PITTSBURGHThe last thing Ryan Dempster wanted to do was turn this into a LeBron James television special: The Decision.
But weve gotten closer to that point than Dempster ever expected, with his motivations and intentions dissected over the airwaves and in cyberspace.
Theres enough racing through Dempsters mind right now, on and off the field. Maybe this was a chance to get lost in the game again. But the stress is definitely beginning to show.
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Dempster showed why he could be a difference-maker in a pennant race on Wednesday at PNC Park, but it wasnt enough in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in front of 33,935 fans.
Dempster certainly wasnt happy, flipping a cooler and throwing a bottle in the dugout once he was done.
Fireworks went off in the first inning after Neil Walker drove Dempsters slider into the right-field seats. Dempster then got into a groove, retiring 13 consecutive batters before Michael McKenry hammered a ball off the foul pole in left.
Those two solo home runs were the only hits Dempster gave up until the sixth inning, when Garrett Jones reached down and lined a two-out double into right field to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. That no doubt helped spark the tantrum from Dempster, who might be the most competitive player on the team.
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Weve all been saying this for some time now. But Dempster may have thrown his last pitch in a Cubs uniform as he tries to steer a trade toward the Los Angeles Dodgers. Stay tuned.