Michael Barrett...THE GUTLESS WONDER!

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Geno,

I can't believe what a puss Michael Barrett is. What a tool! He blocks the plate on a runner tagging from third (as catchers are supposed to do) and AJ runs thru him (as runners are supposed to do) end of play Sox score and that should have been the end of it...UNTIL Barrett, the puss, sucker punches AJ, what a little cry baby. If your standing on the train tracks and you here something coming you better get out of the way cause the AJ express in coming thru. Then the gutless umpire throws both of them out along with one more player from each team. Is this the NHL where the refs try to even out all the penalties? There should have been two players thrown out, Barrett and Brian Anderson both who threw punches. I don't think Mabry or AJ should have been tossed. I guess we got the best of the situation though as Iguchi gave Barrett a little "salami" to chew on, as in the "Grand Salami". YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD....YES! Windy

[AndyMan]

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...Michael Barrett...blocks the plate on a runner tagging from third (as catchers are supposed to do) and AJ runs thru him (as runners are supposed to do)

("Says who?!")

...and that should have been the end of it...UNTIL Barrett, the puss, sucker punches AJ, what a little cry baby.

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First of all, Windy...Barrett didn't sucker punch A.J.

Second of all...there's no rule that says a player has to "take out the catcher". That's a choice A.J. made and he must suffer the consequences, just as a catcher must suffer through a collision from a guy with a 90-foot head start! He looked at him straight in the eyes and jacked him right in the face and deservedly so...A.J. could have slid and avoided contact but he chose to collide with Barrett...and Barrett's fist chose to collide with A.J.'s face! All's even the way I see it...

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Andy,

When I have read your previous posts, you seemed to be fairly knowledgeable when it came to baseball, what happened here. What Michael Barrett did was illegal, it is illegal for a catcher to block the basepath without the ball and Barrett was clearly in front of the plate while the ball never reached him. And if you don't think he sucker punched AJ then you must have been watching another game, maybe the Kitties. AJ said in a post game interview that he made sure he touched the plate then got up from the collision and went to retrieve his helmet which was behind Barrett. He said that he was going to ask Barrett if he was OK and he thought Barrett was coming over to ask the same. The replay clearly shows Barrett putting his left arm around AJ and sucker punching him with his right. I think MLB will bear this out when they suspend Barrett for 10 games while nothing happens to AJ. On a bang bang play like that for a runner to try to slide around a catcher who is clearly blocking the plate would only result in taking more time and being tagged out. I thought you were a Kittie fan but maybe you have a little Cubbie blue running through your veins, or maybe it is just a White Sox bias. I have heard dozens of radio and TV guys commenting on this including ESPN and Sportscenter and NOBODY has said that AJ was in the wrong and EVERYBODY has said that Barrett was clearly in the wrong and they all say he will be suspended for a long time. It always seems like AJ is in the middle of the controversial plays but this time HE WAS TOTALLY IN THE RIGHT. Tomorrow should be interesting, especially when we score 7 or 8 runs against the hot headed ZamBraino and complete the sweep of the hapless Cubbies.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD...YES! Windy

[NAPAFISH]

Windy I hate to tell ya

The Pale Hose will never be Chicago's passion. When you think of baseball in Chicago you think Wrigley. Similar to the Lakers and the Clippers.

[Quackaddict9]

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He (AJ) said that he was going to ask Barrett if he was OK and he thought Barrett was coming over to ask the same

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Talk is Cheap...I don't think AJ was going to ask that. But what Barret did was wrong and not acceptable. Accept the hit, be a man!

[Quackaddict9]

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Windy I hate to tell ya

The Pale Hose will never be Chicago's passion. When you think of baseball in Chicago you think Wrigley. Similar to the Lakers and the Clippers

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and no, I don't think Windy thinks that way in Chicago. and they are the World Champions.

[NAPAFISH]

World Champions or not when you think of Chicago Baseball.

The Cubs

LA baseketball

The Lakers

Hockey In Canada

Montreal Canadiens

Catch my drift??

