off their opinions.

Roman responds: Jesse, this isn't a testosterone contest. A good teammate wouldn't have followed Zambrano into the clubhouse. Barrett still was in the game and he left his team with no catcher. And then he got his ass kicked. Doesn't sound like he did anything right.

Keep your faith, my brethrens. Things may happen, and will happen. As I see it, Old Lou will put a stop to Zambrano's and Barrett's boxing careers. Big ZZZ will move to another town after the expiration of his contract, taking his 5.80 ERA with him. Kerry will take Carlos's place on the mound, and the young man who was recently promoted to the majors will mature to become a full-fledged 10 games winner. Soriano will start hitting home runs, some day. Barrett will be traded to the Sox for AJ and the Sox will then trade Barrett for Pudge and some cash. Giraldi will replace Uncle Lou and the team will start playing like a synchronized philarmonic orchestra, though obviously, this will take some time.

In 2019 Trying Joe will finally take the team to a WS against the Sox. In the 9th inning of the final game a Sox fan will keep an older Bryan Anderson from catching a foul ball hit to a left field corner. Felix Pie, now in his final year, then goes on to hit a weak roller that is bobbled by the shortstop, generating a chain of events that result in a world championship for the Team Without Parking Facilities. In 2022 the Sox come out of their deep depression and beat the Cubs in the Fall Classic. Thereafter, the two teams will face each other in five world series during a ten year stretch, though I have not been given any information about the outcome of those future WS,

Have faith. There is room for hope for both teams in town.

Geoff, you made great points. I'm with you 100%. The Cubs long term failures are systemic.

With regard to the events in the dugout, physical outbursts will never provide any meaningful rallying point. Baseball, specifically is a control game, not a game where adrenaline provides the difference between winning and losing. Contact sports are more easy to understand in this way, but not baseball - a thinking man's game. Most of the time, teams are momentarily 'envigorated' by an emotional outburst, or a demonstration of hot-headedness by a team member or a manager - I guess because it makes everyone feel that someone has spoken up and everyone is "as mad as hell, and (they're) not going to take it anymore."
Unfortunately, if there's no real plan to fix the ongoing problems, they will reappear as soon as the emotions subside. The Cubs need to play fundamentally sound baseball both offensively and defensively. I don't think with their current roster that they're capable. Nor do I think their lineup - as currently constituted - gives them a good chance to win. Soriano is not a leadoff hitter; he belongs at 5 or 6 in the lineup. Theriot playing second should leadoff. Bring back Felix Pie to play center and bat second. Lee at 1st bats third, Floyd in right should bat cleanup. Ramirez (3rd base)fifth, INSERT CATCHER (Hill, the new guy)to bat sixth, Murton in left seventh, Izturis eighth, pitcher.

Get ready to move Jacque Jones who has no arm, and occasionally platoon Ward and Murton. Also, for a change of pace, move Theriot to Short, sit Izturis, put DeRosa at second.

Eventually, Theriot will be the everyday shortstop, so Izturis will leave. We'll need a quality second baseman. DeRosa is not good defensively.

As far as Zambrano, like I said, he's a hot head; he'll never be a top line pitcher until he gets under the control of a quality pitching coach. Dave Duncan, even a Don Cooper would work better with Z. Larry Rothschild - the nice guy that he is - is not a good pitching coach. He seemingly cannot correct pitchers' mechanics, and he has been unsuccessful teaching pitching strategy to his guys. When you combine his inability to fix his players and Barrett's inability to understand game situations, our pitchers are never sure what to throw or how to throw!
I know Rothschild was "rehired" by Pinella, but it was a mistake. Rothschild has yet to be held accountable for his pitchers' failures.

I'd probably get rid of Zambrano and Barrett if for no other reason than to try to get through to the rest of the team that they'd better get their act together; no one's job is safe if they don't start producing. Having said that I don't think the problem is as simple as changing a player or two. The Cubs were bad long before Zambrano and Barrett showed up. There has to be some other reason the Cubs can't put together a team that can win consistently. Something else is wrong with this club, something money hasn't fixed. There are teams with lower payrolls who have had much more success; Braves, Marlins, Twins, etc. It's hard for me to understand how the Cubs have gone so long unable to figure out what those teams apparently have, how to win. I am betting it'll be a few years before we have a real chance of getting that kind of Cubs team and that all depends on the quality of the next owners.

It's Dusty Baker's fault :)

I was born in Chicago in 1937 and lived there over 40 years and in Illinois over 50 years. I've been a Cub fan all my life. For the last 20 years, I've been safely ensconced in Charleston, SC, so haven't read any of these blogs until now. I agree with most of these comments, but just want to emphasize that Barrett is a real jerk. He gets thrown out trying to steal third with two outs (something not even Jackie Robinson would have tried - for what purpose?) and then throws behind a runner. Even a pee wee player knows you have to run at a runner who is caught in the basepath. Then he claims that he was thinking too much. The obvious fact is that he wasn't thinking at all. This appears to be the reason that Zambrano pointed to his head, indicating to Barrett that he must use his head.

But the fact is that the Cubs have lost most of their one run games, and this is an indication of coaching and managerial failure.

