Way to go Barrett!

[RockTheIvy]

I didn't realize this, but he led all NL catchers in VORP. I realize he has some defensive flaws, but I think Hendry's most overlooked move was turning a weak offensive position (remember the Bako/Miller platoon) into a very good one. Hope he keeps it up next season!

 

http://baseballprospectus.com/

Of course, the tradeoff for getting offense from that position was a bunch of boneheaded moves in the field.

[imb]

Of course the tradeoff from that tradeoff was having the NL's best overall catcher, so I'll take it.

[rocket]

wtg cincy for having 2 of the 4 best catchers in the nl!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Of course, the tradeoff for getting offense from that position was a bunch of boneheaded moves in the field.

 

Name 3 from this year aside from the Philly game.

[Garwilly]

wtg cincy for having 2 of the 4 best catchers in the nl!

 

2 of 5

[UMFan83]

Yeah, I like Barrett as a person, but I'd much rather have a weaker hitting/great defensive catcher

[BigbadB]

If all I ever watched was Cub games, I would declare Javier Valentin the greatest catcher to ever play the game.

 

Against the Cubs this year, he had 22 at bats, 4 HR's, 11 RBI's, 10 runs scored, 2 doubles, 4 walks and 12 hits. Ughh.

[imb]

by the way, next to last, in all of the majors? Corey Patterson.

[Butterscup1679666578]

by the way, next to last, in all of the majors? Corey Patterson.

 

well we better keep him around then, see if he does anything this year. hes working on his swing in Arizona ya know. :roll:

[dalgreen]

Barrett had a nice season, but his offensive numbers won't be needed as much if the Cubs get smart and realize they need high OPS in right and left (and center for that matter). Seems to me the Cardinals and Astros have done just fine the last ten seasons without having a good offensive catcher. The thing, offensively, that bugs me with Barrett (I'm going off of memory and not stats, so I could be wrong) is he's great until the sixth inning and then he becomes overly anxious at the plate and forgets what he did in his first two at-bats. He was fine with RISP up until the later innings and then he'd start fishing at pitcher's pitches.

[YearofDaCubs]

Lee is first in majors.

[UMFan83]

Yeah I don't understand why the Cubs feel the need to have offense at SS and C, but no offense in RF and LF (and CF for that matter). Even worse is that their offensive SS and C are terrible at D. Wonder why we haven't won in 97 years...

[SouthSideRyan]

Barrett had a nice season, but his offensive numbers won't be needed as much if the Cubs get smart and realize they need high OPS in right and left (and center for that matter). Seems to me the Cardinals and Astros have done just fine the last ten seasons without having a good offensive catcher. The thing, offensively, that bugs me with Barrett (I'm going off of memory and not stats, so I could be wrong) is he's great until the sixth inning and then he becomes overly anxious at the plate and forgets what he did in his first two at-bats. He was fine with RISP up until the later innings and then he'd start fishing at pitcher's pitches.

 

So you're saying all we have to do is acquire an entire new OF in a weak market. The Red Sox and Yankees seem to be doing just fine with terrible defense at their catcher position. White Sox survived with an awful defensive catcher who wasn't even that good on offense.

 

You take good players no matter where their position is. It's not like Barrett is a Piazza back behind the plate, he's decent enough considering the great offense for a catcher that he brings. A run scored is worth just as much as a run prevented, and you don't take a huge downgrade on offense for less of an upgrade on defense. Especially considering how cheap Barrett is for his production.

[UMFan83]

^^ Didn't you hear Hawk. AJ is the best defensive catcher in baseball! :roll:

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Barrett had a nice season, but his offensive numbers won't be needed as much if the Cubs get smart and realize they need high OPS in right and left (and center for that matter). Seems to me the Cardinals and Astros have done just fine the last ten seasons without having a good offensive catcher. The thing, offensively, that bugs me with Barrett (I'm going off of memory and not stats, so I could be wrong) is he's great until the sixth inning and then he becomes overly anxious at the plate and forgets what he did in his first two at-bats. He was fine with RISP up until the later innings and then he'd start fishing at pitcher's pitches.

So...who is this high OPS right fielder that will be on the market? Giles is going to get resigned by the Padres. I don't see anybody else out there.

[dalgreen]

Barrett had a nice season, but his offensive numbers won't be needed as much if the Cubs get smart and realize they need high OPS in right and left (and center for that matter). Seems to me the Cardinals and Astros have done just fine the last ten seasons without having a good offensive catcher. The thing, offensively, that bugs me with Barrett (I'm going off of memory and not stats, so I could be wrong) is he's great until the sixth inning and then he becomes overly anxious at the plate and forgets what he did in his first two at-bats. He was fine with RISP up until the later innings and then he'd start fishing at pitcher's pitches.

