can we talk about Darwin Barney?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Walks are up, power is way up, line drive percentage is up, K's are down over last year.

 

He's got a .719 OPS, compared to a league-average for 2b of .700. And that's with a completely normal, maybe even a tiny bit unlucky, BABIP.

 

The eye test, scouting reports and advanced statistics all say he's one of the best defensive 2b in the league, bordering on elite defense there.

 

He's on pace for a 3 fWAR season.

[jersey cubs fan]

He's a nice player in the prime of his career. But with a limited background of success I think it's safe to assume it won't last long into his real money earning years.

[KingCubsFan]

He's a nice player in the prime of his career. But with a limited background of success I think it's safe to assume it won't last long into his real money earning years.

Yep. A lot like Ryan Theriot in that respect.

[sneakypower]

he has the 2nd-most XBH on the team, which is actually a little bit sad

[apete6]

He's a nice player in the prime of his career. But with a limited background of success I think it's safe to assume it won't last long into his real money earning years.

Yep. A lot like Ryan Theriot in that respect.

 

Yep. The Cubs handled Theriot pretty well. They got his best years for a relatively low cost. They should have probably non-tendered him or traded him before 2010 as his salary rose from $500k to $2.6 (in the arbitration bitching session he had with Hendry), but overall, the Cubs handled his situation very very well and should follow the same idea with Barney.

[davell]

He's a solid player. But not one you want to pay thriugh his arb years, in all likelihood. Now's probably as good a time as any to trade him. Detroit is looking for a 2B already, I think he'd bring a pretty solid return personally. If not, he's still more of an ideal backup than a starter, at least until he proves this can continue for the entire season. His issue last year was supposedly keeping weight on.

[Guest]

Ryan Theriot with elite defense is able to hold value a lot better through the ebbs and flows in BABIP that low-power guys have.

 

I've always liked Barney, and am happy to see that his Camp Colvin work seems to be paying on-field dividends. I don't know if I'd bank on him as a 3 win 2B for future seasons, but he's a great asset to have as an infielder, to have someone who can be a tick above league average at both middle infield positions with great defense. In a perfect world, I think by 2014 you'd trade over him and have him be a luxury as a reserve infielder, or maybe use as a valuable portion of a deal for a star-level player(the latter would have to happen sooner). But it's nice to know that 2B won't be an out and out hole while he's there.

[Sammy Sofa]

Ryan Theriot with elite defense is able to hold value a lot better through the ebbs and flows in BABIP that low-power guys have.

 

I've always liked Barney, and am happy to see that his Camp Colvin work seems to be paying on-field dividends. I don't know if I'd bank on him as a 3 win 2B for future seasons, but he's a great asset to have as an infielder, to have someone who can be a tick above league average at both middle infield positions with great defense. In a perfect world, I think by 2014 you'd trade over him and have him be a luxury as a reserve infielder, or maybe use as a valuable portion of a deal for a star-level player(the latter would have to happen sooner). But it's nice to know that 2B won't be an out and out hole while he's there.

 

Pretty much.

[Tracer Bullet]

He's a nice player in the prime of his career. But with a limited background of success I think it's safe to assume it won't last long into his real money earning years.

Yep. A lot like Ryan Theriot in that respect.

 

Without the noodle arm. Or the stupid attitude.

[Warren Brusstar]

He's a nice player in the prime of his career. But with a limited background of success I think it's safe to assume it won't last long into his real money earning years.

Yep. A lot like Ryan Theriot in that respect.

 

Without the noodle arm. Or the stupid attitude.

 

And a brain on the base paths. I have never seen a player run into more outs on the base paths than Ryan Theriot.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

He's a nice player in the prime of his career. But with a limited background of success I think it's safe to assume it won't last long into his real money earning years.

Yep. A lot like Ryan Theriot in that respect.

 

Without the noodle arm. Or the stupid attitude.

 

And a brain on the base paths. I have never seen a player run into more outs on the base paths than Ryan Theriot.

Have you forgotten about Moises Alou?

[fromthestretch]

He's a nice player in the prime of his career. But with a limited background of success I think it's safe to assume it won't last long into his real money earning years.

Yep. A lot like Ryan Theriot in that respect.

 

Without the noodle arm. Or the stupid attitude.

 

And a brain on the base paths. I have never seen a player run into more outs on the base paths than Ryan Theriot.

Have you forgotten about Moises Alou?

 

I seem to recall Alou getting doubled off second on fly balls three times within the span of like a month. He was terrible on the base paths.

[Guest]

I was a Barney fan before it was cool.

[jersey cubs fan]

Can we talk about Barney giving Castro some tips on patience?

[Old Style]

I'd rather he give Castro tips on how to not rape girls.

[Sammy Sofa]

Good one.

[El Duderino]

Wow.

[Tracer Bullet]

I'd rather he give Castro tips on how to not rape girls.

 

We're not going to do this.

[Guest]

I was a Barney fan before it was cool.

[jersey cubs fan]

can we talk about everybody else on the team now?

[davell]

Confirmed: Kyle is a wiccan?

[Guest]

perfect timing for this thread

[Geech]

I would recommend batting him third, but I wouldn't want to damage his patience.

[Sammy Sofa]

I would recommend batting him third, but I wouldn't want to damage his patience.

 

Fail.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

.755 OPS, .155 ISO