Barrett vs. Rich Hill

[CoolHandLuke]

Brasky, I can't remember where, but I'd heard that Fox has been pretty much moved to the OF.

 

Wow, they must have wanted to fast-track him to be our 6th OF this year. Thanks for the info.

 

So all we really have available in the farm is Soto? If that's the case then nice 1st pick this year in the draft, Slim Jim.

 

I think its more about Fox being terrible behind the plate. Josh Donaldson was the second pick and he doesn't sound too bad, although Wieters would have been real nice.

[jersey cubs fan]

Brasky, I can't remember where, but I'd heard that Fox has been pretty much moved to the OF.

 

Wow, they must have wanted to fast-track him to be our 6th OF this year. Thanks for the info.

 

So all we really have available in the farm is Soto? If that's the case then nice 1st pick this year in the draft, Slim Jim.

 

They also drafted a catcher this year in the supplemental round. He's a 21 year old junior who turns 22 this December. Ideally he gets signed this year and can play in Peoria, then move on to Daytona next season and be in the mix for a possible big league debut in 2009/2010.

 

If they solidify the rest of the roster, I'd live with a combo of Blanco, Hill and Soto for the next year or two while waiting on Donaldson. They can't have a black hole at SS if that is the case and they need a real RF as well.

[Allroy]

I hate to say it guys, but those of you who think that Barrett and Jock are worth anything are kidding yourselves. They are both horrible baseball players. Jock's skillset combined with his contract make him undesireable, and Barrett is worthless when he's hitting like this. Its going to be hard to move either one them. Add Izzy to the mix and we are pretty much screwed. Thanks Jim.

[bluestainedivy]

Its going to be hard to move either one them. Add Izzy to the mix and we are pretty much screwed. Thanks Jim.

 

You can't blame Barrett on Jim. He was a good pickup...if MB turns it around then you'd probably change your tone. That being said, JJ was a questionable acquisition. Maybe Hendry can work some of the magic he pulled when he got Lee and Murton and Nomar.

[CoolHandLuke]

I hate to say it guys, but those of you who think that Barrett and Jock are worth anything are kidding yourselves. They are both horrible baseball players. Jock's skillset combined with his contract make him undesireable, and Barrett is worthless when he's hitting like this. Its going to be hard to move either one them. Add Izzy to the mix and we are pretty much screwed. Thanks Jim.

 

Barrett is currently on pace for 26 homers and the last three years he has put up ops' of 826/824/885. His contract is up at the end of the year, therefore there is no long term commitment. If the cubs choose to put him on the market they would be able to move him easily, and most likely get something decent in return.

[Amazing_Grace]

All comments to the media aside, this makes it seem Barrett is a real hot head. Being in two shouting matches in a month can't be just a coincidence. I'm actually somewhat looking forward to Blanco coming off the DL. Barrett should probably be traded while he still has some trade value left. He's not under contract past this season and is pretty cheap. The team that trades for him will probably have a real good shot at resigning him, since he's shot up a lot of his FA value with his awful play and public displays of idiocy. He also plays a position it's tough to find offense at. We probably should be able to get a B prospect for him.

 

This season is looking more and more like an obvious fire sale situation. I'd say that if it hasn't turned around by the break, then Hendry should fall on his sword, trade away anyone making over 4M that can be traded, and give as much payroll room as he can to the next owner/GM.

 

Yeah, I don't want to trade him because he can't play D or because he is a hot head. I want to trade him because this is a lost year, I don't want to sign him to an extension, and he still has some value. I just wish I could trust our GM to target the right kind of players in a fire sale.

 

Yeah, with the ownership change, next year is most likely a rebuild year regardless. Resigning Barrett wouldn't make a tremendous amount of sense and if the season is lost and you can get something for him, do it.

[Moonlight Graham]

I think the words between Barrett and Hill are being overblown. It looks more like Hill is pissed he gave up that hit to Washburn more than being pissed at Barrett. IMO Hill was just venting about his bad pitch to Barrett.