So...who is this high OPS right fielder that will be on the market? Giles is going to get resigned by the Padres. I don't see anybody else out there.

 

How do you know Giles will be re-signed by the Padres? I haven't heard that yet. I think you guys are getting too emotional with this discussion. I don't want to get rid of Barrett, but if it brings us more offense then yes I'd trade him. I just don't understand the love with Barrett as if he is an untouchable.

[dalgreen]

Barrett had a nice season, but his offensive numbers won't be needed as much if the Cubs get smart and realize they need high OPS in right and left (and center for that matter). Seems to me the Cardinals and Astros have done just fine the last ten seasons without having a good offensive catcher. The thing, offensively, that bugs me with Barrett (I'm going off of memory and not stats, so I could be wrong) is he's great until the sixth inning and then he becomes overly anxious at the plate and forgets what he did in his first two at-bats. He was fine with RISP up until the later innings and then he'd start fishing at pitcher's pitches.

 

So you're saying all we have to do is acquire an entire new OF in a weak market. The Red Sox and Yankees seem to be doing just fine with terrible defense at their catcher position. White Sox survived with an awful defensive catcher who wasn't even that good on offense.

 

You take good players no matter where their position is. It's not like Barrett is a Piazza back behind the plate, he's decent enough considering the great offense for a catcher that he brings. A run scored is worth just as much as a run prevented, and you don't take a huge downgrade on offense for less of an upgrade on defense. Especially considering how cheap Barrett is for his production.

 

I never mentioned Barrett's defense, so I don't know why you brought up Red Sox, Yankees and White Sox. I will say it again, my priority is not to trade Barrett. My priority is getting more offense and if that, or part of that, can be achieved by trading Barrett then so be it.

[mg420]

Barrett had a nice season, but his offensive numbers won't be needed as much if the Cubs get smart and realize they need high OPS in right and left (and center for that matter). Seems to me the Cardinals and Astros have done just fine the last ten seasons without having a good offensive catcher. The thing, offensively, that bugs me with Barrett (I'm going off of memory and not stats, so I could be wrong) is he's great until the sixth inning and then he becomes overly anxious at the plate and forgets what he did in his first two at-bats. He was fine with RISP up until the later innings and then he'd start fishing at pitcher's pitches.

 

So you're saying all we have to do is acquire an entire new OF in a weak market. The Red Sox and Yankees seem to be doing just fine with terrible defense at their catcher position. White Sox survived with an awful defensive catcher who wasn't even that good on offense.

 

You take good players no matter where their position is. It's not like Barrett is a Piazza back behind the plate, he's decent enough considering the great offense for a catcher that he brings. A run scored is worth just as much as a run prevented, and you don't take a huge downgrade on offense for less of an upgrade on defense. Especially considering how cheap Barrett is for his production.

 

not entirely new as murton is penciled in for lf.

[Cubzfan64]

Barrett could really be an huge asset to the team if he can work hard and become a better defensive catcher and "caller of games" for our pitchers.

 

All said and done, if I had a choice I would rather our catcher be an excellent defensive catcher who can call a great game and throw runners out, but that means the team has to get that extra production from other spots on the field and we just haven't had that luxury. If we can work on those other positions as well as our overall OBP, Barrett is the kind of guy who could potentially make for interesting trade bait down the road.

 

For now, I have no problem with him being our catcher and I just hope he has the ability to progress in his defense in the process.

[2242005CY]

Trade Michael Barrett for a bench player or Middle reliever and get Ramon Hernandez.....Next.

 

Barrett blows and is insufferable to watch throughout a season is THE most overrated Cub since...well since Nomar.

[ltb]

Barrett blows and is insufferable to watch throughout a season is THE most overrated Cub since...well since Nomar.

 

yes, leading the entire league in vorp at his position totally makes him overrated, right? funny.

[AAApittsburgh]

Barrett blows and is insufferable to watch throughout a season is THE most overrated Cub since...well since Nomar.

 

yes, leading the entire league in vorp at his position totally makes him overrated, right? funny.

he Sox hes not clutch and he looks like the guy from green day

 

trade him!!!!11

[SouthSideRyan]

It just blows my mind that we have a great offensive catcher, and people want to get rid of him for a Henry Blanco. That's gonna help our futile OF situation how??

 

We aren't picking up 3 900 OPS OFs in the offseason, so why voluntarily downgrade at a position where we actually have good production?

[ltb]

It just blows my mind that we have a great offensive catcher, and people want to get rid of him for a Henry Blanco. That's gonna help our futile OF situation how??

 

We aren't picking up 3 900 OPS OFs in the offseason, so why voluntarily downgrade at a position where we actually have good production?

 

look at da cardz yadier molina can't hit but he's so gud at handling a pitching staff so obviously we can do the same!!!!!11oneone