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

I guess when you think of the "loveable losers" who have not won a World Series in 88 years you think of the Cubs. When you think of a team who seldom finishes above .500 but the mindless fans continue to support and fill the stands like swallows returning to Capistrano, you think of the Cubs. I guess if you think of people who don't really care about quality baseball and are more interested in which bar they will be going to after the game rather than the outcome of the game you think of the Cubs. That is why the north side has the reputation of being the quiche eating capitol of the world and is known by all as "boys town" where the men are a little "lite" in the loafers. If that is what people think when they think of Chicago baseball, I thank God I am a Pale Hose supporter and YOU CAN PUT THAT ON THE BOARD....YES! Windy

[CodyDawg]

Hey Windy,

What was your take a couple years back when Torii Hunter took out the White Sox catcher at home plate? If I remember correctly, that was the end of the pale hose that year. It angered a lot of White Sox fans, but now you are defending AJ who did the same thing. Sounds a little hypocritical to me.

By the way, you are right on about Barrett. He is a fool. AJ's play was absolutely fine in my eyes (as was Hunters).

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Cody,

I already answered that on another thread here on the baseball site and I agree with you. I was not happy about the play because it helped the Twins win and the Sox to lose but I never said it was a cheap shot and I don't think our catcher proceeded to sucker punch Hunter after the play, I think he put his helmet back on and continued to play. Which is what the gutless wonder, Michael Barrett, should have done. If your standing on the train tracks and you hear the whistle blowing you better move or prepare to get run over. I think we are on the same page on this one, and if you look at the other subjects on this topic you will see that I did already answer the question about the Hunter play. Later, Windy.

[friendlyfisher]

THis may kill me but I will give it a try, " I have to say I agree with Windbag." OUCH, it only stung for a second or two. AJ did nothing wrong and Barrett was a cheap punk, fisrt by holding down a guys arms so he cant defend himself, then landing a sucker punch that you exspect to see after a bell rings in boxing. I just wish AJ could of gathered himself and thrown one back at that sore loosing Cubbie.

Windy, you owe me one for that. friendly

[genegodawa]

Well, I didn't see the play, but I saw some still photos and from reading this post it seems the general consensus is AJ was ok to run him down but not to pat the plate the way he did - kind of a "take that" non-verbal (we think). I did see Barrett in a news-conf and, although he didn't say he was sorry, his sidestepping the issue ended with him relaying a type of apology by somberly mentioning that it isn't good for one grown man to hit another.

I say the emotions of the moment got the better of him, and since this is not a normal way for him to play, ye without sin go ahead ........

Me? If it was a sucker punch without provocation, then he deserves a short suspension. BUT if AJ said anything that could be construed as trash-talk, I'll cast the first stone at him. It was just nice to see Barrett go out the next day with a clutch hit to help avoid a sweep. That's all I, as a Cub fan, can root for these days - .333 ball on the NSide.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Friendly,

That didn't hurt too much, did it? It only hurts for a second. I got your back, buddy. I thought I was going crazy for a few days as one Twinkie fan after another chimed in against AJ. I am the first to say I hated him when he was on the Twinks and I think he is one of those people you love to hate if he plays against you but love to see if he plays for you. I don't think he is the end all beat all catcher. He has average power, maybe less, OK average, OK speed and a so-so arm but the thing he has done for the Sox is really know how to handle a pitching staff and what a stable of stallions he has. The Sox have to have the best 5 starting pitchers top to bottom in the past 20 years. I know that will draw some criticism but please feel free to tell me which ones are better. Maybe the Orioles in the 70's but that is longer than 20 years ago. AJ really does call a beautiful game and he keeps them moving. Two hour games are not uncommon here which is amazing. Our pitchers are consistently going into the 7th and 8th inning having thrown only 85-90 pitches and complete games are frequent. I have to give AJ a lot of the credit. Anywho, thanks for bringing a little sanity back to this thread, Friendly.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD...YES! Windy

[PierBridge]

AJ has ZERO to do with the Sox's pitching success....a ninth grader could do well with that staff....

[NAPAFISH]

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The Sox have to have the best 5 starting pitchers top to bottom in the past 20 years. I know that will draw some criticism but please feel free to tell me which ones are better. Maybe the Orioles in the 70's but that is longer than 20 years ago.

