It's Not a Matter of the Heart
The Chicago Cubs stink right now. To The Sporting News' Chris Russell, that means that the Cubs are "a team that is playing with absolutely no heart." It's a ridiculous statement, an example of something Baseball Prospectus's Joe Sheehan consistently cautions against: mistaking physical failures for character flaws. Russell's statement isn't even based on personal observation, as he later writes, "The Cubs play with very little energy, according to just about everyone outside of their locker room."
All this leads Russell to conclude that "the Cubs have officially quit on Dusty Baker." Glad to know it's "official."
Except that it is not true. I have no idea where Michael Barrett's head and sportsmanship were today, but he certainly displayed energy. No matter how poorly Juan Pierre has hit this year, it is unfair to question his determination. This is not a team of prima donnas who think they are too good for Baker, who, though he may be accused of a "deficit of reason," has not given up and has not lost his team.
Cubs' hitters don't have sufficient patience at the plate and have a serious deficit in power, and Cubs' pitchers walk too many hitters. Those are physical flaws, not character ones. Chalking up the Cubs' problems to lack of heart both shortchanges the quality of the competition and physical capabilities of the Cubs' current roster.
Russell goes on to write that the Cubs play what he calls "dummy down baseball." No doubt that the Cubs can be accused of mental lapses this year, but here's Russell's example regarding Baker's decision-making: Not starting Jacque Jones on Friday against Mark Buehrle. Russell appears to have no idea of Jones's history of struggles against lefthanded pitchers, which has carried into this season.
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Barrett
I think Michael Barrett embarrassed himself today. As much as this team is struggling, it strikes me as very selfish for him to get ejected and presumably suspended just because he got mad. If part of being a good ballplayer is being a smart ballplayer, it would seem that Barrett has a lot of work to do to get better.
And, at least as it pertains to this incident, I will question Barrett's heart. He must know that, as the Cubs' best offensive player this year, the team needs him in the lineup as much as possible. One can fairly question his determination if it takes so little for him to disregard the good of the team so completely.
What Else is New?
Brian:
Have you not forgotten the incident involving the non-thinking Barrett and the Houston Astros in 2004 that is generally considered as firing up the Houston team and causing them to come together as a team and make a run that ultimately edged out the Cubs for the Wild Card that year?
Barrett has always been hot headed, at least since he became a Cub.
Barrett is a loser. Too bad he could not be a lovable loser like say Bill Buckner or Ivan DeJesus or perhaps even Dave Kingman. How nostalgic is is to look back on the late 1970's Cubs teams where they lost, but did so with dignity and class.
A.J. Pierzynski / Michael Barrett at home plate
My family watched this play over and over in high def thanks to it being a Fox game of the week.
(Comcast and WGN in high def isn't available here, but Fox is.)
Barrett was hit in a way that his catcher's face mask went flying. (That couldn't have been a happy feeling)
I was wondering if he was hitting AJ in the same place that he was hit that knocked off the mask.
Tribune photos of A.J. Pierzynski plowing into Michael Barrett at home plate
Photos from Ryne Sandberg Day at Wrigley Field
Meet Ronnie the Collie
Defending Barrett?
Are you defending or excusing Barrett? In any event, Barrett had no business blocking Home Plate when he did not have the ball.
Barrett's post-game comments
I agree with Derek Smart regarding Barrett's post-game comments: "I was heartened by Barrett's post-game comments, and his comments before and after Sunday's game, as he appeared genuinely remorseful and embarrassed - two extremely appropriate sentiments. It reinforces my belief that he's a good guy who had a very bad moment, and if he does the right thing by accepting whatever punishment is meted out by the league without appeal, my opinion will be all the more justified."