Barrett to Left Field?

[jmajew]

Barrets 900 OPS would be in the lineup for 150 games if he moves to LF. As of now he is only in the lineup about 130 times a year. My point is simply that there are worse ideas. It would help the offense if he could play more games. If we could sign Bengie Molina in the offseason it is something I would consider. It is definitely not ideal. If we could move Barrett to second that would be ideal. He did play 3b for the Expos at one point in time so I would bet he could handle playing 2b.

[DiamondMind]

I love this idea and it's what I've been ranting about in some other selected threads. Barrett is below average defensively as a catcher, people forget that he's a converted infielder. Catchers learn by experience, usually all the way from college ball through the minors through rookie MLB experience. I'd much rather see someone that can handle our emotional pitching staff and their wicked stuff behind the plate, and let Barrett fill a black hole that is SLG/OPS from corner OF positions. On top of all that, you're looking at possibly as much as 100 extra AB's from Barrett per year which might equate to an extra 5 HR and 15 RBI.

[Sammy Sofa]

I wouldn't want Barrett in the OF, but I wouldn't be opposed to putting him at 3rd to replace Aramis. I'm still thinking trading him wouldn't hurt if you do such a switch...with Maddux and Ramirez gone and Wood either gone or back at a discount, that frees up a lot of money for the Cubs to hopefully get out there and fix some holes.

[TB_11]

Why are you ripping on Stone for suggesting that the Cubs get a catcher that can actually handle the pitching staff? If so the only logical thing to do with Barrett is move him to LF.

 

I mean its not the best idea in the World but I'm all for having a defensive catcher back there. Maybe its just a fluke, but the pitching staff hasn't really been the same since 2003 when Miller left. And that is including the performances of the same pitchers from 2003.

 

I don't know what can be shown to say that Barrett can or can't handle a pitching staff. Too much has happened since 2003 to attribute the decline in pitching performance to having Barrett behind the plate instead of Miller.

 

The only reasons where moving Barrett makes sense is if 1) we get a solid offensive catcher to replace Blanco, but I don't see Mauer or Martinez falling to us anytime soon or 2) injuries become a concern, and we think he'll be able to play significantly more games at a different position. The Cubs should at least consider the second reason.

[USSoccer]

I wouldn't want Barrett in the OF, but I wouldn't be opposed to putting him at 3rd to replace Aramis. I'm still thinking trading him wouldn't hurt if you do such a switch...with Maddux and Ramirez gone and Wood either gone or back at a discount, that frees up a lot of money for the Cubs to hopefully get out there and fix some holes.

 

There's not a single player out there this winter that's better than Ramirez.

[Sammy Sofa]

I wouldn't want Barrett in the OF, but I wouldn't be opposed to putting him at 3rd to replace Aramis. I'm still thinking trading him wouldn't hurt if you do such a switch...with Maddux and Ramirez gone and Wood either gone or back at a discount, that frees up a lot of money for the Cubs to hopefully get out there and fix some holes.

 

There's not a single player out there this winter that's better than Ramirez.

 

I'd take a combo of D-Lee/C-Lee/Soriano/Barrett most games of the year over D-Lee/Aramis/Barrett (on a catcher's schedule).

[USSoccer]

I wouldn't want Barrett in the OF, but I wouldn't be opposed to putting him at 3rd to replace Aramis. I'm still thinking trading him wouldn't hurt if you do such a switch...with Maddux and Ramirez gone and Wood either gone or back at a discount, that frees up a lot of money for the Cubs to hopefully get out there and fix some holes.

 

There's not a single player out there this winter that's better than Ramirez.

 

I'd take a combo of D-Lee/C-Lee/Soriano/Barrett most games of the year over D-Lee/Aramis/Barrett (on a catcher's schedule).

 

Aramis is better in every way than either of those 2 players. Why not just sign one of them and keep Aramis?

 

Regardless, you can't trade Aramis now anyway.

[Sammy Sofa]

I wouldn't want Barrett in the OF, but I wouldn't be opposed to putting him at 3rd to replace Aramis. I'm still thinking trading him wouldn't hurt if you do such a switch...with Maddux and Ramirez gone and Wood either gone or back at a discount, that frees up a lot of money for the Cubs to hopefully get out there and fix some holes.

 

There's not a single player out there this winter that's better than Ramirez.

 

I'd take a combo of D-Lee/C-Lee/Soriano/Barrett most games of the year over D-Lee/Aramis/Barrett (on a catcher's schedule).

