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March 2007 Headlines
Updates from Cubs Spring Training - Part 3 - 3/31/07 7:32pm
Michael Barrett: A Role Model with a Dark Side - 3/31/07 7:06pm
Updates from Cubs Spring Training - Part 2 - 3/10/07 8:38pm
3/31/07 7:32pm - Updates from Cubs Spring Training - Part 3
In this segment about Spring Training, we thought we would write about our what CBB observed at Spring Training from 3/22 to
3/26.
Alfonso Soriano - I wasn't sure what to expect about Soriano, but he did receive the biggest ovation from fans. What concerned me
was that he appeared to misplay the ball twice in Center Field during the first game I saw him. I still think he will be just fine
in Center Field at Wrigley.
Soriano also took the time to sign autographs, which couldn't be said for many of the other big names.
Mark Prior / Kerry Wood - I saw Prior pitch one game and he didn't look that bad. I wasn't sure about his velocity, but he looked
decent. Wood on the other hand gave up some runs and we learned later that he was placed on the DL.
Neither of these guys were around much but one fan said that Wood was excited and was talking to fans before a game in which he was to pitch.
Carlos Zambrano - I love big-Z, but didn't get a chance to see him much. He wasn't around for the fans and when he left the park, he was
whisked away in a golf cart.
Derrek Lee - Lee looked great. His swing was solid and it was amazing to watch him to practice in the infield. Other than Soriano, he
was the only big name to sign autographs for fans.
Aramis Ramirez - I saw Ramirez quite a few times. His hitting was great and he made a few great plays in the infield. What was disappointing
was that he didn't spend one second signing autographs for the kids.
Michael Barrett - I liked Barrett before, but he is one of my favorite players now. He was serious on the field, and funny off the field. He
spoke to fans and even gave pointers to kids looking to work on their fundamentals. One of the best moments of Spring Training was when he told a little
boy to take off his Matt Murton jersey and get a Barrett jersey. The little boy responded with "I don't even have your jersey!"
Matt Murton - Murton was one of the most approachable players in spring. He also hit the longest homer during batting practice, which prompted
many of his teammates to cheer. Murton was a fan favorite to kids and young women. As he left the park, he drove down the road signing autographs
for every fan who wanted one.
Jacque Jones - Last year, I wanted to like Jones. This year, I don't care for him much at all. It's not because of his production as I like his
bat. The problem was his attitude. Jones acted as if he was too good for the fans. At one point, when fans cheered for him and asked for his autograph,
he turned around and yelled "It's my time now!"
Felix Pie - Pie looked good and I was disappointed to see him get demoted to the minors. He also seemed to spend most of his time around Soriano,
which can do nothing but help him.
Ryan Theriot - My first impression of Theriot was a good one. He's a tough player and seems to be on base all the time. What turned me off to him
was when kids were asking him if he could take the time to sign autographs, he sharply replied, "I'm working!" Now, we understand that players are working
and taking batting practice, but try to do it a little more tactfully. Tell us you will stop back later when you have a chance.
Ryan Dempster - Dempster was funny as expected. During one inning, he actually walked through the stands and asked a fan for a french fry. During
batting practice, he ran around the fence and chased a homerun ball right into the parking lot. He signed autographs and interacted well with the fans.
Rich Hill - I can't help but think that this guy is just a big goof, but I really think he is going to dominate this year. He came in to relive
Mark Prior the first day and pitched great until the game was called due to rain. He was great with the fans as well.
Ted Lilly - Ted had a good outing and I expect big things from him this year. I have to admit, he is a little dry, but he did sign
some autographs for kids only.
Bob Horwy, Scott Eyre, Will Ohman - I didn't see any of these guys pitch, but they were all pretty good with the fans. Each signed autographs.
Mark Derosa, Cliff Floyd, Ronny Cedeno, Jason Marquis, Cesar Izturis - I didn't see much of these guys so I can't say much about them other
than they didn't sign any autographs.
Lou Piniella - Lou seemed excited about the season. Another funny moment happened when Lou was waving to fans before my last game. Apparently, one
fan thought that meant he wanted to sign a few autographs, so he threw Piniella a ball. The ball hit Lou between the legs, which didn't exactly make him too
happy. He shared a few swear words with the man and went into the dugout shaking his head. I can't wait to see this guy lose control at Wrigley.
Alan Trammell - Trammell was one of the players I grew up watching. It was great to see him running the camp and working with all the players. It
was also interesting to hear his potty-mouth! I caught up with him after a game and asked him if he hoped to again manage the Tigers one day. He replied by
saying, "I've perfectly happy here." We're glad to have him too.
