Chicago brawl

[Illusion]

CHICAGO -- Michael Barrett punched A.J. Pierzynski in the jaw after a home-plate collision between the two catchers, and the Cubs-White Sox rivalry boiled over Saturday in a melee that led to four ejections.

After Pierzynski ran over his Cubs counterpart at the plate, Barrett landed a right cross and the benches emptied, a brawl that will bring fines and probably suspensions.

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.

[Illusion]

Here's some more info

With the bases loaded, Pierzynski - who was in the middle of several wild plays in the postseason last year as the White Sox won their first World Series title in 88 years - took off from third on a fly ball to medium left by Brian Anderson and knocked Barrett over before the ball arrived.

Pierzynski slapped the plate after the collision as the ball got away from Barrett. The Cubs catcher got up, grabbed Pierzynski and punched him. The White Sox's Scott Podsednik, who had been in the on-deck circle, wrestled Barrett to the ground.

Anderson then got into a fight with Cubs first baseman John Mabry.

Pierzynski, Barrett, Anderson and Mabry were all ejected.

"I asked Michael what happened and Michael said he (Pierzynski) hit him without the ball, but that's baseball to me," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said during an in-game TV interview.

"I think Michael is frustrated. Everybody is frustrated and everything broke out."

As Pierzynski went back to the dugout, he raised his hands in the air while most of the fans in a sellout crowd of 39,387 at U.S. Cellular Field roared. He slapped hands with his teammates and pointed to his jaw.

Considered an agitator by opponents, Pierzynski has long been one of the most unpopular players in the majors.

Umpires huddled to determine who should be ejected and Barrett was not initially tossed, even taking some warmup pitches.

"I think the fight is going to bring us together and (make us) tougher," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

[bigboydan]

thats twice in a weeks time that Barrett went postal. he damn near hit dave roberts.

[Illusion]

I'm guessing he will get close to a 10 game suspension.

[bigboydan]

I'm guessing he will get close to a 10 game suspension.

as well he should.

[onlooker]

I guess when your team sucks, you have to try and make up for it somehow.

I didnt see it, but will try to catch it on SportsCenter or somewhere.

[Willie Bee]

Should really be no surprise to anyone that Michele Barrett and Ass Jaw Pierzynski both show their true selfs. Michele the short-fused crybaby and Ass Jaw one of the mouthiest little piles of crap in the game. Both of them disgrace the position of catcher.

[tacomax]

Did Barrett manage to hit Pierzynski? It would be the first time in a while that a Cubs player has managed to connect with anything.

[Illusion]

Did Barrett manage to hit Pierzynski? It would be the first time in a while that a Cubs player has managed to connect with anything.

I nominate this for post of the week.

[Illusion]

Barrett suspended 10 games for igniting brawl

NEW YORK -- Chicago Cubs catcher Michael Barrett was suspended for 10 games and White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson five games for a bench-clearing brawl that led to four ejections.

Barrett, who punched White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski to ignite the melee, and Anderson also were fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Friday.

White Sox third base coach Joey Cora was suspended two games and fined, while Pierzynski was fined for the incident during the interleague game on Saturday.

Barrett immediately filed an appeal and was in the lineup for Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field in Chicago. He said he hoped to have the number of games reduced.

"I didn't know what to expect. I've never been really been in a situation like this," Barrett said. "I tried to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario and obviously hope for the best and just try at this point to take whatever comes next."

Barrett wasn't specific about the basis for his appeal, and said he didn't know a timetable for hearing it.

"I don't know what is going to happen. I'm just anxious to put this behind me and move on," he said.

Cubs manager Dusty Baker said Barrett's penalty was a "little harsh."

"We knew it would be something. We were hoping it wasn't going to be that many days," Baker said.

Was Baker surprised Pierzynski didn't get a suspension?

"Kinda. Yeah," Baker said. "Like I said, whenever there is a cause, there is an effect. The effect was Michael."

Baker said he was next to Cora and actually pulled Cora out of the melee, but wasn't sure what he had done to get the suspension.

In the second inning, Pierzynski knocked Barrett over at home plate before the throw arrived and slapped the plate after the collision as the ball got away. Barrett then punched Pierzynski.

Anderson, who hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to score Pierzynski, got into a fight with Cubs first baseman John Mabry. Mabry injured his ribs in the commotion and was taken to a hospital for X-rays.

Barrett, Pierzynski, Anderson and Mabry were ejected.

The game was delayed nearly 15 minutes before Tadahito Iguchi hit a grand slam to give the White Sox a 5-0 lead en route to a 7-0 win.

[bigboydan]

that seems to be the standard for throwing the first punch.