Pierre's success? Not in the
stars
Fred Mitchell
Published December 8, 2005
Cubs fans don't want to hear it.
But there might be trouble ahead for Juan Pierre, the speedy
center fielder the club acquired Wednesday from the Florida
Marlins. At least that's what sports astrologer Andrea Mallis
plans to tell Cubs general manager Jim Hendry during her
stay at baseball's winter meetings in Dallas. Not that Hendry
wants to hear it either.
When contacted by phone and informed Pierre was born Aug.
14, 1977, in Mobile, Ala., Mallis consulted her astrological
charts and data and reported:
"I see him wearing down in September and October of
2006. He has the same Saturn aspect in Leo that Barry Bonds
had last year. I see the same karma morass that caught up
with Barry--you know, the injuries, the IRS, the mistress
. . . this looks like a challenge for Juan Pierre. I'm not
going to sugarcoat things. I call them as I see them. I
see major red flags."
Mallis, who has a degree in sociology, is not considered
a lightweight. Her Web site (www.virgoinservice.com) notes
she has a regular astrology segment on the Oakland A's postgame
radio show. She writes for MLB Magazine and ESPN.com and
appears on ESPN's "SportsCenter" and "Cold
Pizza."
Cubs manager Dusty Baker remembers the Berkeley, Calif.,-based
Mallis from his days as the San Francisco Giants' manager.
"Hey, you're the astrology lady," Baker said
when he emerged from a meeting room at the winter meetings
in Dallas and saw her this week.
"Dusty Baker is a Gemini, very open-minded,"
Mallis said.
Mallis met White Sox general manager Ken Williams this
week and with Sox manager Ozzie Guillen last year at the
owners' meetings in Anaheim.
"I sent Ozzie some information that he asked for,"
she said. "I can save teams millions of dollars."
Regarding the White Sox's re-signing of Paul Konerko, Mallis
said:
"Paul is dominant in 2006. Positive Pluto aspects
to Mars. Paul could be a powerhouse in 2006 if he doesn't
burn out. During May-July, expect the unexpected. He will
reach his best during August and September."
According to Mallis' charts, the 28-year-old Pierre faces
physical challenges in February 2007, March 2007 and June
2007.
"It's problematic," she said. "Bones, knees,
joints, low physical energy."
Word on the street
Guillen said a recent autograph signing event in Venezuela
involving himself, Sox pitcher Freddy Garcia, Angels pitcher
Francisco Rodriguez and Marlins infielder/outfielder Miguel
Cabrera raised about 600 million bolivares, or nearly $28,000.
"They're still going crazy," Guillen said.
The proceeds go to the children's hospital Guillen helped
build in Venezuela. . . .
Gordy McKenzie, a coach with the Cubs in 1982 under Lee
Elia, was at the baseball meetings in Dallas. McKenzie now
lives in Leesburg, Fla., and is a scout for the Astros.
. . . Milo Hamilton, Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster,
will be the featured speaker at the winter meetings banquet
Thursday night. He is in Dallas to promote his book "Making
Airwaves" (Sports Publishing, $24.95), which is co-authored
by former Cubs media relations director Bob Ibach.
Overheard
Scottie Pippen, who will have his No. 33 jersey retired
during a ceremony at halftime of Friday night's Bulls game
against the Lakers, on the championship Bulls teams:
"We felt like we did become rock stars. We had fans
of every generation, and we embraced them. We had all different
kinds of characters on that basketball team. If you didn't
like the wildness of Dennis Rodman, you might like the flashiness
of Michael Jordan, or the subtleness of Scottie Pippen.
It was a different team. It was a lot of fun."
Sight seen
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was peddling beef at the
winter meetings. Burger samples from Ryan's cattle farm
were being offered.
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fmitchell@tribune.com
Copyright © 2005, Chicago Tribune
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