Bye, Bye Barrett

By: Ben Strauss

If Chris Young only comes to Wrigley Field once a year and A.J. Pierzynski is busy having a lukewarm season for the ice cold White Sox, where does that leave Michael Barrett? On his way to San Diego, it seems.No matter how many times Young hits Derek Lee somewhere near the head, or Pierzynski provides an awe-inspiring display of being more unpopular than the Grinch in Whoville, Barrett still might have been public enemy number one in Wrigleyville until GM Jim Hendry decided to ship him out Wednesday.

Pitchers would rather throw to Old Man River (a.k.a. Hank White, a.k.a. Henry Blanco) complete with a herniated disc and a batting average less than his weight (.194 vs. 220 lbs). And all those pretty Fan Cam Cubs fans finally understand that blonde hair and good looks may not actually help you throw out base runners.

A year ago, Barrett was the most popular man on the north side of Chicago after jacking A.J. Pierzynski in the face - the lone summer bright spot in the midst of another Cubs season spiraling into oblivion. Since then, though, it is Barrett who has done the spiraling, culminating with the reverse-Pierzynski Carlos Zambrano pulled on him in his own dugout (and later clubhouse).

Barrett arrived in Chicago in 2004 and for three plus years posted more than respectable offensive numbers, averaging .290-16-60 coming into this year. But defense shakier than Wrigley Field’s foundation and a combustible temperament have spelled the end for Barrett in Chicago, and he now departs for San Diego after a season that’s seen a drop in his production and a storm of controversy surrounding him.

Barrett has seen a lot in his days as a Cub, watching from behind the plate the demise of both Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. He had the best view in the house for the Latroy Hawkins closer experiment, but a dugout seat for Gregg Maddux’s 300th win (Paul Bako squatted plateside for that). He outlasted Dusty Baker, but won’t be around to see how Lou Piniella fares. All of it, though, pales in comparison to the punches that he will be remembered for. The punch he threw and the punch(es) he took will forever define the Barrett legacy.

The freeze-frame of Barrett’s fist colliding with Pierzynski’s not-so-chiseled jaw has already been immortalized by t-shirts and Facebook pictures. This year, Barrett’s scoreboard point and dugout shove-fest with Zambrano - and subsequent black eyes, stitched lip and hospital visit - were nothing if not hilarious.

But with Barrett leaving, along with the feeling of good riddance there has to be some sadness, too. There has to be some sort of sentimental attachment to a player like Barrett. The way people remember Kyle Farnsworth body slamming Paul Wilson and Nolan Ryan giving Robin Ventura the most famous noogie in the history of noogies is proof that these are moments that do not fade with time. Barrett has secured his place in Cubs lore, never to be forgotten.

For the past two years, Barrett has also performed a valuable service, providing Cubs fan with something to talk about besides another fourth place finish. If you have to watch bad baseball, you hope to God that at least it’s entertaining. And for the past two seasons Michael Barrett has provided more entertainment value to a Chicago Cubs broadcast than anyone this side of Ron Santo.

So, after three and a half years, 57 home runs, 30 passed balls and two very big fights it’s time to say goodbye to Michael Barrett. But don’t feel bad or shed any farewell tears - he’ll be just fine. After all, he is a fighter.

Ben Strauss was born and raised in Chicago and is currently a senior at Ithaca College. He vomits everytime a Yankee fan turns on the YES Network, and can be reached at bstraus1@ithaca.edu.

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