This puts everything into perspective. Tribune article

[YearofDaCubs]

When you lead the league in these categories it is no surprise you cannot make the playoffs, and it shows you how bad our managing and GM have been this year. Sorry if this was posted earlier.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-050919cubsrowcenter,1,5721533.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

[abuck1220]

if the cubs throw blanco's wet noodle bat out there over barrett because of some stupid crap like cera, i'm not going to be happy.

[bhogg]

if you get the right kind of hitters in the lineup, you can easily take a light hitting catcher in the starting lineup (see: mike matheny).

 

 

giving blanco the bulk of the starts wouldn't have worked well this season --- too much neifi / corey / holly type players.

[CubfaninCA]

Blanco numbers look so good cause he hasn't had to catch for Mitre, Koronka, Hill, and the other guys who have gotten bombed.

 

Burnitz has been awful.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

But if you look at the big picture it makes Barrett look worse defensively!!

 

BTW, does it scare anybody else that Dusty gives Hendry a list of players that he wants?

[imb]

But if you look at the big picture it makes Barrett look worse defensively!!

 

BTW, does it scare anybody else that Dusty gives Hendry a list of players that he wants?

 

Only if Hendry actually reads it.

[Outshined_One]

But if you look at the big picture it makes Barrett look worse defensively!!

 

BTW, does it scare anybody else that Dusty gives Hendry a list of players that he wants?

 

Only if Hendry actually reads it.

 

Give the number of washed up veterans Hendry has acquired during Dusty's tenure, I would not be surprised in the least if Hendry reads it and follows it.

[Tim]

Any article that has "clutch" hitting as the #1 priority can get filed exactly where it belongs.

[badgercub]

Yeah, I think the comparison of Blanco and Barrett is comparing apples and oranges. How can you compare them when Blanco catches the better pitchers on the staff? I would like to see the break down of Blanco's starts and who the starting pitcher was that day, and who the opponent was.

[CubinNY]

Any article that has "clutch" hitting as the #1 priority can get filed exactly where it belongs.

 

I was going to make some snide comment about the author but I think Tim wrote it best.

[JC]

Any article that has "clutch" hitting as the #1 priority can get filed exactly where it belongs.

 

I was going to make some snide comment about the author but I think Tim wrote it best.

 

Off topic, but who was Snidely Whiplash? Was he Dudley Doright's antagonist?

[TheDude]

That article only highlights what most of us already know. Johnny Damon in CF leading off and Giles RF hitting 5th are the answers.

 

Just slap me awake please.

[badgercub]

Any article that has "clutch" hitting as the #1 priority can get filed exactly where it belongs.

 

I was going to make some snide comment about the author but I think Tim wrote it best.

 

Off topic, but who was Snidely Whiplash? Was he Dudley Doright's antagonist?

 

He certainly was. Boy does that bring back childhood memories.

[JC]

Any article that has "clutch" hitting as the #1 priority can get filed exactly where it belongs.

 

I was going to make some snide comment about the author but I think Tim wrote it best.

 

Off topic, but who was Snidely Whiplash? Was he Dudley Doright's antagonist?

 

He certainly was. Boy does that bring back childhood memories.

 

Yeah. Dudley was on right around the same time as Tennessee Tuxedo when I'd come home from Kindergarten.

[rocket]

so was barrett's defense really that bad when he caught practically all of Zambrano's starts last season

 

(last season was Zambrano's best year)

[YearofDaCubs]

I personally do not think Barrett is at fault here. When he was catching for the Expos they had one of the lower team ERAs. The simple fact is that our pitchers have been underachieving. Our offense has been terrible, and those are just a few stats to prove that. It really is unfortunate that most of us understand that yet Hendry does not. This whole season has made me sick to my stomach.

[Tracer Bullet]

Sullivan is a moron. Our CF's have a bad OBP this year? Really? Any other insights, Captain Obvious? Oh, our leadoff hitters are doing poorly? You don't say? Isn't this mostly a restatement of the point about CF's since Corey played CF and leadoff for a large chunk of the year (and Hairston handled those two duties for most of the other games)?