 

Aramis is better in every way than either of those 2 players. Why not just sign one of them and keep Aramis?

 

Regardless, you can't trade Aramis now anyway.

 

The latter: I know, this is all hypothetical.

 

The former: I think the 2 combined would be better, more productive and more consistent than Aramis. I also think they'd be able to hold up if another big hitter goes down for an extended period of time.

 

Sadly, I don't think the Cubs can hope for any significant improvement unless they sign both players, or 2 players along their lines. Hendry has created a sucking black hole of offense between 2nd base and SS and the OF has so little power between the corner spots it's not even funny. I think RF could be salvaged next year with a Murton/Jones platoon, but LF needs to the big boost desperately. Murton is not the answer there at this point. I'd sign a big bat for LF longterm, let Murt platoon in RF with Jacque, and then he takes over RF fulltime when Jacque is gone. Hopefully his power has developed enough at that point. By then you'd have Big Bat TBNL in left, Pie in CF and Murton in RF.

 

The problem with picking up 2 players along these lines is it doesn't leave much money to fix up the starting rotation. Hence why I'd be willing to have traded Aramis.

[CubColtPacer]

I wouldn't want Barrett in the OF, but I wouldn't be opposed to putting him at 3rd to replace Aramis. I'm still thinking trading him wouldn't hurt if you do such a switch...with Maddux and Ramirez gone and Wood either gone or back at a discount, that frees up a lot of money for the Cubs to hopefully get out there and fix some holes.

 

There's not a single player out there this winter that's better than Ramirez.

 

I'd take a combo of D-Lee/C-Lee/Soriano/Barrett most games of the year over D-Lee/Aramis/Barrett (on a catcher's schedule).

 

Aramis is better in every way than either of those 2 players. Why not just sign one of them and keep Aramis?

 

Regardless, you can't trade Aramis now anyway.

 

The latter: I know, this is all hypothetical.

 

The former: I think the 2 combined would be better, more productive and more consistent than Aramis. I also think they'd be able to hold up if another big hitter goes down for an extended period of time.

 

Sadly, I don't think the Cubs can hope for any significant improvement unless they sign both players, or 2 players along their lines. Hendry has created a sucking black hole of offense between 2nd base and SS and the OF has so little power between the corner spots it's not even funny. I think RF could be salvaged next year with a Murton/Jones platoon, but LF needs to the big boost desperately. Murton is not the answer there at this point. I'd sign a big bat for LF longterm, let Murt platoon in RF with Jacque, and then he takes over RF fulltime when Jacque is gone. Hopefully his power has developed enough at that point. By then you'd have Big Bat TBNL in left, Pie in CF and Murton in RF.

 

The problem with picking up 2 players along these lines is it doesn't leave much money to fix up the starting rotation. Hence why I'd be willing to have traded Aramis.

 

Ok, let me go point by point here. Here are the last 3 years for Carlos Lee, Soriano, and Aramis

 

Lee: (age 30 now)

04-.305/.366/.525

05-.265/.324/.487

06-.295/.350/.536

 

Soriano (age 30 now)

04-.280/.324/.484

05-.268/.309/.512

06-.294/.366/.602

 

Aramis (age 28 now)

04-.318/.373/.578

05-.302/.358/.568

06-.279/.341/.544

 

Aramis is 2 years younger then either of these two-his worst year is the same as Carlos Lee's 2 best years of the 3, and his worst year is also much better than 2 of the 3 years of Soriano. Why are these other 2 players going to stay more productive than Aramis?

 

Second-yes, the offense in the middle infield is bad right now. However, the power specifically is not terrible at all in RF. Jones is 4th in HR, and 5th in SLG percentage among right fielders in the major leagues. I do agree that a Murton and Jones platoon would be excellent, but if you're already signing Soriano to provide power at 2nd, Murton would be fine in LF without the power (you have 2 positions now providing power that are not supposed to, C and 2b, and only 1 position that is not providing power that is traditionally supposed to, LF).

