MESA, Ariz. -- The Houston Astros might have edged the Cubs out of the National League wild-card berth in 2004, but catcher Michael Barrett has news for them: The Cubs were a better team than the Astros last season and will be again in 2005.
Some have contended that Barrett's clash with pitcher Roy Oswalt on Aug. 27 at Wrigley Field served as an emotional spark for a final-month push in which the Astros passed the Cubs to take the wild card. Barrett disagrees.
''If they knew what our team had gone through, [the critics] couldn't say that,'' Barrett said. ''It wouldn't have mattered if it pumped [the Astros] up or not. Our team healthy, our team not going through what we did last year, it doesn't matter how pumped up [the Astros] get. We're still a better team.''
Can somebody tell him that this "we were a better team" business is just weak. Make all the excuses you want, but one team went to the playoffs and one team didn't.
And why are they dredging up bad blood from last year? Spring training is a fresh start. Worry about getting it done this year, now.
― boldbury (boldbury), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 09:32 (twenty years ago)
― otto midnight (otto midnight), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)
― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)
OZ HAS SPOKEN
New Detroit Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez is raving about owner Mike Ilitch and his commitment to excellence. In a chat with the Chicago Sun-Times, he also dogged White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf for failing to pay up to keep top players.
That prompted a profane response from White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Here are a few highlights:
“This is bull (stuff). This is girl (stuff). Every time there are a couple of (reporters) over there with a piece of paper and a pencil in his hand, is he going to talk about the White Sox? Come on, just move on. Just play your game and forget about the White Sox.
“Don't come around and make this thing look like (bleep) when you're not right, when you know you're lying. Don't lie. You can say whatever you want: I want to make some money, I hate Kenny Williams, I hate Jerry Reinsdorf, I hope they die -- whatever you want to say.
“But don't come out every day and say things to make sure you look good with the fans . . . say that they are horse (stuff) and I'm not. Because now the fans and the media, they will hear what I have to say, and they know I won't bull (stuff) them.”
― bnw (bnw), Monday, 28 February 2005 19:03 (twenty years ago)
― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 28 February 2005 19:08 (twenty years ago)
― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 28 February 2005 19:10 (twenty years ago)
Ilitch bought the Tigers in 1992, their record:
Year League Record Finish Manager 2004 AL Cent 72-90 4 Alan Trammell 2003 AL Cent 43-119 5 Alan Trammell 2002 AL Cent 55-106 5 Phil Garner and Luis Pujols 2001 AL Cent 66-96 4 Phil Garner 2000 AL Cent 79-83 3 Phil Garner 1999 AL Cent 69-92 3 Larry Parrish 1998 AL Cent 65-97 5 Buddy Bell and Larry Parrish 1997 AL East 79-83 3 Buddy Bell 1996 AL East 53-109 5 Buddy Bell 1995 AL East 60-84 4 Sparky Anderson 1994 AL East 53-62 5 Sparky Anderson 1993 AL East 85-77 4 Sparky Anderson 1992 AL East 75-87 6 Sparky Anderson
This is excellence?
― Earl Nash (earlnash), Monday, 28 February 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)
― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 28 February 2005 19:50 (twenty years ago)
― mattbot (mattbot), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)
― Earl Nash (earlnash), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:38 (twenty years ago)
― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)
-- hstencil (hstenc!...), February 28th, 2005 11:50 AM. (hstencil)
The Red Sox's 8 straight playoff wins against the Cardinals and the Yankees were impossibly amazing, I think I'm still in awe.
― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 28 February 2005 22:12 (twenty years ago)
― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 28 February 2005 23:27 (twenty years ago)
― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 28 February 2005 23:30 (twenty years ago)