Well this is a Cubs blog.....I would think that number of bloggers would matter to Cubs fans. That seems to be the most important stat when they refer to their team, what their attendance is.

Zambrano is a nutroll.
Barrett is sub-par at best. Who are the Cubs going to get besides Barrett though?
Every year it's the same thing:
"We got Baker! Yay" Baker is a bust.
"We got next year! Everyone's back and we were 5 outs away!" Wood and Prior are MIA
"We got Garciaparra!" - Garciaparra tears it up in pre-season, then tears his junk in-game.
"We got Maddux" - Maddux is best thing going, but not enough to save team
"We got Soriano!" - More like "sorry-I know". Has been a bust so far in Cubbie blue.
This team is cursed. That organization is cursed. I've never seen ineptitude this bad. My uncle lived his whole life without seeing the Cubs win the World Series.
Cubs bring new meaning to the word Futility.
There's still no way I'd ever stoop to being a Sox fan. Never.

This Cub season, like ever other one has been one big Zzzzzzz

I like the post about catchers needing to be billy bad ass. Anyone remember when Robin ran up on Nolan Ryan and got spanked. Pitchers need to have a toughess too. I grew up with Mr. Sta-sof Rick Rueishal and his wonder twin Paul and wished I had a pitcher that looked like he could take care of himself. I think Z turned to walk away and Barrett walked up on him which I would expect for Z to expect that Barrett would try something. It's no one fault that two guys got testy and fisticuffs ensued. Barrett got what he deserved for taking it further in the clubhouse. Don't defend him. We were all taught that two wrongs don't make it right and to walk away from a fight. It was over and he went in and took it further. Why isn't anyone calling him a thug for that? What:you have to have tats, braids or a doo-rag to be called a thug these days? A.J. is a thug,so is Barrett. Now Z is a thug. The Cubs are losers and the fans can't be mad for anyone to make that assessment. Roman, it's not a big deal that you call the team's shortcomings out in a blog. Cubs fans bury their head in the sand too much. That's why they've had so many years of losing and have made so much money during that time. Read it and sheep-- I'm mean, weep.

I've been watching the Cubs since I was a kid in the 50's and have often called myself a Cubs fan, but I haven't considered myself a Cubs fan for many years. The reason for this transformation is that over the years of watching the teams that the Cubs play, I have become a baseball fan. If you are truly a fan of the game, you have to eventually stop being an emotional wreck every time your home town team inches one day closer to the 100 year gap between world championships.

On a purely fundamental level, the problems are so systemic that putting 18 or 20 guys on waivers and bringing up a like number of AAA guys would at worst be a lateral move. At least they would have had some recent coaching on basic baseball thinking, which doesn't often happen at the major league level, at least not in Chicago.

I like the way Ramirez looks this year, Lee is playing at his usual stellar level, I love to watch Theriot because he plays hard and hits in the clutch, but every time I see Jaques Jones in center field I know that Cubs management isn't serious about winning that game. I've seen him fire the ball into the grass 10 feet in front of him while the cutoff man stands there waiting for the ball to come dribbling up too many times.

Barrett owns a catcher's mitt, that's the only thing about him that makes him resemble a catcher. Usually the catcher is the field leader, the guy that directs the team defensively on the field. Remember Fisk? Johnnie Bench? Gary Carter? Mike Scioscia? Mike Matheny? Barrett makes far too many fundamental mistakes to take charge on the field, either he doesn't understand the game well enough, or he's not good at making decisions in the moment, or both.

I like the starting pithing staff for the most part, but Zambrano is a head case who can't pitch after an error by any of his teamates. This has been going on for years, yet he's still a Cub and is even refered to as the ace of the staff. What a world.

I pay a lot of money for cable TV and I watch a lot of baseball and today I will watch both the Cubs and the Sox games. But, I wouldn't pay a nickel to sit in the stands and watch a terrible product on the field, pay the price of beer, be surrounded by "fans" that are only there to get drunk and tell their friends that they spent the day at the "friendly confines".

I'm too much of a baseball fan to go to Wrigley Field.

Could we just bring back Zimmerman, no wait he's already had his term in Hell, but at least he had class. The truth of the matter is that while most of the team is either head cases or sadly in need of fundamentals, there is just no cohesion. Hendry spent money this year to bring in talent but no substance. There have been teams in the past who have fought with each other but had the pride to get past that and win. The Cubs are so sorry that they can't even discipline correctly. A fine for the fight, that's it??? Why not set them on pappy's knee and give them a stern talking to? Take a lesson from any other thinking sport. Suspend for a week without pay!!! File charges, fire them. If I did what they did at my workplace I'd be fired and jailed. Oops I forgot we live in the sports world and these guys are just big kids who need a good talking to. I've disciplined my children more harshly. At least I spanked them when they needed it. Hate to be cliche, but the message we send to people in society is pretty screwed up given the way this story is playing out. Barrett did deserve to get his butt kicked for following and being a bigger idiot than he already was and Zamy needed to go to jail for assalt. By the way I'd recommend jail for Barrett too but it's still not illegal to be terminaly stupid, just sad.