Fightin' Cubs

[RubeBaker]

I used to not take the phrase "the team takes on the personality of the manager" so seriously. But after watching the Cubs get into yet another beanball affair, and throwing punches this time, perhaps it's true.

In case you missed it, Soriano hit a home run of David Wells, and maybe showboated a bit when he hit it. Not that big a deal. Saturday night, Chris Young plunks Derek Lee in "retaliation." I use the term loosely here because Toung hit him on 2-2 pitch, the Cubs should have been thankful for the free man on bas on a two strike count. What's more, it's the next day, it wasn't like they didn't have a chance to face Soriano again. If it had been intentional, they probably would have gone after him. In any case, Lee and Young whisper sweet nothings, both try and land punches that miss, and benches clear. Now Lee and Young are suspended 5 games.

I don't know if it's just frustration, or the team taking on Pinella's personality, but the Cubs are turning Wrigley into a brawl park. If this fighting continues, I doubt Pinella will be back another season.

[ReignInBlood]

Lee took a swing at Young first, Young defended himself and got suspended. What are you supposed to do in this situations? Run away?

[bluezebra]

Lee took a swing at Young first, Young defended himself and got suspended. What are you supposed to do in this situations? Run away?

Run away?

He should have stayed on the mound, instead of approaching Lee.

Lee threw the punch AFTER Young made some kind of remark. Though nobody said what it was, I'll bet the farm it was very PERSONAL. Lee is one of the most laid-back ball players I've ever seen. Also, the pitch was up around his head, and hit his wrist, which put him on the DL last season.

Bob

[bluezebra]

I used to not take the phrase "the team takes on the personality of the manager" so seriously. But after watching the Cubs get into yet another beanball affair, and throwing punches this time, perhaps it's true.

In case you missed it, Soriano hit a home run of David Wells, and maybe showboated a bit when he hit it. Not that big a deal. Saturday night, Chris Young plunks Derek Lee in "retaliation." I use the term loosely here because Toung hit him on 2-2 pitch, the Cubs should have been thankful for the free man on bas on a two strike count. What's more, it's the next day, it wasn't like they didn't have a chance to face Soriano again. If it had been intentional, they probably would have gone after him. In any case, Lee and Young whisper sweet nothings, both try and land punches that miss, and benches clear. Now Lee and Young are suspended 5 games.

I don't know if it's just frustration, or the team taking on Pinella's personality, but the Cubs are turning Wrigley into a brawl park. If this fighting continues, I doubt Pinella will be back another season.

Soriano hits a home run Friday. That's a wonderful reason for throwing at, and hitting, Lee. He wasn't the one who 'showed up' Wells. Especially when the throw is toward his head. And the Cubs should be "thankful" for their best hitter taking a pitch up around his head? I believe any pitcher who deliberately throws at batter's head is a cowardly s.o.b.

Pinella will be back, no matter how many base-brawls the Cubs are involved in.

Bob

[ReignInBlood]

Run away?

He should have stayed on the mound, instead of approaching Lee.

Lee threw the punch AFTER Young made some kind of remark. Though nobody said what it was, I'll bet the farm it was very PERSONAL. Lee is one of the most laid-back ball players I've ever seen. Also, the pitch was up around his head, and hit his wrist, which put him on the DL last season.

Bob

Personal remark? You don't even know what he said! Lee was the one who approached Young instead of taking first base. Lee was the one who tried to nail Young with a punch, I don't see how that is Young's fault. The pitch was obviously not intentional, the game was tied, the Padres are trying to stay in 1st place, and on top of that, he had a no hitter going on, why on earth would he try to hit him?

[The Cobb]

The Cubs have repeatedly been in some of the biggest brawls in baseball. I'd brawl too if the last time my city won a WS was when a guy with 3 fingers was pitching.

[vptpt]

Reign In Blood, it's obvious from your signature that you have a personal bias in this debate. Your man Peavy is the one who escalated all this by running his mouth to the press.

[The Cobb]

Yeah. I know a lot of pros on first place teams in a close race and a no-no going that intentionally hit ppl.

[rockin500]

Lee took a swing at Young first, Young defended himself and got suspended. What are you supposed to do in this situations? Run away?
how bout not throw at a guys head? is that really a too hard of a concept. even if you are under the delusion that there was no purpose to it whatsoever, you dont throw at a pitchers head and get away with it.

