Met Michael Barrett Yesterday in GA

by cubbiefanatico on Oct 10, 2006 4:07 PM CDT

This is sort of an odd post, but thought I'd share it with my fellow Cubbie fans. I live in Alpharetta, GA (about 45 minutes north of Atlanta) and stopped at Home Depot here in town. I was wearing one of my Cubs t-shirts, and as I was walking up to the store, a man was walking out of the store with a little girl. I wasn't paying much attention, and as he walked by me, he said "Go Cubbies"! I just sort of glanced at him and said "Hell yeah" or something to that affect. Couple seconds later I stopped and realized I knew the face!! Michael Barrett! I turned around and he was at his car. I walked up and said "Barrett"?? (he was wearing sun glasses and I wasn't absolutely positive). Anyway, really nice guy - he said whenever he sees fans out he always says hello and said how fortunate he feels to be part of the Cubs. I asked how he felt, and he said "great" and couldn't wait to get started again next season. Didn't ask for an autograph or anything, one - didn't have a pen, and also I personally don't think it would be right to inconvenience him or any other player in that kind of setting, being with his daughter, etc. Anyway, just wanted to share the story. Don't know any Cub fans here since I moved from Chicago, and feel like I have to tell someone. Thanks for the great site Al, and I'm looking forward to the hiring of our next skipper. Go Cubs!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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fun story

there are some here who would've tkaen the opportunity to tell him "you suck", then get offended when he said something back. glad you kept it classy.

by tomas21 on Oct 10, 2006 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

well, Barrett doesn't suck...

...now if it were Cesar! all bets are off.

hhhhiftqdaa

by theprognosticator on Oct 10, 2006 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I told Barrett I loved him

and he gave me an autograph and let me a take a pic with him.

I'm a dude btw.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Oct 10, 2006 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

that's hot ;)

J.P. Riccardi is not going to pay Vernon Wells...CALL HIM NOW HENDRY!!!! Don't lose another Rafael Furcal!

by TheBeerBaron on Oct 11, 2006 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions

lol

J.P. Riccardi is not going to pay Vernon Wells...CALL HIM NOW HENDRY!!!! Don't lose another Rafael Furcal!

by TheBeerBaron on Oct 11, 2006 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Good Story....

..and also good that you didn't say something like "how are they hangin'?" or "your balls still hurt?" or some other such thing.

by BeerCub on Oct 10, 2006 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

Lol..

..only because his kid was with him. He'd prolly give a laugh otherwise.

Chicks dig the long ball

by Will23 on Oct 10, 2006 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Go ahead MIke

ruin this one too.

Did Barrett single handedly ruin the whole plywood section? Or did he rip all the handles off the hammers in a fit of rage, please tell us exhalted one.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Oct 10, 2006 4:09 PM CDT reply actions

The Home Depot seemed...

to be in good order after Mike's departure. I'm sure the temper is in check when his kid(s) are around! No really, can't say anything bad about the guy as a player and now as a person. Love to see him on our roster.

by cubbiefanatico on Oct 10, 2006 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

the par about Barrett

in "Cub Nation" makes it hard for me to dislike him no matter what, which is not usually how I work.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Oct 10, 2006 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions

hmm

haven't read that part about him yet, but he always seems like he wakes up every day and thinks, "Damn I play baseball for a living, they even let me deck someone every once in a while this is the best gig EVER"

I also peg him to have the mantra when things are bad "At least its not the Expos, at least its not the Expos, at least..."

by flyball on Oct 10, 2006 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

lol

you're on a roll today...

hhhhiftqdaa

by theprognosticator on Oct 10, 2006 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions

SUPERB STORY!!

I love M.B. and his hard work ethic. Not the best player on the team (not even the best catcher on our team, according to some) but is a hard worker, tries to be a leader, and punched A.J.!!

by dtpollitt on Oct 10, 2006 4:29 PM CDT reply actions

Could not agree with you more

well said.

by cubbiefanatico on Oct 10, 2006 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Good story

I like MB, and he seems like a class guy. And he's one of the few Cubs who showed some signs of life this season. Besides, anyone who decks AJP in the face is cool with me. Cool that you got to meet him.

