The all-purpose Michael Barrett thread

[Rob]

Some of them are so superior to MB we would have to sell the farm to get them with him.

 

Only 2 of those you listed had more Win Shares than Barrett last year.

Fine he is great, but shouldn't a big league catcher be a little better at catching the ball?

 

Piazza never was.

And when Barrett hits .330 with 40 homers then we can talk. Once he quit doing that he was a hack.

 

For what it's worth, Barrett's EqA so far this season is a higher mark than Piazza ever had for a season, so complaining about his defense when he's hitting like this seems a bit premature, to say the least.

[CubinNY]

Some of them are so superior to MB we would have to sell the farm to get them with him.

 

Only 2 of those you listed had more Win Shares than Barrett last year.

Fine he is great, but shouldn't a big league catcher be a little better at catching the ball?

 

Piazza never was.

And when Barrett hits .330 with 40 homers then we can talk. Once he quit doing that he was a hack.

 

For what it's worth, Barrett's EqA so far this season is a higher mark than Piazza ever had for a season, so complaining about his defense when he's hitting like this seems a bit premature, to say the least.

 

I have long been critical of his defense, but if he keeps hitting like he is his value on offense more than makes up for whatever deficiencies he has on defense. Way more.

[cheapseats]

Cards fans, would you trade Molina for Barrett? Just curious.

 

That's a good question for Cubs fans, too.

 

PECOTA projects Barrett as better than Molina this year. Next year, they'r projected to be roughly on the same level (with Molina holding a very slight edge), and from 2008-2010, Molina is projected to be better hands down.

 

I'd trade Barrett for Molina if it were clear the Cubs weren't going to the playoffs this year.

[CubinNY]

Cards fans, would you trade Molina for Barrett? Just curious.

 

That's a good question for Cubs fans, too.

 

PECOTA projects Barrett as better than Molina this year. Next year, they'r projected to be roughly on the same level (with Molina holding a very slight edge), and from 2008-2010, Molina is projected to be better hands down.

 

I'd trade Barrett for Molina if it were clear the Cubs weren't going to the playoffs this year.

 

Molina is no great shakes behind the plate either. The last game he was hopping around like someone put Icy-Hot in his jock strap.

[jjgman21]

Doesn't anyone find it strange that all of our pitchers prefer pitching to Blanco? Once we brought in Barrett our pitchers eras have all went up from what they were with Miller.

 

It of course has nothing to do with Prior and Wood battling injuries.

 

nor did Blanco's CERA have anything to do with being Zambrano's personal catcher.

 

 

I've heard alot of this "everyone prefers pitching to Blanco" stuff, but I don't think I have ever heard it from anyone from the Cubs organization. plus, even if the pitchers do prefer pitching to Blanco, that doesn't mean that they would prefer Blanco starting when they are pitching, as Blanco can't hit.

[Rob]

Doesn't anyone find it strange that all of our pitchers prefer pitching to Blanco? Once we brought in Barrett our pitchers eras have all went up from what they were with Miller.

 

It of course has nothing to do with Prior and Wood battling injuries.

 

nor did Blanco's CERA have anything to do with being Zambrano's personal catcher.

 

Mind you, CERA is nothing more than a junk stat.

[Banedon]

The definitive source!

 

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/playerrankings/regularseason/C

 

:P

[Geech]

I have no faith whatsoever in that ranking system. It's still kind of cool to see Barrett tearing it up, though.

[MPrior]

Another thing that irks me about people's complaints about Barrett is that most of them make it seem like he's the worst defensive catcher ever. And frankly, I don't think that's true. I mean, he's no defensive wizard, by any means, and he's certainly below average, but I've never heard any convincing argument to suggest that he's that terrible. I think the people who are griping so much about his D must be expecting defensive perfection from a very challenging position. Which would be fair, I guess, if the guy were a defensive specialist who couldn't hit. But he CAN hit, and very well at that. And I think that more than makes up for his defensive liabilities, which are generally overblown to begin with.

[Warpticon]

Another thing that irks me about people's complaints about Barrett is that most of them make it seem like he's the worst defensive catcher ever. And frankly, I don't think that's true. I mean, he's no defensive wizard, by any means, and he's certainly below average, but I've never heard any convincing argument to suggest that he's that terrible. I think the people who are griping so much about his D must be expecting defensive perfection from a very challenging position. Which would be fair, I guess, if the guy were a defensive specialist who couldn't hit. But he CAN hit, and very well at that. And I think that more than makes up for his defensive liabilities, which are generally overblown to begin with.

 

Moreover, I think a lot of these people don't watch too many non-Cub games, and aren't fully aware of how many bad defensive catchers are out there.

[Outshined_One]

I would also like to point out that Barrett was responsible for one of the most awesome plays I've ever seen from a catcher.

 

Caught stealing, 2 unassisted. I don't remember who the Cubs were playing or who was on base, but Barrett had a guy hung out to dry between 1st and 2nd, who was frozen dead in his tracks. Bare started jogging out towards him, waiting for the guy to make a move, but the runner just stood there. Eventually, Barrett got to the guy and made the easy tag.

 

I think it took me 5 minutes to stop laughing after I saw that.

