If You Can't Beat 'Em, Beat Up Each Other

I'd be enjoying the implosion of the Cubs a little more if the team I root for was having a good season. However, even after sweeping the Braves -- the current opponent of those wacky Clubs, I mean, Cubs -- my Phillies, I mean Phollies, have dropped four straight at home (13-0 last night to the Giants) to squander any momentum gained from that series in Atlanta. They're now two games under .500, so I don't take a lot of pleasure from the struggles of Lou's crew.

As far as the scuffle that took place in the Cubs' dugout yesterday, it shouldn't be much of a surprise. Carlos Zambrano has always been a bit of a hothead, who always seems to have trouble when his teammates screwup behind him -- or I guess in this case, in front of him -- wearing his less-than-pleased-emotions on his sleeve.

As far as Michael Barrett is concerned, well he's just one year removed from the infamous punch to the face of A.J. Pierzynski in a crosstown matchup at U.S. Cellular Field. Two combustible personalties, in the midst of a game where they are both contributing mightily to yet another Cub loss, in a season where the team has spend 300 million dollars to try to turn things around, and are currently eight games under .500...again, not a big surprise.

It's been a strange few days in baseball:

* Mr. Pierzynski was involved in yet another altercation, this time with his former team.

* Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez shouting "Mine", "I got it!", "Noonan...miss it" or something to that effect in a game against Toronto, causing two infielders to misplay a popup.

* Rodriguez' teammate Jason Giambi hurt his foot during one of those grueling homerun trots.

* Another ho-hum Yankees-Red Sox game with ejections, hit batters, and brushback pitches -- oh my.

Crazy. We're almost at the point where we need a new steroid scandal just to calm things down.

It's even weird at the little league level. Remember this story from a couple of weeks ago about the coach that's being sued because some klutzy kid didn't know how to slide into second base?

First of all, this happened three years ago, and the lawsuit is just coming about now. Secondly, why would you want to draw more attention to the fact that your kid is, um, athletically challenged? The injury, and the fact that the kid doesn't know how to slide is embarrassing enough, but to have the single mom bring even more attention to it with this ridiculous lawsuit, is crazy.

Instead of making a big deal about this, three years later, she should have taken her kid out of the baseball league, and quietly signed him up for the Chess Club, and be done with it.

Remember, there's no crying in baseball.