[Amazing_Grace]

I hate to say it guys, but those of you who think that Barrett and Jock are worth anything are kidding yourselves. They are both horrible baseball players. Jock's skillset combined with his contract make him undesireable, and Barrett is worthless when he's hitting like this. Its going to be hard to move either one them. Add Izzy to the mix and we are pretty much screwed. Thanks Jim.

 

Barrett has a lot more value than either Jones or Izturis because of his contract situation and the position he plays. Izturis will be a FA at season's end and isn't blocking anyone of any consequence, so really he's sort of irrelevant to a fire sale. I do think there's probably going to be some team that is willing to take him as a utility man, such as Detroit with Perez last year. If Perez can be moved with a whole year left on his deal, then Izzy can be moved being a FA at year end. At this point, I'd use the Zambrano trade to foist Jones on someone with cash, like sending Z and Jones to the Yankees/Mets for a prospect, then a third team getting Jones while the Yanks/Mets eat Jones contract.

 

Does anyone know if that catching prospect we got from Detroit last year for Perez figures to amount to anything?

 

EDIT: Hey I'm finally over 1000 posts, and it only took me 3 years.

[jmajew]

I've never thought Barret was the answer behind the plate. He is good offensively, but he can't call a game and the pitchers don't seem to have confidence in him. Barrett is nothing more than a backup catcher/part time 1b/fulltime DH in the AL. Teams like Oakland, Orioles, and the Angels should be looking at him very hard. Edited June 13, 2007 by jmajew

[JonnyRed]

Is this really a lost year??? The Cubs aren't playing that great, but who else is in our division. The first place Brewers just got embarrassed last night. The concern may be with how we compete in the postseason, but if Wild Card baseball has shown us anything, it's that you just need some momentum going into the postseason. The Cubs are not out of it.

 

As mediocre as this year has been, there's no way it's a lost season. We're one good week away from the division lead. No question we have to figure out a way to win the close games, but let's also keep in mind that we haven't had our big three playing together for the majority of the season. I love our top 4 when A-Ram is back and Barrett and even JJ should return to more of their career averages as well. Good times are ahead...

[CoolHandLuke]

Chris Robinson

 

 

currently hitting like crap in AA.

[killthegoat06]

I don't think it's anything to worry about.

[cubscausestress]

it was just a conversation after a terrible pitch. that's all. it's shown as a huge problem in the press.

 

paul sullivan is an ass. i'd love to kick him in the teeth. he does nothing but report about clubhouse drama. i bet he never even touched a baseball growing up.

[Allroy]

I hate to say it guys, but those of you who think that Barrett and Jock are worth anything are kidding yourselves. They are both horrible baseball players. Jock's skillset combined with his contract make him undesireable, and Barrett is worthless when he's hitting like this. Its going to be hard to move either one them. Add Izzy to the mix and we are pretty much screwed. Thanks Jim.

 

Barrett is currently on pace for 26 homers and the last three years he has put up ops' of 826/824/885. His contract is up at the end of the year, therefore there is no long term commitment. If the cubs choose to put him on the market they would be able to move him easily, and most likely get something decent in return.

 

I'll agree with you to a point. He will be the easiest of the 3 to move, mainly because of his position and his contract. I used to love the guy when he could hit, but he looks completely lost at the plate this year. Combine that with his lack of defense, baserunning, and crappy game calling I'm not sure too many people would want him if they watched him at all. He's barely an above average hitter and crappy baseball player in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I hope we can get some good talent for him, but I just don't see it happening.

[Chocolate Milk]

Barrett's only a couple of good games from bringing his OPS+ to the 100 range. He's at 91 right now.

[VicCub]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

[baseball7897]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

 

Barrett is just complete garbage behind the plate.

[abuck1220]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

 

got any numbers to support that ridiculous claim?

 

didn't think so. honestly though, i would love to see you list all the instances where barrett's d cost the cubs a run.

[daske17]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

 

Barrett is just complete garbage behind the plate.

 

Barrett drives in runs with his glove.

[Fred Hornkohl]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

 

got any numbers to support that ridiculous claim?

 

didn't think so. honestly though, i would love to see you list all the instances where barrett's d cost the cubs a run.

 

Well, using one formula for Runs Created, Barrett has generated 26.1 runs for us. I don't know what the "average catcher" would have generated, but taking Blanco's numbers and extrapolating them upward to equal Barrett's playing time, you come up with 11.5 RC. Doing the same with Koyie Hill you get 2.4 RC. On the other side of the coin, I can think of 3 or 4 instances where Barrett's defense or bone headed base running contributed to a CUBS loss. Some will undoubtedly argue that there are more. I can't imagine that there are enough runs given up by Barrett to negate the extra offense he brings, in spite of his current slump.

[Chocolate Milk]

Barrett's babip as a Cub:

 

04: .306

05: .291

06: .311

07: .261

 

Hopefully we'll see an uptick in his babip soon. He's not far off from getting it together.

[SouthSideRyan]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

 

got any numbers to support that ridiculous claim?

 

didn't think so. honestly though, i would love to see you list all the instances where barrett's d cost the cubs a run.

 

That's the beauty of "he doesn't call a good game"

 

Just blame everything that goes wrong with a pitcher on the catcher if you happen to not like him! The proof's in the pudding, look how bad he pitched!!

[CubinNY]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

 

got any numbers to support that ridiculous claim?

 

didn't think so. honestly though, i would love to see you list all the instances where barrett's d cost the cubs a run.

 

That's the beauty of "he doesn't call a good game"

 

Just blame everything that goes wrong with a pitcher on the catcher if you happen to not like him! The proof's in the pudding, look how bad he pitched!!

 

All that may be true, Barrett is still a terrible defensive catcher.

 

If he hits, I'm fine with him behind the plate. If he doesn't/isn't he's worse than usless.

[VicCub]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

 

got any numbers to support that ridiculous claim?

 

didn't think so. honestly though, i would love to see you list all the instances where barrett's d cost the cubs a run.

 

Ha I always forget to add an IMO. I've always felt that MB was bad behind the plate, but lately you can see the tangible evidence of it contributing to losses. Most MLB catchers catch the ball and make the tag in last night's game IMO. Most MLB catchers throw out a higher % of runners. Most MLB catchers aren't arguing or fighting with their pitchers. Some MLB catchers block Demps wild pitch that cost us the braves game IMO. And there's been plenty of other bad plays this year.

 

With a lot of catchers, it's hard to notice their D- they just catch the ball period. MB has made it hard to NOT notice. And it sucks because I think the world of the guy.

[SouthSideRyan]

I like your attitude JonnyRed. This team can play a lot better and when we do the Brewers will be in trouble! I do think MB should go though. His D gives up more runs than his O can make up.

 

got any numbers to support that ridiculous claim?

 

didn't think so. honestly though, i would love to see you list all the instances where barrett's d cost the cubs a run.

 

That's the beauty of "he doesn't call a good game"

 

Just blame everything that goes wrong with a pitcher on the catcher if you happen to not like him! The proof's in the pudding, look how bad he pitched!!

 

All that may be true, Barrett is still a terrible defensive catcher.

 

If he hits, I'm fine with him behind the plate. If he doesn't/isn't he's worse than usless.

 

My personal opinion is that defense at the catcher position is vastly overrated as long as it doesn't go too far to the extreme. (A Matt Lecroy or current Mike Piazza) I find most critiques on a guy calling a game to be completely fabricated. It's true that Barrett isn't great at blocking pitches, isn't great at throwing out baserunners, and makes some stupid mistakes, but honestly how often does his below averageness at these things affect a game. Not as often as just about any other position on the field.