Cubs go down fighting -- among themselves

CHICAGO -- Now the Chicago Cubs are really getting beat up -- by each other.

Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett shoved each other in the dugout, then the pitcher busted his teammate's lip in the clubhouse so badly that Barrett wound up in a hospital.

Oh yeah, the Cubs lost again, 8-5, to the Atlanta Braves yesterday.

"I only have so many players that I can play. You know?" manager Lou Piniella said during a postgame media session that escalated into shouting. "And it's about time some of them start playing like major leaguers! Or, get somebody else in here that can catch the damn ball or run the bases properly! All right? That's all I can say!"

Piniella left the interview room, muttering a profanity along the way. It wasn't clear if he was singling out Barrett, who had a baserunning blunder earlier in the week, or referring to the whole team.

Both players will be disciplined today, according to the manager.

"These things shouldn't happen," Piniella said earlier in the session. "Go fight the other team if you have to."

Atlanta had just scored five runs in the top of the fifth to increase its lead to 7-1. Jeff Francoeur's two-run double made it 4-1 and, with runners on first and second, Barrett surrendered a passed ball and threw wildly to third for an error that let Scott Thorman score. Pitcher Kyle Davies (3-3) and Kelly Johnson followed with run-scoring doubles.

Zambrano (5-5) was seen pointing at his head and yelling at the catcher in the dugout before the bottom half, while Barrett pointed toward the field. There was shoving and some slaps.

Zambrano cocked his right fist as they were being separated. Piniella said Zambrano was upset about the passed ball, and the manager, along with several players, walked the pitcher back to the clubhouse. Piniella told Zambrano to take a shower and go home, then returned to the dugout.

Moments later, a clubhouse attendant could be seen telling Piniella something. Derrek Lee jumped up and headed into the tunnel, and Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild followed.

"Michael went up there," Piniella said. "I was watching the game."

Piniella also banished Barrett, who was being examined after the game at a hospital.

"You don't want to see people fight one another on your own team," he said.