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88 METS

98 YANKEES

01-03 ATHLETICS

01-03 MARINERS

95-97 DODGERS

92-98 BRAVES

I think Windy needs to learn his baeball history

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

We shall see Napa, but think you will see after this year that the starting 5 top to bottom for the Sox will be higher in number of wins, innings pitched and ERA than at least 4 of your teams, maybe more. Only time will tell.

Windy

[rundrave]

the collison at the plate = legal

the sucker punch after the play = cheap

aj leaving the bag early and not tagging = ??????

if it was any other player charging home, would the punch still have been thrown after the collision? probably not

[AndyMan]

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Andy,

What Michael Barrett did was illegal, it is illegal for a catcher to block the basepath without the ball and Barrett was clearly in front of the plate while the ball never reached him.

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I agree that blocking the basepath is against the rules, but that wasn't the issue...at least the umpires never made it one. And Barrett probably never intended to obstruct his path to the plate per say, as much as he was setting up to block the plate when the ball arrived...which never did.

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And if you don't think he sucker punched AJ then you must have been watching another game, maybe the Kitties.

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As a matter of fact I was!!

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The replay clearly shows Barrett putting his left arm around AJ and sucker punching him with his right. I think MLB will bear this out when they suspend Barrett for 10 games while nothing happens to AJ.

On a bang bang play like that for a runner to try to slide around a catcher who is clearly blocking the plate would only result in taking more time and being tagged out.

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Barrett never got the ball, so that argument is moot...

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I thought you were a Kittie fan but maybe you have a little Cubbie blue running through your veins, or maybe it is just a White Sox bias.

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Nope...not a Cub fan in the least, however I've always liked the White Sox...

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I have heard dozens of radio and TV guys commenting on this including ESPN and Sportscenter and NOBODY has said that AJ was in the wrong and EVERYBODY has said that Barrett was clearly in the wrong and they all say he will be suspended for a long time.

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Since when does anyone care what the sports commentators think? Oh yeah, when it favors your team!!!

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Tomorrow should be interesting, especially when we score 7 or 8 runs against the hot headed ZamBraino and complete the sweep of the hapless Cubbies.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD...YES! Windy

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Funny..."CHICAGO (AP) -- One day after he punched the White Sox's A.J. Pierzynski to set off a melee, Barrett delivered a game-tying eight-inning triple and Jacque Jones followed with a two-run homer to spark a 7-4 Cubs victory Sunday."

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Don't know if you've seen these quotes:

CHICAGO (AP) -- Michael Barrett was waiting for the ball when A.J. Pierzynski ran him over. Barrett's reaction? He got up and punched the White Sox catcher in the jaw, setting off a melee between Chicago's two baseball teams.

"I don't know how to say it. I mean, when you hit another grown man, it's never right, you know," the Cubs' Barrett said Saturday.

Barrett said Pierzynski had every right to run into him, but added that the White Sox's catcher -- who always seems to be in the middle of wild plays -- got up and nudged him after the collision, instead of heading toward his dugout.

It's a play that will certainly be talked about for years in a city with strong and divided passions for its two baseball teams, whose playing fields are just 8 miles apart.

"I expect to be disciplined, that's part of the price," said Barrett, adding he wishes he had just pushed Pierzynski instead.

"I saw a clean play by A.J. That's how you play the game," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.

All in all, I think Michael Barrett is a stand-up guy and you wouldn't mind having him on your team, I know I wouldn't mind having him on mine...

Oh yeah, the Detroit Tigers are the best team in baseball!...(as of today, anyway!)...

...and you can put THAT on the board!!

[AndyMan]

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The Sox have to have the best 5 starting pitchers top to bottom in the past 20 years. I know that will draw some criticism but please feel free to tell me which ones are better. -- Windy

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Um...the 2006 Detroit Tigers...please feel free to peruse the following links.

MLB - Statistics by Team/ERA

MLB - Detroit Tigers Pitching Staff Stats

[friendlyfisher]

Windbag, i go out on a limb and support you then you come back and run at the mouth again about the greatest pitching staff off all time or what ever it was you said. Your on your own this time pal. One thing I did hear is that last years sox was the first time in history that all five pitcher made every start for the entire season. That is impressive and will not happen again.