Sign another platoon partner for Jacque, and you have 30-40 HR's out of RF, while increasing the OBP of RF also significantly (Jones's OBP against right handers makes him a dangerous weapon when combined with his SLG-.309/.350/542 against right handers this season-slightly better than Carlos Lee-just have to find a player who can kill left handers to combine him with)

Then, you only have to pick up 1 full-time player and 1 platoon player, and that still leaves you with money to fix the starting rotation and having an extremely productive offense.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm not saying I want 1 of those players over Aramis...I'd want both if he were to have been traded and I wouldn't mind seeing Barrett moved to 3rd. Like I said, I think a C-Lee/D-Lee/Barrett/Soriano combo is better than just Aramis/D-Lee/Barrett on a catcher's schedule/just 1 of the players above. I'm sorry, but I don't have the confidence that Muron, at this point in his career, would have the power needed to hold down LF on his own next year if the Cubs want to compete. I'm very confident he will develop power, and I'd like to see him take over RF after Jacque is gone. That frees up LF for a long term masher, Murton develops as a hitter and defender platooning in RF and Pie eventually comes up to take CF.

 

Look, if the Cubs could get Soriano and Carlos Lee and still have Aramis and still go out and get another serious starter, hey, great. I just don't see it as too likely.

Edited August 19, 2006 by Sammy Sofa

[USSoccer]

I'm not saying I want 1 of those players over Aramis...I'd want both if he were to have been traded and I wouldn't mind seeing Barrett moved to 3rd. Like I said, I think a C-Lee/D-Lee/Barrett/Soriano combo is better than just Aramis/D-Lee/Barrett on a catcher's schedule/just 1 of the players above.

 

But you're wrong. Barrett on a C schedule means he sits once a week. Big deal. That's not going to make or break your offense. The extra production Ramirez brings over either of those 2 more than makes up for the 30-40 starts your backup C gets.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm not saying I want 1 of those players over Aramis...I'd want both if he were to have been traded and I wouldn't mind seeing Barrett moved to 3rd. Like I said, I think a C-Lee/D-Lee/Barrett/Soriano combo is better than just Aramis/D-Lee/Barrett on a catcher's schedule/just 1 of the players above.

 

But you're wrong. Barrett on a C schedule means he sits once a week. Big deal. That's not going to make or break your offense.

 

Being a catcher is also going to wear down his career. He's shown he has the bat...I could live with him at 3rd if it frees up money to get what the Cubs need. Finding a decent defensive catcher with a little pop is nowhere near as demanding as the other spots the Cubs absolutely need to improve, and need serious money to improve.

 

I'm not saying that I don't like Aramis or think he needs to be gone...I just don't think trading him would have been the end of the world and couldeasily have had a ton of upside if played right.

[CubColtPacer]

I'm not saying I want 1 of those players over Aramis...I'd want both if he were to have been traded and I wouldn't mind seeing Barrett moved to 3rd. Like I said, I think a C-Lee/D-Lee/Barrett/Soriano combo is better than just Aramis/D-Lee/Barrett on a catcher's schedule/just 1 of the players above. I'm sorry, but I don't have the confidence that Muron, at this point in his career, would have the power needed to hold down LF on his own next year if the Cubs want to compete. I'm very confident he will develop power, and I'd like to see him take over RF after Jacque is gone. That frees up LF for a long term masher, Murton develops as a hitter and defender platooning in RF and Pie eventually comes up to take CF.

 

Look, if the Cubs could get Soriano and Carlos Lee and still have Aramis and still go out and get another serious starter, hey, great. I just don't see it as too likely.

 

Who is the catcher then in your scenario? Let's say you can have either D. Lee/Aramis/Barrett/Soriano/Murton to fill 1B, 3B, C, 2B, and LF-as I am suggesting, or you can have D. Lee/Barrett/Blanco?/Soriano/Carlos Lee as you are suggesting. You'd have to find a catcher that had more offense than Murton to make the offense better, and any catcher with even that much offense is going to cost a pretty penny and is probably not available.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm not saying I want 1 of those players over Aramis...I'd want both if he were to have been traded and I wouldn't mind seeing Barrett moved to 3rd. Like I said, I think a C-Lee/D-Lee/Barrett/Soriano combo is better than just Aramis/D-Lee/Barrett on a catcher's schedule/just 1 of the players above. I'm sorry, but I don't have the confidence that Muron, at this point in his career, would have the power needed to hold down LF on his own next year if the Cubs want to compete. I'm very confident he will develop power, and I'd like to see him take over RF after Jacque is gone. That frees up LF for a long term masher, Murton develops as a hitter and defender platooning in RF and Pie eventually comes up to take CF.

 

Look, if the Cubs could get Soriano and Carlos Lee and still have Aramis and still go out and get another serious starter, hey, great. I just don't see it as too likely.

 

Who is the catcher then in your scenario? Let's say you can have either D. Lee/Aramis/Barrett/Soriano/Murton to fill 1B, 3B, C, 2B, and LF-as I am suggesting, or you can have D. Lee/Barrett/Blanco?/Soriano/Carlos Lee as you are suggesting. You'd have to find a catcher that had more offense than Murton to make the offense better, and any catcher with even that much offense is going to cost a pretty penny and is probably not available.

 

I think having Lee/Lee/Soriano/Barrett/a Jones & Murton platoon makes finding a catcher than can out produce Murton not necessary (obviously, I'm not saying they don't need to look for a catcher at all; find one who can hit better than Blanco and I'd be fine). I could easily be wrong...that's just my opinion.

 

Plus, who knows what we could have gotten spinning Aramis off to another team.

 

I'm perfectly happy with Aramis on the Cubs next year. I simply think him being here means we're gonna have to be stuck with the black hole up the middle or Murton still learning in LF and not be able to improve both.

[NorthsideAvenger]

If the Cubs lose ARam (I still believe he will be a Cub in 07), I would be intrigued about moving Barrett to third, and try to acquire a Johnny Estrada type catcher. And that would be the only feesible scenerio with Barrett moving to another position.

[Brothaman33]

Through all of this, Id rather have a great hitting catcher, but having to go out and find a good LF, then have a Great hitting catcher play LF, and going out to find a good catcher.

 

so...in other words

 

id rather have to find a good LF and keep Barrett at C

 

then to move barrett to LF and go find another C

 

on the Steve Stone issue...i was watching a game one time, and I swear to god he said "If Kerry doesnt keep this ball down this guy is going to hit it over the left field bleachers"

 

and the pitch...

 

CRACK....

 

i turn on the radio to hear Ron Santo....

 

"NOOOO, NOOOOOOO, DANGIT!!!!"

 

Pat Hughes...

 

"and he has just put his team ahead 3-0 on a long homerun to left field"

 

Steve Stone was a psycic back in the day, now hes lost it...

[Shilzzz]

how about the cubs pull a craig biggio and move him to second, where that offense would look real good, get clee to play left, let murton/jones platoon and pry away a brian mccann or ronny paulino, or even kendall(i know kendall is old, but fox shouldn't be that far away)?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

how about the cubs pull a craig biggio and move him to second, where that offense would look real good, get clee to play left, let murton/jones platoon and pry away a brian mccann or ronny paulino, or even kendall(i know kendall is old, but fox shouldn't be that far away)?

 

There's no way anyone pries away Brian McCann.

[Shilzzz]

how about the cubs pull a craig biggio and move him to second, where that offense would look real good, get clee to play left, let murton/jones platoon and pry away a brian mccann or ronny paulino, or even kendall(i know kendall is old, but fox shouldn't be that far away)?

 

There's no way anyone pries away Brian McCann.

 

we will have an excess of good young pitching this offseason.

[Warpticon]

how about the cubs pull a craig biggio and move him to second, where that offense would look real good, get clee to play left, let murton/jones platoon and pry away a brian mccann or ronny paulino, or even kendall(i know kendall is old, but fox shouldn't be that far away)?

 

There's no way anyone pries away Brian McCann.

 

we will have an excess of good young pitching this offseason.

 

Not nearly enough to get McCann, who is the best hitting catcher in baseball at age 22.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

how about the cubs pull a craig biggio and move him to second, where that offense would look real good, get clee to play left, let murton/jones platoon and pry away a brian mccann or ronny paulino, or even kendall(i know kendall is old, but fox shouldn't be that far away)?

 

There's no way anyone pries away Brian McCann.

 

we will have an excess of good young pitching this offseason.

 

The Braves will not be motivated to trade McCann. He's young, good, and cheap.

 

So unless we're willing to offer Marshall, Marmol, Paweleck, Guzman, Pie, Murton, Prior, Gallagher and maybe a few more, we should give it up.

[Banedon]

Why is it that whenever a team needs to make positive changes, there are inevitably a ton of suggestions to move a position player from the position that he's been in most of his career to a position he's never played?

[Sammy Sofa]

I agree, moving him to LF is madness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Move him to 3rd.

[bhogg]

What's his PLWHIP+ERA? (projected leftfield WHIP + ERA)

[nilodnayr]

With two automatic outs in Izturis and Cedeno in the lineup we cannot afford to have a "defensive" catcher, which means a guy who can't hit. With the progression of offensive middle IF and CFs, teams wanting to contend cannot have two automatic outs in their lineup, let alone 3. Especially with the uncertainty of our pitching.