Just for fun....

[UMFan83]

C - Damian Miller - .337/.398/.592/.990

1B - Nomar Garciaparra - .354/.416/.684/1.100

2B - Mark Grudzielanek - .309/.348/.407/.755

SS - Ramon Martinez - .290/.389/.355/.744

3B - Mark Bellhorn - .222/.300/.413/.713

RF - Moises Alou - .378/.436/.671/1.107

CF - Corey Patterson - .274/.314/.444/.758

LF - Kenny Lofton - .281/.337/.417/.754

 

Thats a decent team of "scraps" that were tossed aside by the Cubs between 2003-2005.

[LoneStarCubFan]

I'd take our projected starting infield (Lee, Walker, Cedeno, ARam) over that infield.

 

I'd take Barrett over Miller.

 

But I'd take Alou over Jones and Lofton over Pierre.

[UMFan83]

Why are people so high on Barrett? Barrett is not a good CATCHER! So what he can hit the ball better then most catchers, but the one thing I remember from Miller's time in Chicago was that he was constantly being praised for being a great defensive catcher. WE NEED THAT. Why do you think the pitching hasn't been up to par since he left. I'm not saying that Barrett is the only reason, but I won't be the first person to say that he's made more then a couple very questionable calls behind the plate.

 

Also offensively, Miller has picked it up since he left the Cubs in 2003.

 

2005:

 

Miller - .273/.340/.413/.753

Barrett - .276/.345/.479/.824

 

2006:

Miller - .337/.398/.592/.990

Barrett - .281/.352/.510/.862

 

No doubt Barrett is a better offensive catcher, but I'd much rather have Miller then Barrett.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

 

Also offensively, Miller has picked it up since he left the Cubs in 2003.

 

2005:

 

Miller - .273/.340/.413/.753

Barrett - .276/.345/.479/.824

 

2006:

Miller - .337/.398/.592/.990

Barrett - .281/.352/.510/.862

 

No doubt Barrett is a better offensive catcher, but I'd much rather have Miller then Barrett.

 

You are also on crack if you think Miller will keep up those numbers. Now, I think Damian Miller is a vastly underrated catcher. Ask Capuano and Doug Davis how nice it is to have him behind the plate. I would still rather have barrett, 29, then Miller 35. Barrett isnt our problem.

[matt-o-meter19]

Why are people so high on Barrett? Barrett is not a good CATCHER! So what he can hit the ball better then most catchers, but the one thing I remember from Miller's time in Chicago was that he was constantly being praised for being a great defensive catcher. WE NEED THAT. Why do you think the pitching hasn't been up to par since he left. I'm not saying that Barrett is the only reason, but I won't be the first person to say that he's made more then a couple very questionable calls behind the plate.

 

Also offensively, Miller has picked it up since he left the Cubs in 2003.

 

2005:

 

Miller - .273/.340/.413/.753

Barrett - .276/.345/.479/.824

 

2006:

Miller - .337/.398/.592/.990

Barrett - .281/.352/.510/.862

 

No doubt Barrett is a better offensive catcher, but I'd much rather have Miller then Barrett.

 

I agree 100%.

 

Has anyone seen Barrett properly block the plate? Granted, we have arguably the worst outfield (combined arm strength and accuracy) in the majors this year, however, the past 2+ years he has been horrible.

 

How many times has he positioned himself two steps in front of the plate when he receives the throw? I know this is only a small part, but I feel his ability to call games, block the ball in the dirt, passed balls, etc. is lacking.

 

By the way, I love Matt Murton (as per my user name), however, has anyone EVER seen him catch with two hands? I may be old school, but I have NEVER seen it - I have have been watching closely since 7/8/05.....

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Oh joy, another Barrett sucks thread.

[matt-o-meter19]

Oh joy, another Barrett sucks thread.

 

I don't see the word "SUCKS" in any of the posts above.

 

I do see a concern with a below average defensive catcher (I do agree with you that we have MANY other serious problems).

 

It probably doesn't matter though. We have shown historically that our pitching staff can handle themselves, healthy or not.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Oh joy, another Barrett sucks thread.

