Cubs trade Barrett to Padres for Rob Bowen & Kyler Burke

[Andy]

FWIW I think Bowen is overrated here...He is complete and utter crap.

 

I've seen the arguments for him spelled out...can you do the same from the other side?

 

703 career OPS.

This year it's .810.

 

And it's .893 on the road away from Petco.

 

This is looking more and more like a good deal.

[TheDude]

ESPN has now changed its story to reflect an OF. ESPN also reports the Padres gave the Cubs cash.

[kylescubs23]

Well Burke is only 6 years old according to that link...he must have a lot of upside and room to grow :D

[CubColtPacer]

FWIW I think Bowen is overrated here...He is complete and utter crap.

 

I've seen the arguments for him spelled out...can you do the same from the other side?

 

703 career OPS.

 

Heavily influenced by some bad at-bats in the Twins organization when he was 22 and 23 years old. He had a 733 last year and 810 this year, and he's supposed to be a really good defensive catcher, and he's still only 26. It's possible that his hitting is just finally catching up to his defense-he does have power, and he does have patience, so that will keep him from dropping too far.

[Andy]

FWIW, Bowen sucked last year on the road and was good at home (.840 OPS), and this year it's the reverse. Nevertheless, gotta think going from Petco to Wrigley will help him.

[seanimal]

FWIW I think Bowen is overrated here...He is complete and utter crap.

 

I've seen the arguments for him spelled out...can you do the same from the other side?

 

703 career OPS.

 

Cause that .756 career OPS for a terrible defensive catcher is astounding

[Chocolate Milk]

Bowen is having a good season and he's young. Hopefully he can build on his success this year.

[Soriano12]

FWIW I think Bowen is overrated here...He is complete and utter crap.

 

LOL what a surprise.

 

As I said earlier, he appears to have a little upside offensively. He had a big '03 in AA and AAA at 22, struggled while repeating AA in '04, in '05 he was at least adequate in AAA and he's had some solid moments in the big leagues.

I think he could give us close to the same offense as Barrett has thus far, while giving us better defense.

 

Better defense? They just had the color analysts from San Diego on the Score and they were delighted this guy was finally gone because he couldn't throw out a runner to save his soul.

 

Ironically, they seem to think Barrett can though, but at least he brings a bat to the table.

[The Voice of Reason]

Anybody think it's worth noting the huge ERA increase by Cub pitchers when Barrett caught? Possible correlation or just coincidence?

[Outshined_One]

Some fun info on Burke:

 

-19 year old at Low A, which means he's quite young for his level.

-Strikes out a lot (73 Ks in 213 ABs), but also walks a decent amount (26 BBs with a .094 IsoD).

-Not much power to him. 7 2Bs, 1 3B, and 1 HR.

-His home/away splits are intriguing: .484 OPS (Home) versus .665 OPS (Away).

-Despite his low average, he's actually been lucky with BABIP. I really wish I were making this up. His BABIP is .321, which means his batting average is actually higher than it should be.

-He wasn't much better in the AZL last season, either. .313/.294/.607 in 163 ABs is not that good.

 

...what in the heck? Does someone have his scouting report from the draft when the Padres took this guy?

[Sammy Sofa]

ESPN has now changed its story to reflect an OF. ESPN also reports the Padres gave the Cubs cash.

 

The caveat is that Lou gets to roll around in it naked.

[soapy]

My initial reaction is to think this is an ok move IF it's a precurser to another move to upgrade offensively at SS or RF, as a few others have said. They really can't afford to give up offense for defense at this point.

[Soriano12]

FWIW I think Bowen is overrated here...He is complete and utter crap.

 

I've seen the arguments for him spelled out...can you do the same from the other side?

 

703 career OPS.

 

Cause that .756 career OPS for a terrible defensive catcher is astounding

 

Bowen is also terrible defensive catcher.

[Chocolate Milk]

Anybody think it's worth noting the huge ERA increase by Cub pitchers when Barrett caught? Possible correlation or just coincidence?

 

Oh, jesus. I should just leave this thread before I end up spending half my day here.

[illiniguy]

Some fun info on Burke:

 

-19 year old at Low A, which means he's quite young for his level.

-Strikes out a lot (73 Ks in 213 ABs), but also walks a decent amount (26 BBs with a .094 IsoD).

-Not much power to him. 7 2Bs, 1 3B, and 1 HR.

-His home/away splits are intriguing: .484 OPS (Home) versus .665 OPS (Away).

-Despite his low average, he's actually been lucky with BABIP. I really wish I were making this up. His BABIP is .321, which means his batting average is actually higher than it should be.

-He wasn't much better in the AZL last season, either. .313/.294/.607 in 163 ABs is not that good.

 

...what in the heck? Does someone have his scouting report from the draft when the Padres took this guy?

Kevin Towers likes crack. Bill Gayton loves it. Edited June 20, 2007 by illiniguy

[Sammy Sofa]

My initial reaction is to think this is an ok move IF it's a precurser to another move to upgrade offensively at SS or RF, as a few others have said. They really can't afford to give up offense for defense at this point.

 

Agreed, but they needed to upgrade those even if Barrett stayed. I know guys slump, but Barrett's bat had been awful for two months now...should we really expect it to get significantly better over the course of his final season here?

[soapy]

Anybody think it's worth noting the huge ERA increase by Cub pitchers when Barrett caught? Possible correlation or just coincidence?

When you look back (not just 2007), I don't think those numbers bare out. I tend to lean toward coincidence.

[JWCUB]

My initial reaction is to think this is an ok move IF it's a precurser to another move to upgrade offensively at SS or RF, as a few others have said. They really can't afford to give up offense for defense at this point.

 

Agreed.

[Andy]

Because Bowen can't throw out runners on a staff with Greg Maddux doesn't make him a bad defensive catcher.

[Soriano12]

Anybody think it's worth noting the huge ERA increase by Cub pitchers when Barrett caught? Possible correlation or just coincidence?

 

Oh, jesus. I should just leave this thread before I end up spending half my day here.

 

Yeah...me too.

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

well, the only thing i can say is that Barrett was not a good offensive player when he got here in 2004...so i think bowen is above him at that part and being on the right side of 30 doesn't help, but i still dont see how you can get rid of a bat when the team is strugglin and dlee is due a suspension.....couldnt they have pulled this trigger after the suspension

[seanimal]

FWIW I think Bowen is overrated here...He is complete and utter crap.

 

I've seen the arguments for him spelled out...can you do the same from the other side?

 

703 career OPS.

 

Cause that .756 career OPS for a terrible defensive catcher is astounding

 

Bowen is also terrible defensive catcher.

 

I think you might be exaggerating

[Chocolate Milk]

My initial reaction is to think this is an ok move IF it's a precurser to another move to upgrade offensively at SS or RF, as a few others have said. They really can't afford to give up offense for defense at this point.

 

Agreed, but they needed to upgrade those even if Barrett stayed. I know guys slump, but Barrett's bat had been awful for two months now...should we really expect it to get significantly better over the course of his final season here?

 

Check his BABIP and June stats. He was getting it back together. His bat has been below average and not awful. His OPS+ is 90.

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

My initial reaction is to think this is an ok move IF it's a precurser to another move to upgrade offensively at SS or RF, as a few others have said. They really can't afford to give up offense for defense at this point.

 

Agreed.

they did free up a lot of money and got straight cash in this deal, so ive heard so far, so hopefully it leads to another bat somewhere else

[moorecg]

I'm going to go on record as saying I like this deal....maybe a lot. Good OBP, Good defense, cheap...we get $$...and a prospect...I like it.