Cubs will be Cubs. And apparently that meansnever backing down from a fight, even if it’s among themselves. Let’s take a look at our tale of the tape for the North Side’s usual suspects.
Derrek Lee
Case file: Six-foot-5 vs. 6-foot-10. That was the tale of the tape between Lee and Padres pitcher Chris Young before the two started swinging on each other Saturday. Young had hit Lee with a pitch on his hand, though the Cubs contend that Young was retaliating for Alfonso Soriano’s home-run “moonwalk.” Now Lee faces a suspension by Major League Baseball for what became a bench-clearing brawl. But Piniella said he hopes Lee’s reputation as a solid citizen will help reduce the penalty. Time off for a first-time offender, perhaps?
Michael Barrett
Case file: A repeat offender. First he socked A.J. Pierzynski during a crosstown series. Then he got the worst of a sparring match with Zambrano. Then he had an animated conversation with Rich Hill during another dugout confrontation on Tuesday.
Lou Piniella
Case file: The Cubs manager got suspended for his in-your-face tirade at umpire Mark Wegner that included kicking dirt on Wegner’s shoes and kicking his own baseball cap before he got ejected during a June 2 game against the Atlanta Braves. It’s not the first time he has been ejected for similar explosions-he’s got a rap sheet as long as your arm.
Carlos Zambrano
Case file: You again, Zambrano? He already got off with a warning from Piniella for his dugout dustup with Michael Barrett a day before Piniella’s incident. Then on Saturday, he left the clubhouse in the middle of changing jerseys, and there he was on the field, belt unbuckled and apparently ready to get in the middle of a melee before he was restrained by third-base coach Mike Quade. Big Z, we’re keeping an eye on you.
PADRES 11, CUBS 3
Only beating was on Cubs pitching
One day after the Derrek Lee-Chris Young tussle that put the Cubs back in the national headlines, all was calm at Wrigley Field on Sunday, except for left-hander Rich Hill’s struggles. Mike Cameron had two of the Padres’ five home runs, while Adrian Gonzalez, Khalil Greene and Rob Bowen also chipped in during San Diego’s 11-3 drubbing of the Cubs.
Padres starter Greg Maddux allowed three runs over six innings against his former team, improving to 6-3.
“We’re facing a Hall of Famer,” Ryan Theriot said. “He threw the ball well, and they jumped on us early, so it was kind of hard to get things going.” [ TRIBUNE ]
THEY SAID IT
“I’ve got good buddies on the other side. Michael Barrett is one of my very good friends. And Derrek Lee, I’ve known him pretty well. I spoke to both of them [Saturday]. Now it’s in the league’s hands.”
Jake Peavy
[ Padres pitcher on what disciplinary action the league will take ]“I can’t even believe that happened. I played with Chris Young in Texas. I know what his makeup is. The guy is a Princeton grad and probably one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. For those two to go at it kind of surprised me, but stuff happens in the heat of the moment.”
Mark DeRosa
[ Cubs second baseman ]“Just play the game and have fun. It’s not liked I killed someone.”
Alfonso Soriano
[ Cubs slugger who said he was just watching his home run to see if it was going to go foul and not showboating ]