Oh yeah one more thing, go DETROIT!!!!

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Andy,

Comparing the starting 5 on both teams so far shows the Kitties with a combined record of 27-12 and the Sox at 26-8

One less win but 4 less losses. I think all our pitchers are pitching about where they should be, Garland is a little behind and all 5 should stay as they are and may improve. I think that you have a broken down pitcher who has caught lightening in a bottle for now in Kenny Rogers. I think he will tire as the season goes on or he may punch out an unsuspecting camera man and draw a 10 game suspension. I like Bonderman and Robertson, Maroth is so-so but who the heck is Verlander. I think he might be a flash in the pan and by the All-Star break after having been thru the league once or twice, hitters will figure him out.

While it is true that you have the best record in baseball, you had to play out of your minds winning 13 of the last 14 games and you only lead by 1.5 games! Wait till the weather heats up and the Sox bats come alive even more than they are. The season is long, my friend, and you are in the lead at the quarter pole. The race goes not to the swift but to the steady. Let's talk when the two clubs meet again and let the trash talkin begin. Until then...YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD....YES! Windy

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Andy,

Wasn't Verlander's season cut short last year in the minors with only about 33 innings pitched with shoulder fatigue? Shouldn't a 23 year old horse be able to finish the race, especially in the minors? Just ax-ing! Windy

[AndyMan]

Hey...just teasin' ya Windy. All in fun...you know the game.

Yeah, they sat Verlander because he throws a 100 mph fastball and only has one season of minor league experience. He went front Single-A Lakeland to Double-A Erie to the Majors (for a 2-game taste) then back down to Triple-A Toledo, then rested. All in one season. They wanted him to work on an effective change-up and different speeds on his curveball, to save his arm from the wear and tear.

Don't know if you had a chance to see his complete game shut-out Monday, but it was amazing.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The radar gun seemed stuck on 99 mph. That's what it clocked Justin Verlander's fastball at in the first inning, and that's what it still read in the ninth.

Quick and overpowering, Detroit's 6-foot-5 rookie right-hander pitched a five-hitter Monday night for his first complete game and shutout in his ninth major league start. He allowed only one runner as far as second base in leading the Tigers to an 8-0 victory, Detroit's second straight shutout and the 10th loss in a row for the Royals.

"I've never had a starting pitcher throw 99 in the ninth inning," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "I've seen some closers throw 99. I've never had a starter throw 99 in the ninth inning before that I can recall."

The Royals, who apparently didn't get much out of a players-only meeting before the game, were equally amazed.

"My last at-bat he was 99 on the black," said Doug Mientkiewicz, who struck out for the second out in the ninth. "Goodness gracious. That's as good as stuff as I've seen."

But to be honest, the Tigers are hot right now, emphasize "now". It's a long season and it remains to be seen if they can sustain this pace.

Questions I have are...

What will happen when they run into their first extended losing streak? Which is bound to happen sooner or later.

My other concern is what will happen if they lose key players to injury?

You should know, how many times did the White Sox fade at the end of the season, only to have the hated Twinkies take the cake. Last year was finally the year you got the "monkey off the back"...but you may have a Tiger on your back now.

Hey, how about that 13-8 come-from-behind win last night?

We're 33-14 with 7 series-sweeps already! (2 from the Twins!)

Hey, everyone... have a nice Memorial Day weekend and go catch some fish.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Andy,

The Kitties are on cruise control right now while my ole Pale Hose are sputterin up north a little. I guess we had the Tribe chasin us late last year and the Kitties are puttin the pressure on early this year. Hey, like I have said before...If a roller coaster just went up it would be an awful boring ride. Peaks and valleys. Have a great holiday, I'm just "grillin and chillin" here in the Windy City.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD...YES! Windy

[knoppers]

its about time someone gave AJ a good woopin', he has been a (Contact US Regarding This Word) to everyone.

the bad thing is I have barrett on my fantasy team, I do not want to loose one of the BEST cathers in MLB to get suspended for 10 games.

AJ, was a good trade for the twins, nathen and liriano.