Go Cubs!
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3/31/07 7:06pm - Michael Barrett: A Role Model with a Dark Side
Michael Barrett is one of the most popular players in Chicago and one of the best hitting catchers in the game. On the surface,
he's known as a tough-guy who's had some highly publicized run-ins with other players.
In 2004, Michael had several confrontations with Roy Oswalt from the Houston Astros after Oswalt appeared to intentionally bean
Barrett during a game late in the season. Michael responded a few days later when the Astros visited Wrigley Field by
starting to argue with Oswalt, which led to both benches clearing.
At the 2005 Cubs Convention, when a fan asked the question, "Have you spoke to Roy lately?" Michael didn't reply, but appeared annoyed.
A reliable source inside the clubhouse during the end of 2004 revealed that Michael was the person who destroyed Sammy Sosa's boombox
after Sosa walked out on the team. This same source described Barrett as having a dark side and mostly keeping to himself.
In 2006, Michael was in another altercation, this time with A.J. Pierzynski of the Chicago White Sox. During a play on May 20th, Barrett punched
Pierzynski after he collided with Barrett at homeplate and appeared to celebrate by slapping the plate. This became one of biggest sports
stories of the year.
Digging below the surface and moving past many of these incidents, you start to see the Michael Barrett who is a generous and kind
person. You also start to see how he works to keep his image clean.
He displayed his devotion to the team in 2004 when he asked Nomar Garciaparra to join the Cubs and offered to give up his number to Nomar.
His generosity was shown recently when he created a new fund raiser with Derrek Lee called Swinging for Sight. Michael
pledged to donate $50,000 to the fund raiser and also said he would donate $10,000 for every homerun he hit in 2007. Swinging
for Sight was created to help find a cure for Lebers Congenital Amaurosis, which Lee's daughter suffers from.
During this year's spring training, Michael was very popular, signing autographs and speaking with many fans. Many of the other
players, including the rookies, weren't as receptive.
After a game this Spring, Barrett was again signing autographs for fans. When a fan presented Barrett with a picture of him punching
Pierzynski and asked him to sign it, he politely declined stating he couldn't sign that picture. He wasn't angry and even offered to sign
something else for the fan. He obviously doesn't want to be known for that incident.
One of the most touching moments came when a small boy walked up to Barrett's SUV as he was departing the park. Barrett rolled down the window
and the boy asked him what he needed to do to become a better player. Barrett stopped and started talking to the boy, giving him tips on
how to improve fundamentally. The best part about this act of kindness was that there weren't that many people around. He wasn't doing it
for the television cameras, he was doing it for the boy.
Perhaps what makes Barrett so popular is that fans recognize he has a temper and a dark side. He's human like the rest of us and we can relate
better to him than other athletes who appear to always be acting for a camera. A player like Barrett is a great person to be an Ambassador to
the game.
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3/10/07 8:38pm - Updates from Cubs Spring Training - Part 2
How are the Cubs doing so far this Spring Training? Well, its nearly the middle of March and we don't have any injuries. Rating 2007 against
the previous few years, one could argue the Cubs are doing great.
The pitchers are pitching well. Both Kerry Wood and Mark Prior look comfortable, but frustrated so far this spring. They are both working
to get their pitches back. Prior is one of four pitchers, along with Wade Miller, Neal Cotts, and Angel Guzman, fighting for the final spot
in the rotation. So far, Zambrano, Lilly, Marquis, and Hill have locked up rotation spots. So far, Miller is the early favorite for the
5th spot in the rotation.
As for the outfield, the Cubs are already overloaded. Between Jones, Soriano, Murton, and Floyd, there won't be much room. The same can be said
for the infield. Lee, DeRosa, Izturiz, and Ramirez have already locked up their positions. The only thing left will be one or two spots for
utility players. Lou Piniella has already said that Ryan Theriot will take one of those spots.
Other good news to report is the play of some of the other young players, including Felix Pie. Pie has demonstrated his offense by batting .391, but has
also been impressive on the defensive side.
Though there isn't room for him on the big league roster, the Cubs hope Pie keeps up the solid play with Triple-A Iowa. Buck Coates is another
player who has been on fire. In 9 games, he has gone 10 for 20.
The offensive category as a whole has Piniella and Chicago fans happy. The Cubs lead the NL this spring with a .329 batting average. Derrek Lee,
Matt Murton, Michael Barrett, and Aramis Ramirez are all hitting well.
The lineup looks set at this point. The only question now will be whether DeRosa or Murton bats second.
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