Cubs heading downward fast

CHICAGO — These are crazy days for the Chicago Cubs, who have known a lot of them in their long, anguished history.

Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett are fighting in the dugout. The team is breaking down on the field. And manager Lou Piniella is steaming, disgusted with a group that he insists does not play like major leaguers.

He's also kicking dirt on umpires, throwing his cap and getting ejected — an outburst that came during Saturday's 5-3 defeat to Atlanta for the Cubs' sixth straight loss.

This descent into mayhem was hardly envisioned after the club committed about $300 million during the offseason to build a winner.

"I am fed up with some of the play we've had on the field," Piniella said.

He did, however, have a request: "I hope I don't get judged by my start. Just give me time to get this thing straightened out."

That will pose a challenge. At the moment, the Cubs are a mess.

Everything came to a head Friday, when Barrett went to the hospital, needing six stitches after his fight with Zambrano. The trouble in the dugout was compounded by trouble on the field: The Cubs lost 8-5.

"Something's got to change," Aramis Ramirez said.

Derrek Lee said it's up to the players to make those changes.

"It's on us, not management," he said. "We've been talked to over and over. We've talked among ourselves. It's just time to do it."

Things got ugly between Zambrano and Barrett in the fifth inning when the Braves scored five runs. One came on a passed ball and throwing error by Barrett, and he and Zambrano got into a shouting match in the dugout before the bottom half.

Zambrano screamed and pointed toward his head as he approached Barrett, who gestured toward the field while yelling at him. The pitcher shoved Barrett and slapped him. He had his right fist cocked as the two were separated.

Piniella and several players led Zambrano back to the clubhouse and the manager told him to shower and leave. Piniella then returned to the dugout.

Barrett went back to the clubhouse, and Round 2 was under way. This one left him with a split lip and bruise below the left eye. Zambrano blamed himself for Friday's fight.

"It's all my fault," Zambrano said Saturday. "That's all I can say. I feel bad for that."

The Cubs fined Zambrano and Barrett an undisclosed amount. Neither player was suspended.