Cubs thinking about moving Barrett??

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

I'm saying that most teams don't look at a productive C (unless it's Piazza in his prime) and say - now that's the bat that's going to win the division for me.

 

And I'm not saying he's too valuable to trade. Here's my point: I don't think we should trade Barrett unless we get a great offer b/c he's a good hitting C w/ a pretty good OBP (we don't have nearly enough guys w/ good OBP's) and b/c we don't have a solid backup. I think he's going to be about this good for at least 2-3 more years and I think with the right moves, we can be contending in that time. So it doesn't make sense (to me) to deal him unless we can really improve the team. Given the dropoff in offense from Barrett to whoever would take his place, we'd have to be getting back something pretty darn good to improve the team overall.

 

You do not like predominantly defensive catchers. Correct?

 

Can Blanco hit? No. But neither can most of the catchers in the majors.

 

He is one of the top back up catchers in the league.

 

Barrett helps the team from an offensive standpoint and is detrimental from a defensive standpoint. Considering the Cubs have a young staff they really could use a good defensive catcher who can call a good game and help instill confidence in those youngsters. The offense that Barrett provides puts a few runs on the board which in the long run does nothing for the Cubs future which is what they should be focusing on.

[Tracer Bullet]

I'm saying that most teams don't look at a productive C (unless it's Piazza in his prime) and say - now that's the bat that's going to win the division for me.

 

And I'm not saying he's too valuable to trade. Here's my point: I don't think we should trade Barrett unless we get a great offer b/c he's a good hitting C w/ a pretty good OBP (we don't have nearly enough guys w/ good OBP's) and b/c we don't have a solid backup. I think he's going to be about this good for at least 2-3 more years and I think with the right moves, we can be contending in that time. So it doesn't make sense (to me) to deal him unless we can really improve the team. Given the dropoff in offense from Barrett to whoever would take his place, we'd have to be getting back something pretty darn good to improve the team overall.

 

You do not like predominantly defensive catchers. Correct?

 

Can Blanco hit? No. But neither can most of the catchers in the majors.

 

He is one of the top back up catchers in the league.

 

Barrett helps the team from an offensive standpoint and is detrimental from a defensive standpoint. Considering the Cubs have a young staff they really could use a good defensive catcher who can call a good game and help instill confidence in those youngsters. The offense that Barrett provides puts a few runs on the board which in the long run does nothing for the Cubs future which is what they should be focusing on.

 

I didn't really mean backup, I meant replacement, which is my bad.

 

But that said, I'm not sold on the impact that Blanco or any other "defensive" catcher would have on our young pitching staff. I don't believe that Barrett's D is costing us so many runs that it's hurting our young pitchers. I think Dusty and Hendry mis-using them is doing that just fine.

 

And I'm tired of thinking about the long run. I want to win and as soon as possible. Barrett gives us a better chance of winning in the near future than trading him for a mid level prospect and using Blanco full time. We don't need any more low-OBP guys in our lineup.

[Monco]

I'm saying that most teams don't look at a productive C (unless it's Piazza in his prime) and say - now that's the bat that's going to win the division for me.

 

And I'm not saying he's too valuable to trade. Here's my point: I don't think we should trade Barrett unless we get a great offer b/c he's a good hitting C w/ a pretty good OBP (we don't have nearly enough guys w/ good OBP's) and b/c we don't have a solid backup. I think he's going to be about this good for at least 2-3 more years and I think with the right moves, we can be contending in that time. So it doesn't make sense (to me) to deal him unless we can really improve the team. Given the dropoff in offense from Barrett to whoever would take his place, we'd have to be getting back something pretty darn good to improve the team overall.

 

You do not like predominantly defensive catchers. Correct?

 

Can Blanco hit? No. But neither can most of the catchers in the majors.

 

He is one of the top back up catchers in the league.

 

Barrett helps the team from an offensive standpoint and is detrimental from a defensive standpoint. Considering the Cubs have a young staff they really could use a good defensive catcher who can call a good game and help instill confidence in those youngsters. The offense that Barrett provides puts a few runs on the board which in the long run does nothing for the Cubs future which is what they should be focusing on.

 

I didn't really mean backup, I meant replacement, which is my bad.

 

But that said, I'm not sold on the impact that Blanco or any other "defensive" catcher would have on our young pitching staff. I don't believe that Barrett's D is costing us so many runs that it's hurting our young pitchers. I think Dusty and Hendry mis-using them is doing that just fine.

 

And I'm tired of thinking about the long run. I want to win and as soon as possible. Barrett gives us a better chance of winning in the near future than trading him for a mid level prospect and using Blanco full time. We don't need any more low-OBP guys in our lineup.