 

I don't see the word "SUCKS" in any of the posts above.

 

I do see a concern with a below average defensive catcher (I do agree with you that we have MANY other serious problems).

 

It probably doesn't matter though. We have shown historically that our pitching staff can handle themselves, healthy or not.

 

He has not been good, he's been horrible, he sucks. Semantics.

 

Do you know why Damian Miller is the starting catcher for Milwaukee? Because they don't have Michael Barrett. All things considered, he is at or near the top when discussing NL catchers. He's the least of this team's problems.

[Banedon]

In 2004, Barrett led the NL in SLG and was 2nd OPS to Johnny Estrada by .002 for catchers with 300 AB's.

 

In 2005, Barrett led the NL in SLG and OPS for catchers with 300 AB's.

 

This year, Barrett is 3rd in the NL in SLG and OPS for catchers with 90 AB's.

[Tracer Bullet]

Why do you think the pitching hasn't been up to par since he left. I'm not saying that Barrett is the only reason, but I won't be the first person to say that he's made more then a couple very questionable calls behind the plate.

 

Um, 2003: Prior, Wood, Clement and Z combined for 126 starts and were all good to fantastic pitchers. 2004 Prior and Wood made 21 and 22 starts. Maddux, Z, and Clement were actually pretty good. 2005 Maddux and Z were fine. Prior was great in 27 starts. Wood started just 10 games and Rusch started almost 20 times (yikes).

 

If there's a way to make our pitching staff as good as '03 again, having Prior and Wood throw a combined 420 innings of incredible baseball would be where I'd start, not by trading away the catcher with the .860 OPS. That's just me.

[soccer10k]

How hard is it to realize that you can't have both defense and offense in a catcher? Most of the time, you have to pick one or the other. Barrent is a hitting catcher and Miller is a defensive catcher. Like carniby said, Miller's numbers will drop off SIGNIFICANTLY. Just wait until the end of the year and Miller's final numbers won't be anywhere near what his numbers are at right now. Barrett is the superior overall catcher and like a couple other people have said, he isn't the problem.

 

You can talk about the pitch calling, but does Barrett make Glendon Rusch throw batting practice to the opposing team every time he takes the mound? No. The pitchers have to make the right pitches. If Barrett calls a pitch, the pitcher throws it correctly, and it gets hit for a homerun, then that's Barrett's fault. Is it Barrett's fault that our pitchers have walked the most batters in the National League and are second only to Baltimore in all MLB? No.

 

Let's look at the offense. It doesn't matter how good Barrett's pitchcalling is when the offense scores 11 runs in 10 games and gets shutout 4 times in 6 games. And don't even try the argument that Barrett wasn't hitting either because he is only responsible for 1 out of every 9 at bats.

 

Everybody knows Barrett isn't the best defensive catcher. Everybody has faults. There is no such thing as the perfect player. The problems with this team run far deeper than Barrett.

[TB_11]

Why do you think the pitching hasn't been up to par since he left. I'm not saying that Barrett is the only reason, but I won't be the first person to say that he's made more then a couple very questionable calls behind the plate.

 

Do you attribute's Maddux's improvment this year to better calling by Barrett/Blanco?

[badger1679666666]

Who gives a bleep about defense right now. We can't score a friggin run to save our lives. I'll take offense over defense anyday now.

 

And Miller's awesome game calling certainly isn't helping Doug Davis learn how to throw a strike.

[CubmanPi]

Who gives a bleep about defense right now. We can't score a friggin run to save our lives. I'll take offense over defense anyday now.

 

Thank you.

 

A very good defensive catcher would have prevented both wild pitch runs from scoring the other day, but all that means is that we would have lost 7-0 instead of 9-0. We already have guys who can catch the ball. That's how our offense got here. I'll take someone who can hit it, please.

[cubs121]

Who gives a bleep about defense right now. We can't score a friggin run to save our lives. I'll take offense over defense anyday now.

 

And Miller's awesome game calling certainly isn't helping Doug Davis learn how to throw a strike.

 

you said it!