And he said "take your bleeping base" after lee said he was alright instead of apologizing.

of course, if that little twerp peavy hadnt said anything, maybe nothing even happens on saturday.

[nolanryan5714]

With the exception of the Brewers, I think every team in the NL Central would love to get into a brawl due to frustration.

I am surely frustrated. This is one terrible year for all NL central teams, minus Milwaukee.

[ReignInBlood]

how bout not throw at a guys head? is that really a too hard of a concept. even if you are under the delusion that there was no purpose to it whatsoever, you dont throw at a pitchers head and get away with it.

And he said "take your bleeping base" after lee said he was alright instead of apologizing.

of course, if that little twerp peavy hadnt said anything, maybe nothing even happens on saturday.

I repeat, Young had no reason to throw at Lee's head, as I explained earlier. IF, he wanted to bean someone, why not go after Soriano?

[sds416]

how bout not throw at a guys head? is that really a too hard of a concept. even if you are under the delusion that there was no purpose to it whatsoever, you dont throw at a pitchers head and get away with it.

And he said "take your bleeping base" after lee said he was alright instead of apologizing.

of course, if that little twerp peavy hadnt said anything, maybe nothing even happens on saturday.


I didn't know baseball had turned into such a candy ass sport. There is not one thing that Peavy said that was wrong. Its part of the damn game. And every player on both benches understands it. You can bet your butt that every Cub was on guard for some payback from the minute Soriano hot dogged it.
So some punches were thrown, some feelings hurt and some guys got a few days off from the MLB office. Big deal.
If Lee had any bitch at all it was the location of the pitch, not the fact he got dotted. I won't condone headhunting, but I will condone the payback pitch, its part of the game. I've seen several veteran pitchers who all have said the same thing, and it basically boils down to that they would have hit a batter and flat out told him why he got nailed, and that was because of what Soriano did.
What really kills me about this is the number of internet experts who get on forums like this and jump all over Jake Peavy. He spoke the truth. It was candid, and refreshing. Its nice to know that in this era of multi million dollar players who barely can display fundamentally sound baseball that some players still have an understanding of how the game is supposed to be played.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Reign In Blood, it's obvious from your signature that you have a personal bias in this debate. Your man Peavy is the one who escalated all this by running his mouth to the press.

So your Cubs avatar indicates no bias, right?

sds is right. This is something that happens every so often in baseball. Everything that happened is by no means unique. Let it go. Move on.

[rockin500]

I repeat, Young had no reason to throw at Lee's head, as I explained earlier. IF, he wanted to bean someone, why not go after Soriano?

It was intentional to throw at him. maybe he thought LEe would be able to get out of the way.

I didn't know baseball had turned into such a candy ass sport. There is not one thing that Peavy said that was wrong. Its part of the damn game. And every player on both benches understands it. You can bet your butt that every Cub was on guard for some payback from the minute Soriano hot dogged it.
So some punches were thrown, some feelings hurt and some guys got a few days off from the MLB office. Big deal.
If Lee had any bitch at all it was the location of the pitch, not the fact he got dotted. I won't condone headhunting, but I will condone the payback pitch, its part of the game. I've seen several veteran pitchers who all have said the same thing, and it basically boils down to that they would have hit a batter and flat out told him why he got nailed, and that was because of what Soriano did.
What really kills me about this is the number of internet experts who get on forums like this and jump all over Jake Peavy. He spoke the truth. It was candid, and refreshing. Its nice to know that in this era of multi million dollar players who barely can display fundamentally sound baseball that some players still have an understanding of how the game is supposed to be played.


I really dont have a problem with sticking him in the ribs, it is what it is. What I DO have a problem with is headhunting. as for Peavy and his comments, its no different than when relievers get all super excited about a strikeout (see: Rodriguez, Francisco). Its part of today's baseball (and all of other sports). You dont want to get shown up? fine, dont put yourself in position to get shown up.

[Whitesoxnut]

There's going to be a lot of eyes on the Cubs from here on out. Its best they cool it and concentrate on playing hard baseball. Ive said since March this team should take the Central but they aren't going to do it with this classless clown act. And now they lose their premier player for 5 games?

Stupid, just stupid!

[Steven Bryant]

It's always funny to me when a player on a below average team with a losing record showboats anyway.

I don't know if Young threw at Lee on purpose, though I doubt it. Young has had some issues with hitting batters this year with 4 hit batsmen allready this season.