Wanting to win right now is part of the problem.Thats why every year the Cubs put a few band aids on and build up hopes. They need to rebuild. Barrets defense does not make up for his bat. Hes a poor handler of pitchers and is very poor throwing people out. If you trade Aram and move Barret to 3rd,then you can live with poor defense. A top team has to be strong behind the plate. I agree you don't give him away,but he can bring alot in return. With Tim Wilken coming from Toronto,he has a better idea than most what they have.

[badgercub]

I'm saying that most teams don't look at a productive C (unless it's Piazza in his prime) and say - now that's the bat that's going to win the division for me.

 

And I'm not saying he's too valuable to trade. Here's my point: I don't think we should trade Barrett unless we get a great offer b/c he's a good hitting C w/ a pretty good OBP (we don't have nearly enough guys w/ good OBP's) and b/c we don't have a solid backup. I think he's going to be about this good for at least 2-3 more years and I think with the right moves, we can be contending in that time. So it doesn't make sense (to me) to deal him unless we can really improve the team. Given the dropoff in offense from Barrett to whoever would take his place, we'd have to be getting back something pretty darn good to improve the team overall.

 

You do not like predominantly defensive catchers. Correct?

 

Can Blanco hit? No. But neither can most of the catchers in the majors.

 

He is one of the top back up catchers in the league.

 

Barrett helps the team from an offensive standpoint and is detrimental from a defensive standpoint. Considering the Cubs have a young staff they really could use a good defensive catcher who can call a good game and help instill confidence in those youngsters. The offense that Barrett provides puts a few runs on the board which in the long run does nothing for the Cubs future which is what they should be focusing on.

 

I didn't really mean backup, I meant replacement, which is my bad.

 

But that said, I'm not sold on the impact that Blanco or any other "defensive" catcher would have on our young pitching staff. I don't believe that Barrett's D is costing us so many runs that it's hurting our young pitchers. I think Dusty and Hendry mis-using them is doing that just fine.

 

And I'm tired of thinking about the long run. I want to win and as soon as possible. Barrett gives us a better chance of winning in the near future than trading him for a mid level prospect and using Blanco full time. We don't need any more low-OBP guys in our lineup.

Wanting to win right now is part of the problem.Thats why every year the Cubs put a few band aids on and build up hopes. They need to rebuild. Barrets defense does not make up for his bat. Hes a poor handler of pitchers and is very poor throwing people out. If you trade Aram and move Barret to 3rd,then you can live with poor defense. A top team has to be strong behind the plate. I agree you don't give him away,but he can bring alot in return. With Tim Wilken coming from Toronto,he has a better idea than most what they have.

 

Putting all the blame on Barrett for not throwing out runners more consistently is not completely fair. The Cubs pitching staff must also shoulder some of the blame, they just don't hold runners very well making it that much more difficult for the catcher to throw guys out. As far as calling a game, I don't know if Barrett even calls the game or are the signs sent in from the bench? I haven't really heard the pitchers complain about him being behind the plate. I will agree he is not great defensively but I don't think he is as bad as some make him out to be.

[Magnetic Curses]

i'd rather trade ramirez and shift barrett to third.

[Elrhino]

Yes, this should be Hendry's top priority ... getting rid of one of the few players who gives us + offensive production for his position.

 

This needs to be addressed way before our outfield.

 

:roll:

[biittner77]

i'd rather trade ramirez and shift barrett to third.

 

Barrett was a butcher at 3rd and has said he doesn't want to change positions. Barrett's offense from the catching position makes him valuable. His production as a corner infielder would make him very ordinary.

[jjgman21]

i'd rather trade ramirez and shift barrett to third.

 

Barrett was a butcher at 3rd and has said he doesn't want to change positions. Barrett's offense from the catching position makes him valuable. His production as a corner infielder would make him very ordinary.

 

I don't think he should be moved to third, but if Barrett were a third baseman this year and had enough ABs to qualify, he would rank 6 of all ML thirdbasemen in OPS. that's not ordinary.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

i'd rather trade ramirez and shift barrett to third.

 

Barrett was a butcher at 3rd and has said he doesn't want to change positions. Barrett's offense from the catching position makes him valuable. His production as a corner infielder would make him very ordinary.

 

I don't think he should be moved to third, but if Barrett were a third baseman this year and had enough ABs to qualify, he would rank 6 of all ML thirdbasemen in OPS. that's not ordinary.

 

That's true, but going forward I don't think we can expect Barrett to continue to put up a .900 OPS.

[KaiserCesar]

i'd rather trade ramirez and shift barrett to third.

 

Barrett was a butcher at 3rd and has said he doesn't want to change positions. Barrett's offense from the catching position makes him valuable. His production as a corner infielder would make him very ordinary.

 

I don't think he should be moved to third, but if Barrett were a third baseman this year and had enough ABs to qualify, he would rank 6 of all ML thirdbasemen in OPS. that's not ordinary.

 

That's true, but going forward I don't think we can expect Barrett to continue to put up a .900 OPS.

 

Also, the average replacement at third will likely put up better numbers than that at Catcher