[soccer10k]

Another thing that irks me about people's complaints about Barrett is that most of them make it seem like he's the worst defensive catcher ever. And frankly, I don't think that's true. I mean, he's no defensive wizard, by any means, and he's certainly below average, but I've never heard any convincing argument to suggest that he's that terrible. I think the people who are griping so much about his D must be expecting defensive perfection from a very challenging position. Which would be fair, I guess, if the guy were a defensive specialist who couldn't hit. But he CAN hit, and very well at that. And I think that more than makes up for his defensive liabilities, which are generally overblown to begin with.

 

Moreover, I think a lot of these people don't watch too many non-Cub games, and aren't fully aware of how many bad defensive catchers are out there.

 

Or the exact opposite. They see teams with excellent defensive catchers that throw out a lot of runners but don't realize that those catchers hit almost as bad as the pitchers do.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd like to point out Maddux's recent comments about Barrett.

 

Link.

 

“He understands himself as a catcher more, and at the same time, understands who’s pitching, whether it’s me or one of the other 10 guys.

 

“He’s really been good back there.”

 

[soapy]

Doesn't anyone find it strange that all of our pitchers prefer pitching to Blanco? Once we brought in Barrett our pitchers eras have all went up from what they were with Miller.

 

It of course has nothing to do with Prior and Wood battling injuries.

 

nor did Blanco's CERA have anything to do with being Zambrano's personal catcher.

 

 

I've heard alot of this "everyone prefers pitching to Blanco" stuff, but I don't think I have ever heard it from anyone from the Cubs organization. plus, even if the pitchers do prefer pitching to Blanco, that doesn't mean that they would prefer Blanco starting when they are pitching, as Blanco can't hit.

 

That's what I was thinking. Who says "all our pitchers prefer pitching to Blanco"? I've never heard that in my life. Not even speculation to that effect.

[Andy]

Doesn't anyone find it strange that all of our pitchers prefer pitching to Blanco? Once we brought in Barrett our pitchers eras have all went up from what they were with Miller.

 

It of course has nothing to do with Prior and Wood battling injuries.

 

nor did Blanco's CERA have anything to do with being Zambrano's personal catcher.

 

 

I've heard alot of this "everyone prefers pitching to Blanco" stuff, but I don't think I have ever heard it from anyone from the Cubs organization. plus, even if the pitchers do prefer pitching to Blanco, that doesn't mean that they would prefer Blanco starting when they are pitching, as Blanco can't hit.

 

That's what I was thinking. Who says "all our pitchers prefer pitching to Blanco"? I've never heard that in my life. Not even speculation to that effect.

That myth started when Prior pitched to Bako at the end of 2004 and had a very good September, then started pitching to Blanco on a semiregular basis. Ever since, it's been "Cubs pitchers can't stand Barrett".

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Jayson Stark on Barrett compared to other NL catchers.

 

Link.

 

With Michael Barrett. There's no reason Barrett can't be an all-star catcher, if only because the level of two-way catching talent in the National League is now so depleted. Brian Schneider and Paul LoDuca have probably moved to the top of that list at the moment. And there's no telling how good Brian McCann could be. But Barrett is as good offensively as any catcher in the league, and he has the skills to be a very good defensive catcher. He just hasn't caught a whole lot, for a guy who has been around as long as he has, because he was converted to the position so late. So to me, he can be as good as he wants to be.

[UBlink]

Jayson Stark on Barrett compared to other NL catchers.

 

Link.

 

With Michael Barrett. There's no reason Barrett can't be an all-star catcher, if only because the level of two-way catching talent in the National League is now so depleted. Brian Schneider and Paul LoDuca have probably moved to the top of that list at the moment. And there's no telling how good Brian McCann could be. But Barrett is as good offensively as any catcher in the league, and he has the skills to be a very good defensive catcher. He just hasn't caught a whole lot, for a guy who has been around as long as he has, because he was converted to the position so late. So to me, he can be as good as he wants to be.

 

And if you remember the article describing his off-season workout regimen, you know he wants to be really good.

[jjgman21]

Jayson Stark on Barrett compared to other NL catchers.

 

Link.

 

With Michael Barrett. There's no reason Barrett can't be an all-star catcher, if only because the level of two-way catching talent in the National League is now so depleted. Brian Schneider and Paul LoDuca have probably moved to the top of that list at the moment. And there's no telling how good Brian McCann could be. But Barrett is as good offensively as any catcher in the league, and he has the skills to be a very good defensive catcher. He just hasn't caught a whole lot, for a guy who has been around as long as he has, because he was converted to the position so late. So to me, he can be as good as he wants to be.

 

And if you remember the article describing his off-season workout regimen, you know he wants to be really good.

 

and that work out regimen seems to have paid dividends already. as I mentioned in the game thread, the stop he made on the held-on-to-the-ball-too-long slider from Wuertz after Marshall was pulled and the bases loaded was simply spectacular

[erik316wttn]

He's not going to become a Gold Glover overnight. Give him time. He'll get better.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

He's not going to become a Gold Glover overnight. Give him time. He'll get better.

 

I agree. And the biggest problem he'll face is that since defense is tougher to measure, defensive reputations are the toughest to change. A player who is labeled early on as a good or bad defender often keeps that reputation long after it is no longer true.

[RyCubsFan]

Barrett should have started today!! :evil: