Blanco to be Zambo's personal catcher

[OleMissCub]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/403946,CST-SPT-cubnt28.article

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he's considering making backup Henry Blanco the personal catcher for ace Carlos Zambrano, one day after another good performance by Zambrano with Blanco behind the plate.

 

''When I was in Seattle, we used to find who our backup catcher had the most success with, and that's who we gave the assignment to,'' Piniella said. ''So we could do that. We're going to have to play Henry 20 percent of the time anyway, so if we can give him one pitcher, that's fine, too.''

 

Doesn't sound like a bad idea. With Barrett as my fantasy catcher, at least now I know what days he won't be playing. :-)

[RynoRules]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

[Soriano12]

And another reason to draft Wieters.

[OleMissCub]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Intriguing. I could almost guarantee that his offense would go way up if he was able to focus almost solely on that. Put him in RF. I'm sure he's got a good arm.

[RynoRules]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Intriguing. I could almost guarantee that his offense would go way up if he was able to focus almost solely on that. Put him in RF. I'm sure he's got a good arm.

 

If he doesn't have to catch I would bet he is good for something like .290 / .370 / .475 and 20-25 HRs.

[Tracer Bullet]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Wait, what's the reason?

[OleMissCub]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Intriguing. I could almost guarantee that his offense would go way up if he was able to focus almost solely on that. Put him in RF. I'm sure he's got a good arm.

 

If he doesn't have to catch I would bet he is good for something like .290 / .370 / .475 and 20-25 HRs.

 

Those numbers are what I would expect Murton to do eventually, but with a higher average.

[jersey cubs fan]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Intriguing. I could almost guarantee that his offense would go way up if he was able to focus almost solely on that. Put him in RF. I'm sure he's got a good arm.

 

If he doesn't have to catch I would bet he is good for something like .290 / .370 / .475 and 20-25 HRs.

 

I'd be more than willing to take the other side of that bet.

[RynoRules]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Intriguing. I could almost guarantee that his offense would go way up if he was able to focus almost solely on that. Put him in RF. I'm sure he's got a good arm.

 

If he doesn't have to catch I would bet he is good for something like .290 / .370 / .475 and 20-25 HRs.

 

I'd be more than willing to take the other side of that bet.

 

OK. Why? The guy has put very solid nos. for the past three or four years all while playing the most physically demanding position on the field. He's patient at the plate, and we have seen him wear down at the end of the season on two occassions that I can recall.

 

There are several catchers who have made the move to 2B, 3B, the OF, etc. Why not Barrett?

[RynoRules]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Wait, what's the reason?

 

Lengthen the productive years of his career for one.

[OleMissCub]

 

There are several catchers who have made the move to 2B, 3B, the OF, etc. Why not Barrett?

 

He's played 3B in over 100 MLB games. I'm sure he has the athleticism to play OF.

 

Although, if he's not catcher, he doesn't fit into my long term scheme for what the Cubs should look like in the future:

 

C: ??

1B: Lee

2B: Patterson

3B: Ramirez

SS: Theriot

LF: Soriano

CF: Pie

RF: Murton

[RynoRules]

Michael's last three years:

 

2004 27 CHC NL 134 456 55 131 32 6 16 65 1 4 33 64 .287 .337 .489 105 223 4 8 4 5 13

 

2005 28 CHC NL 133 424 48 117 32 3 16 61 0 3 40 61 .276 .345 .479 113 203 2 4 3 7 7 SS

 

2006 29 CHC NL 107 375 54 115 25 3 16 53 0 1 33 41 .307 .368 .517

 

His nos. certainly are trending up. He's not far from 20 HRs. His slugging was higher last year than the no. I would expect. His OBP was nearly equivalent. His BA was higher. If he's at 2B or RF he's facing less physical strain. I don't see why my argument is so far fetched.

[Abe Frohman]

Do we really need another Middle Infielder or Outfielder?

[Tracer Bullet]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Wait, what's the reason?

 

Lengthen the productive years of his career for one.

 

I understand that reason. But you said "this is another reason" and I don't know what you were referring to. What does Blanco becoming Z's personal catcher have to do with Barrett changing positions?

[CubColtPacer]

Do we really need another Middle Infielder or Outfielder?

 

I believe you meant corner infielder or outfielder, and the answer is no, the team does not need another one of those. They desperately need 1 hitter up the middle, because between C, 2B, SS, and CF, they have 7 players, and only 1 of them is hitting well (DeRosa).

[RynoRules]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Wait, what's the reason?

 

Lengthen the productive years of his career for one.

 

I understand that reason. But you said "this is another reason" and I don't know what you were referring to. What does Blanco becoming Z's personal catcher have to do with Barrett changing positions?

 

If he can play 2B or RF then we don't necessarily have to lose his bat in the lineup on days when Blanco is behind the plate. That is, until they convert him full-time.

[RynoRules]

Do we really need another Middle Infielder or Outfielder?

 

No - we need a MIFer or corner OFer who can hit.

 

In one of my fantasy worlds, we deal off Jones and Izturis, make Floyd a backup, and make DeRosa the super-sub. We call up Pie to play CF, and start Theriot and Barrett in the MIF.

[rocket]

Barrett's a fine offensive player...for a catcher.

 

I don't think his numbers will improve significantly with a position change. At least not to the point where it's good enough for a corner outfielder.

 

It'd be great if he could play 2B competently, but I doubt he could.

[jersey cubs fan]

OK. Why? The guy has put very solid nos. for the past three or four years all while playing the most physically demanding position on the field. He's patient at the plate, and we have seen him wear down at the end of the season on two occassions that I can recall.