 

But the first and last numbers are the dumbest points he makes. "Clutch" hitting and more Henry Blanco would have saved the season?

 

Tim put the "clutch" hitting argument to bed. I can't really state it better than that.

 

And there are enough threads about whether Barrett has been the problem, but enough people have clearly stated that his offense more than makes up for whatever defensive advantage Blanco has. So all I will add it this: CERA is a meaningless stat and Blanco's "pitch-calling" ability would be pretty worthless...given that the dugout calls the pitches.

 

Apparently the only thing worse than Hendry taking Baker's advice would be Hendry taking Sullivan's. It appears that he's either stating the obvious or he's wrong.

[LoneStarCubFan]

Regardless of what you think about Blanco the "pitchers are more comfortable with somebody other than Barrett" has been true both years he's been here.

 

At some point that has to be more than luck.

[goonys evil twin]

Regardless of what you think about Blanco the "pitchers are more comfortable with somebody other than Barrett" has been true both years he's been here.

 

At some point that has to be more than luck.

 

How is that true? Blanco catches specific pitchers, Barrett catches just about everybody else. Mr. Personal Catcher himself, Maddux, has been comfortable using Barrett.

[BigbadB]

That article only highlights what most of us already know. Johnny Damon in CF leading off and Giles RF hitting 5th are the answers.

 

Just slap me awake please.

 

This is the answer. But, what is the likelihood we get even one of these guys this offseason let alone both?

[AAApittsburgh]

Regardless of what you think about Blanco the "pitchers are more comfortable with somebody other than Barrett" has been true both years he's been here.

 

At some point that has to be more than luck.

Prior is not having a great year. I blame Blanco.

[JD42K]

Yeah, I think the comparison of Blanco and Barrett is comparing apples and oranges.

 

I've always thought apples and oranges were pretty similar. Both are spherical fruits(think Bruce Vilanch and Dom Deluise). Both grow on trees. Both are put in lunchboxes. I would think apples and bananas or oranges and onions would be better combos of things not to compare.

 

And besides, if you're calling Cub players 'fruits', then how can you leave out Murton? (sad, I know, but I couldn't resist)

[Magnetic Curses]

Where do you get a "clutch hitter"? honestly. If someone can name for me a hitter whose BA w/risp and 2 outs is significantly higher than his regular BA throughout his career, i would like to know him.

 

it's funny how writers can simply throw terms like "clutch hitters" out there without naming any. it only perpetuates the mythology that "clutch hitting" exists.

 

we need a unicorn, too, or maybe a leprechaun.

[goonys evil twin]

Where do you get a "clutch hitter"? honestly. If someone can name for me a hitter whose BA w/risp and 2 outs is significantly higher than his regular BA throughout his career, i would like to know him.

 

it's funny how writers can simply throw terms like "clutch hitters" out there without naming any. it only perpetuates the mythology that "clutch hitting" exists.

 

we need a unicorn, too, or maybe a leprechaun.

 

Why don't we just get Vlady, Tejada and ARod as well? Geez, man, you can't get a unicorn and a leprachaun, you greedy son of a gun. If you spend on a unicorn you'll probably have to settle for a couple gnomes at best. But stay away from the daggum gremlins.

[Magnetic Curses]

Where do you get a "clutch hitter"? honestly. If someone can name for me a hitter whose BA w/risp and 2 outs is significantly higher than his regular BA throughout his career, i would like to know him.

 

it's funny how writers can simply throw terms like "clutch hitters" out there without naming any. it only perpetuates the mythology that "clutch hitting" exists.

 

we need a unicorn, too, or maybe a leprechaun.

 

Why don't we just get Vlady, Tejada and ARod as well? Geez, man, you can't get a unicorn and a leprachaun, you greedy son of a gun. If you spend on a unicorn you'll probably have to settle for a couple gnomes at best. But stay away from the daggum gremlins.

 

"what about Jesus, he's like....6 leprechauns."

 

"Yeah, but much harder to catch, stick with the leprechaun."