This puts everything into perspective. Tribune article

[burnt out cubbie fan]

We've tried leprechauns the last two years and it didn't work. I say we go a different route this upcoming year.

[Tim]

Are you serious? We haven't had a leprechaun since Augie left town.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_120413.jpghttp://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150197.jpg

 

They beg to differ.

[Tim]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_120413.jpghttp://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150197.jpg

 

They beg to differ.

I believe they are the aforementioned gremlins that Goony was referring to. 8)

[frostwyrm]

Are you serious? We haven't had a leprechaun since Augie left town.

 

Dusty likes to use rookies as garden gnomes.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_120413.jpghttp://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150197.jpg

 

They beg to differ.

I believe they are the aforementioned gremlins that Goony was referring to. 8)

Close enough. :D

[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.

 

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

 

Maddux and Barrett had problems last year and for that reason Bako wound up catching most of Maddux's starts. Prior and Barrett also had problems last year and Blanco has wound up catching Prior most of this year.

 

cera may not be absolute but you can't just dismiss it out of hand either.

 

And let's face it, Blanco is a better defensive catcher than Barrett is. I'd still rather have Barrett's bat in the line-up though.

[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.

 

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

 

Maddux and Barrett had problems last year and for that reason Bako wound up catching most of Maddux's starts. Prior and Barrett also had problems last year and Blanco has wound up catching Prior most of this year.

 

cera may not be absolute but you can't just dismiss it out of hand either.

 

And let's face it, Blanco is a better defensive catcher than Barrett is. I'd still rather have Barrett's bat in the line-up though.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

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.

 

Maddux and Barrett had problems last year and for that reason Bako wound up catching most of Maddux's starts. Prior and Barrett also had problems last year and Blanco has wound up catching Prior most of this year.

 

cera may not be absolute but you can't just dismiss it out of hand either.

 

And let's face it, Blanco is a better defensive catcher than Barrett is. I'd still rather have Barrett's bat in the line-up though.

 

Blanco's the better defensive catcher, but that doesn't mean he gets pitcher's to pitch better than Barrett. CERA really doesn't have much purpose at all, there's no correlation from year to year, player to player, etc.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

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.

 

The problem is, we wouldn't want Damon 5 years from now when his contract hasn't finished yet.

[JC]

Am I the only one who has very little interest in Damon?

[SouthSideRyan]

Am I the only one who has very little interest in Damon?

 

Nope. A guy coming off a career year for a contract into his mid 30s? Pass.

[goonys evil twin]

Am I the only one who has very little interest in Damon?

 

No.

 

I wouldn't mind having him on the team, but not at the price he'll get.

 

I see him reverting to the .290/.352/.432 career numbers he's put up, with crappy defense, and that's nowhere near worthy of $8-10 million per year for 4-5 years. And when he goes on cold streaks, he's absolutely terrible. I'd much rather have Brian Giles for 3/30.

[CubfaninCA]

Am I the only one who has very little interest in Damon?

 

You and the Tribune Company. :o

[Laura]

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)

 

No, it wasn't [barrett's defense wasn't really that bad].

 

But there's something going on with Barrett and the pitching staff. I don't know what it is, but I'm curious as to what it is. Call it Gossip and call me a Maven. It's pretty obvious at this point that Prior prefers not to throw to Barrett. And I've never heard the pitchers rave about Barrett the way they rave about Blanco. The ones who don't rave are the rooks.

 

Barrett in the past has volunteered for blame, and if you volunteer for it, you'll get it. That may be part of it.

 

If Wood actually can pitch 200 decent innings next year -- and patterns hold true -- he'll probably pitch to Barrett. That'll help Michael in the worthless CERA run. Don't know if it will get him in good with the rest of the pitching staff, though.

[edsortails]

FWIW...as a Red Sox fan I would tell you that any team that pays Damon money is looking to set itself back...

 

yes, he is having a great season BUT he doesn't quite do as much as it seems he does...his defense is not nearly as wonderful as his reputation says it is, his arm = that of a 12 year old, and his baserunning has regressed

 

not to mention his wife seems to start every behind the scenes rift there is in the clubhouse...tolerable at .320, but a bit on the grating side if he were to slip to say .275