 

There are several catchers who have made the move to 2B, 3B, the OF, etc. Why not Barrett?

 

A) He's dumb as a box of rocks, the move would probably only confuse him more.

 

B) He's not patient. He may not be as bad as some of the hackers this team has had the past couple years, but the guy has never drawn more than 40 walks in a season.

 

C) He had an excellent 2006 at the plate. His 2005 was good, but lacking in OBP - the most important stat, and his 2004 was the same.

 

D) He's already completed his peak seasons, and did so by logging a lot of innings at a very physically demanding position that has worn him down just like it has done for most catchers throughout history.

 

E) There may be a few catchers who have done it, but the two most prominent examples are Biggio, Bench and Berra. Biggio switched out of catcher in his early 20's, while Bench was logging time at 3B, 1B and the OF from the time he was 22, and he never had one full productive season once he made the switch more or less full-time. Berra was a full-time catcher throughout his 20's and started to make the gradual switch in his early 30's. But Berra's career dwarfs that of Barrett's to this point, as he consistently put up solid numbers year in and year out, with an OPS+ that matched or beat Barrett's career year 7 times by the time he was Barrett's age. Not to mention Bench is a hall of famer while Biggio is a likely hall of famer. Barrett couldn't hold these guys' jocks. Barrett has pretty much been just a catcher (with a little DH time and 6 games at 1B) for 7 years now. This isn't switching a LF to RF (and we know how good the Cubs have been at that).

 

Bottom line is I see no way he makes the switch this year. You would need at least all offseason and next spring to get him acclimated. And even then there is no guarantee he'd be a more productive corner OF than Murton, but you would have to sign him to a free agent contract. Plus he'd have another full season of catching duty under his belt, just wearing him down even further.

[rawaction]

How long ago did Barrett play IF? What makes anybody think he can do it again in his 30s, after being crouched for so many years. He's not nearly the athlete that Craig Biggio was/is. He can't do it. And just because he changes positions doesn't mean he will all of a sudden hit better.

[Abe Frohman]

I believe you meant corner infielder or outfielder...

 

I was referring to the comment that Barrett could be a 2B or RFer. With Jones, Floyd, Murton, and Pagan rotating around between CF/RF - doesn't seem like there is enough room when you consider Felix Pie is probably the best thing for the Cubs in CF (defensively with offensive potential).

 

At 2nd base, I wouldn't even really consider Barrett and option. Maybe 1st or 3rd, but the Cubs obviously don't have a need for him there.

 

Do we really need another Middle Infielder or Outfielder?

 

No - we need a MIFer or corner OFer who can hit.

 

In one of my fantasy worlds, we deal off Jones and Izturis, make Floyd a backup, and make DeRosa the super-sub. We call up Pie to play CF, and start Theriot and Barrett in the MIF.

 

I think one of the best things for this Cub team would be to have a set lineup. I know that is tough as Piniella has a whole slew of people to keep happy, but I think a deal needs to be made to stop some of this pressure of who to play, and where. I'd like to see an outfield of Soriano, Pie, and Floyd - or maybe Murton in LF, Pie and Soriano in RF. Either way, the lineup keeps getting shuffled and that can't be helpful when trying to get everyone settled into a role.

 

Regardless, Barrett is a tough cookie and doesn't seem right with the bat at this time. It seems Blanco should be mixed in a little more - and that seems to be happening with him now being Zambrano's personal catcher.

[Tracer Bullet]

This is another reason to make Barrett an OFer or 2B.

 

Wait, what's the reason?

 

Lengthen the productive years of his career for one.

 

I understand that reason. But you said "this is another reason" and I don't know what you were referring to. What does Blanco becoming Z's personal catcher have to do with Barrett changing positions?

 

If he can play 2B or RF then we don't necessarily have to lose his bat in the lineup on days when Blanco is behind the plate. That is, until they convert him full-time.

 

I still don't really see the connection. Blanco's been backing him up for a couple years, I don't understand why Blanco becoming a personal C for Z changes anything for Barrett, but that's not really important.

 

Barrett's a fine offensive C, and I suppose he'd be considered a fine offensive 2B, but I wouldn't try to convert him to a corner OF. A - we already have 4, why do we need another? B - he's not so good offensively that we just have to get his bat in the lineup somewhere.

 

He's past his prime and spent several years catching. So I don't know why he's suddenly become a patient .370-ish OBP guy. He might have a few more .800+ OPS seasons in him, especially if he moves, but we have decent (or great) pieces at all the positions he could move to (LF, RF, 1B, 2B, 3B = Soriano, Murton, Lee, Theriot, ARam). Unless he can play SS or CF, I don't see the need. I don't think he'll be any more valuable to the team over the next 3 or so years than any of those guys. Theriot and Murton get on base at a better rate, if nothing else, and the other guys are just better all around hitters than Barrett.

 

As long as Barrett can put up an .800-ish OPS behind the plate, great. When he can't, hopefully we'll have a good young C ready to step in, and we can thank Barrett for his service.

[Tracer Bullet]

A) He's dumb as a box of rocks

 

Even if true, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? I've never heard Barrett speak and thought to myself, "he's a total moron."

[Keener98]

A) He's dumb as a box of rocks

 

Even if true, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? I've never heard Barrett speak and thought to myself, "he's a total moron."

 

Its his actions not his words.

[jersey cubs fan]

How is Barrett to 2nd even considered a possibility? He's logged exactly zero innings there in his major league career. 3B is the only position he's put up any reasonable amount of time. I think he might be okay at 1B, but obviously his bat isn't enough to justify the spot. There's a slim chance he could handle left field, but there's absolutely no way he handles a move to 2B.