by Perkins on Oct 10, 2006 4:56 PM CDT reply actions

hard

not to like barrett. i think people like him because he seems like he truly appreciates every moment that he gets to be a pro baseball player, particularly with the cubs. i think it seems like a great life to us outsiders, and when we see people who don't seem to appreciate it, it pisses us off. and when we see someone who takes so much joy in it, its a breath of fresh air. its hard not to like someone who loves what they do and doesn't take it for granted no matter what they do for a living. its just nice to be around people like that.

and i think its cool he goes to home depot. i like rich people who mow their yards and fix their own toilets.

by tomas21 on Oct 10, 2006 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

That's why it's so hard for me to..

be so negative towards his [defensive] catching abilities. I love his work ethic, his passion and overall leadership stature on the CUBS. When Lee went down, I believe that "punch AJ" became the clubhouse leader.........

I want him to stay for his intangibles that he offers rather than continue to degrade him for his lack of defensive abilities.....b/c he is trying to improve his game calling and defense.

J.P. Riccardi is not going to pay Vernon Wells...CALL HIM NOW HENDRY!!!! Don't lose another Rafael Furcal!

by TheBeerBaron on Oct 11, 2006 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Similar experience

Was sitting in Giordano's on Rush a couple of seasons ago with family and my then 15 month old son, who was sporting a Barrett jersey. Well, Barrett walks in, walks by our table, stops and pats the Jackster on the back and tells him he's got a sweet jersey. Jack is now 3 1/2 years old and LOVES Barrett because he "knows" him. Great guy.

by scotteboy on Oct 10, 2006 5:44 PM CDT reply actions

That's great

that you got to meet him. I think he is a straight up guy and I love that he is a Cub. The fact that he punched AJ ranks him high in my book.

Go Hawkeyes...Beat Indiana!!!

by sue369 on Oct 10, 2006 5:59 PM CDT reply actions

Now...

... this is what I've been talking about. Sometimes we forget these are real human beings, and it's nice when one of them turns out to be the standup guy that Barrett appears to be.

Also, I know he works very hard at trying to improve his game. Class act.

by Al Yellon on Oct 10, 2006 6:40 PM CDT reply actions

Should you happen to run

across Barrett again down there in Alpharetta, mention BCB and tell him we'd love to have him join us here!

by JFCubFan on Oct 10, 2006 7:10 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah

I'm sure he'd love to read all about the trade rumors of him going to Toronto and hear people bash his defense every other damn sentence.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Oct 10, 2006 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions

i was

thinking the same thing. Oh well.

by tal1286 on Oct 10, 2006 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions

We should tell Zito about it

Schilling said he got hooked on going to the Red Sox after reading bostondirtdogs.com and chatting in a forum.

Maybe this site will have the same effect on Zito.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Oct 10, 2006 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe Zito would come here...

if we offered him a stipend of weed. Maybe that would make an appetizing per diem for him.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Oct 10, 2006 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Too bad

being under the influence of a substance such as alcohol or pot will make a contract void.

Seems like that's the best chance we had at getting him.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Oct 10, 2006 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Schilling

Several years ago, when I also followed the Phllies and Schilling was still with them, he ocassionally posted to a Phillies listserv. It had been confirmed in a Philladelphia newspaper that it was actually him. It seems that wherever he's gone, he's stayed connected via the web to fans.

by gravedigger on Oct 10, 2006 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Schilling

posts in Sons of Sam Horn, I believe as gehrig38

every once in a while he'll call another member on the board out,its pretty funny

by flyball on Oct 11, 2006 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Damn!

That's cool. Wish we could get some (or any) Cub players to post here.

Hey, if Michael Barrett actually DID post here, at least we could have a direct debate with him on his catching ability.

by Al Yellon on Oct 11, 2006 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm sure

he'd love that.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Oct 11, 2006 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm

not sure anyone on the Cubs current roster can compete with the mouth of Curt Schilling

by flyball on Oct 11, 2006 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Actually...

I admit it:

I'm Vance Law.

by Romero on Oct 11, 2006 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll come out of retirement if Vance Law is out

by LuisSalazar on Oct 10, 2006 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Out of everyone....

I really wish Phil Rogers came here so I could let him know personally how much I think he sucks.

Not that he would care what some amateur blogger thinks, but he really should be told that he sucks on a regular basis, because he does, in fact, suck.

In case Phil is trolling around here: Hey Phil, you suck.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Oct 10, 2006 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions