Barret to get few days off

[RynoRules]

Barrett gave a very interesting interview to MJ&H yesterday on ESPN 1000. They haven't posted it yet, but they may in the future: MJH homepage

 

Barrett more or less refused to directly answer questions. He tip toed around having an opinion about Lou (something like, "Hey, I am just trying to learn from him.") or about the criticism of his base running gaffes ("Hey, I am a catcher."). He sounded very much like a guy on the outside looking in, like he was holding back his real opinions of what's going on. [/url]

[jersey cubs fan]

Something is definitely up with Barrett.

 

He comes across as a real mimbo from the start. But he's already argued multiple times with teammates and coaches. I think the team thinks he's dumb as a box of rocks and are started to get annoyed by his over enthusiasm.

[Pushfrog98]

think he's still got some lingering affects from the intra-scrotal hematoma?

[Amazing_Grace]

in somewhat related news, soto is up to a .947 OPS now

 

And he's only 24 years old. I'd like to see Barrett traded and Soto get the rest of the year to see what he can do in the bigs. Of course, I'm pretty much in favor of having a fire sale and playing everyone under the age of 30 in hopes some of them will end up being decent.

[NCCubFan]

There was a post in the minor league forum that Soto injured his shoulder and can't catch for now, so he's been playing 1B and DH. That would explain why Hill and not Soto was called up when Blanco went on the DL.

[Amazing_Grace]

There was a post in the minor league forum that Soto injured his shoulder and can't catch for now, so he's been playing 1B and DH. That would explain why Hill and not Soto was called up when Blanco went on the DL.

 

Ah, I see. Do they know when/if he'll move back to catcher? His numbers don't look nearly as good as a first baseman.

[sunnydoo]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6911370

 

Catcher Michael Barrett's days with the Cubs could be numbered, and not simply because of his altercation with right-hander Carlos Zambrano. When Zambrano pointed to his head in the moments leading to the brawl, apparently questioning what Barrett was thinking, it captured the team's frustration with the catcher's erratic, vacuous play.

 

Barrett, 30, has committed a number of defensive and base-running gaffes this season. He leads all National League catchers with eight homers, but his on-base and slugging percentages have declined along with his defense. The Cubs could trade him if they conclude that they need better defense at catcher to contend.

 

Henry Blanco, recovering from a cervical herniated disc, is expected to come off the disabled list by the end of the week. If the Cubs could not get a catcher in return for Barrett, or in a separate trade, they could go with Blanco, 35, as their starter, and Koyie Hill, 28, as their backup.

 

Barrett, a free agent at the end of the season, might be a better fit for an AL club, but several N.L. teams need more offense at catcher. Among them: The Astros, Rockies, Marlins, Reds and Diamondbacks.

[SouthSideRyan]

Henry Blanco, starting catcher. Seriously, kill me now.

[CubColtPacer]

Here are some interesting quotes from a cubs.com article:

 

Barrett missed his third game in the last four, but will be back behind the plate Friday and again on Sunday, manager Lou Piniella said.

 

That's nice to hear-the Cubs could use his bat. Looks like they aren't going to use him with Z just yet-and that's just fine as well for now.

 

The players have made up, but Barrett is getting a lot of negative attention.

 

"They've pitched good games with Barrett also," Piniella said of the Cubs pitchers. "Barrett has been getting beat up, and it's unfair in a way. He's caught some darn good games, too.

 

"When you start looking at a team, you don't look at one individual, you look at a team as a whole," Piniella said. "The manager is included in that. I know he's struggled some, but I don't like to see one player singled out. It's a team game; it's a team sport, and you win and lose as a team."

 

There is the managerial accountability that some people wanted, and also good to know that Lou is not blaming Barrett for the lack of good pitching at times.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070614&content_id=2026053&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[Guest]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6911370

 

Catcher Michael Barrett's days with the Cubs could be numbered, and not simply because of his altercation with right-hander Carlos Zambrano. When Zambrano pointed to his head in the moments leading to the brawl, apparently questioning what Barrett was thinking, it captured the team's frustration with the catcher's erratic, vacuous play.

 

Barrett, 30, has committed a number of defensive and base-running gaffes this season. He leads all National League catchers with eight homers, but his on-base and slugging percentages have declined along with his defense. The Cubs could trade him if they conclude that they need better defense at catcher to contend.

 

Henry Blanco, recovering from a cervical herniated disc, is expected to come off the disabled list by the end of the week. If the Cubs could not get a catcher in return for Barrett, or in a separate trade, they could go with Blanco, 35, as their starter, and Koyie Hill, 28, as their backup.

 

Barrett, a free agent at the end of the season, might be a better fit for an AL club, but several N.L. teams need more offense at catcher. Among them: The Astros, Rockies, Marlins, Reds and Diamondbacks.

 

This is the first I had heard Blanco was this close to coming back.

 

Backup catcher Henry Blanco, whose recovery from a herniated disc stalled this week, is scheduled to have another cortisone shot in the injured area today. If it doesn't take, season-ending surgery could be next. ''Hopefully, this one will do it,'' Blanco said. ''We'll see.''

[Balsa]

Henry Blanco, starting catcher. Seriously, kill me now.

No kidding.

 

I do think that Barrett needs some time off.

 

It seems like last year he got a day off about once or so a week, and I think it helped him a lot. In contrast, Lou seems to run him out there every day, so I think some time off could really help him.

[abuck1220]

boy, if people are sick of barrett's once a week defensive lapses, they'd get real tired of blanco sucking at the plate every day.

[sunnydoo]

boy, if people are sick of barrett's once a week defensive lapses, they'd get real tired of blanco sucking at the plate every day.

 

Word on the street is that Mr Blanco may require surgery if the cortisone injection he received today does not work.

 

If that happens, he will most likely be out for the year.

[Keener98]

I just find it amazing that a catcher who sucks at playing baseball as much as Michael Barret does could be behind the plate for when the pitcher only gives up 1 run. I mean he sucks at D, and cant call a game, so I thought everytime he started the other team was automatic for 3-4 runs. Im shocked I tell ya.