Way to go Barrett!

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Barrett is an offensive force, but we need to get him working on his D. Blocking balls in the dirt is a learnable skill. He definitely showed improvement with his footwork in nailing basestealers (it's not his fault our pitchers are so slow to the plate).

 

As far as the run down SNAFUs, you can put that on the managers as much as the players. Ridiculous.

[2242005CY]

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.

 

There's more to catching than hitting son. The Cub have enough brain dead baseball players that are complete flakes. I'd rather have a better defensive Catcher than a better Offensive Catcher, ANYDAY.

[2242005CY]

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?

 

Who said anything about replacing him with Henry Blanco boss? Henry Blanco is a fine back up Catcher and if Barrett was unable to learn a lick from Blanco, he's hopeless. He should DH in the AL or play 3rd or LF (somewhere FAR away from Wrigley...he'd actually be a better DH), cuz he's a liability as a Catcher, period.

 

But since you didn't read my entire post, I said to replace Barrett with RAMON HERNANDEZ, who is a 100% upgrade over Barrett and would be SPECTACULAR on the Cubs in 2006.

Edited October 28, 2005 by #2242005CY

Maybe I was a little rough on Barrett with the whole boneheaded plays thing. I like Michael Barrett. I just think we could use better fielding at that spot. Maybe he can keep improving.

[2242005CY]

No he can't keep improving, cuz there's been no IMPROVING to begin with!!! He's just as bad now as he was 2 years ago, end of discussion. He doesn't have the mental toughness or makeup to ever be good at the position. EXPERIMENT OVER!

 

I'm tired of going into EVERY season with players like Barrett and HOPING he can improve at his position. HOw many organizations do that? Let me rephrase, how many with World Series aspirations do that, consistently as the CUbs???

 

While were at it, let's HOPE that KKKKorey finds Jesus on paote in Az and play CF next year.....JEEEESUS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!! INSANITY!!!!!

 

GO 'CATS!!!

[Cubzfan64]

If I had a choice, overall I would rather have Ramon Hernandez. Offensively they are fairly similar and age-wise they're also the same. Defensively, Hernandez is clearly the superior player - the question remains as to whether Barrett can still develop, or if "he is what he is."

 

The reality of the situation imho is that Hendry really likes Barrett and is likely not even considering trying to pursue Hernandez. I hope that's not the case because every possible situation should always be considered - if there were a way to improve the club by signing Hernandez and packaging Barrett in a trade, it should definitely be explored.

[wekse]

No he can't keep improving, cuz there's been no IMPROVING to begin with!!! He's just as bad now as he was 2 years ago, end of discussion. He doesn't have the mental toughness or makeup to ever be good at the position. EXPERIMENT OVER!

 

I'm tired of going into EVERY season with players like Barrett and HOPING he can improve at his position. HOw many organizations do that? Let me rephrase, how many with World Series aspirations do that, consistently as the CUbs???

 

While were at it, let's HOPE that KKKKorey finds Jesus on paote in Az and play CF next year.....JEEEESUS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!! INSANITY!!!!!

 

GO 'CATS!!!

 

easy killer.....i know barrett isn't that great behind the plate but i think you're overstating how bad he really is....but that's fine kkkkkeep doing it.

[AAApittsburgh]

No he can't keep improving, cuz there's been no IMPROVING to begin with!!! He's just as bad now as he was 2 years ago, end of discussion. He doesn't have the mental toughness or makeup to ever be good at the position. EXPERIMENT OVER!

 

I'm tired of going into EVERY season with players like Barrett and HOPING he can improve at his position. HOw many organizations do that? Let me rephrase, how many with World Series aspirations do that, consistently as the CUbs???

 

While were at it, let's HOPE that KKKKorey finds Jesus on paote in Az and play CF next year.....JEEEESUS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!! INSANITY!!!!!

 

GO 'CATS!!!

Actually he has, but lets not let the facts get in the way here. He really only has been catching for a few seasons, and when he caught for the Expos a few years ago, I believe they had one of best staffs in baseball.

 

He had the best range factor among catchers last season, and was 4th in total chances. He did make some boneheaded plays, but aside from those, he really wasn't nearly as bad any many think. He has improved, and even when you factor in all his defensive problems, he's still a productive player. I can't really say the same about Patterson at this point.

[Cubzfan64]

The thing that most concerns me about Barrett is probably something none of us know a thing about, but the fact that 2 of our starting pitchers obviously preferred pitching to a different catcher bothers me.

 

I'd love to know if it was because they didn't trust him defensively or didn't have any faith in his pitch calling ability.

 

Ultimately the pitcher is the one who decides what pitch he wants to throw in certain situations, but I would think having to shake a catcher off alot and/or not being "in sync" with a catcher would be tiresome for a pitcher. It just makes me wonder how good Barrett is as far as working together with pitchers to actually learn them and how good of a student of baseball he is in studying and identifying what the opposition hitters weaknesses are - enough so that the pitcher feels confident that their only job is to hit the locations because their catcher is calling the right pitch in the right spot.

 

It just worries me that 2/5 of our starting staff last year had "some" reason for not wanting to pitch to him.

[AAApittsburgh]

The thing that most concerns me about Barrett is probably something none of us know a thing about, but the fact that 2 of our starting pitchers obviously preferred pitching to a different catcher bothers me.

 

I'd love to know if it was because they didn't trust him defensively or didn't have any faith in his pitch calling ability.

 

Ultimately the pitcher is the one who decides what pitch he wants to throw in certain situations, but I would think having to shake a catcher off alot and/or not being "in sync" with a catcher would be tiresome for a pitcher. It just makes me wonder how good Barrett is as far as working together with pitchers to actually learn them and how good of a student of baseball he is in studying and identifying what the opposition hitters weaknesses are - enough so that the pitcher feels confident that their only job is to hit the locations because their catcher is calling the right pitch in the right spot.

 

It just worries me that 2/5 of our starting staff last year had "some" reason for not wanting to pitch to him.

I thought only Prior used Blanco last season, so that's 1/5. And I believe in the few innings that he threw to Barrett, he actually pitched better. Blanco's game calling skills didn't impress me at all and could have been the reason for Prior's struggles. Blanco called way to many fastballs and not enough breaking stuff when Prior was pitching.

[2242005CY]

The thing that most concerns me about Barrett is probably something none of us know a thing about, but the fact that 2 of our starting pitchers obviously preferred pitching to a different catcher bothers me.

 

I'd love to know if it was because they didn't trust him defensively or didn't have any faith in his pitch calling ability.

 

Ultimately the pitcher is the one who decides what pitch he wants to throw in certain situations, but I would think having to shake a catcher off alot and/or not being "in sync" with a catcher would be tiresome for a pitcher. It just makes me wonder how good Barrett is as far as working together with pitchers

 

DING DING DING

 

Well said. People can bring up all the stats they want about Barrett but the thing that bothers me the most about Barrett is exactly what you said. He just doesn't seem to be on the same page with the pitchers and he doesn't seem to posess that "Catchers mentality" or the toughness or Leadership it takes to be a Catcher. There's a lot of things that going into being a good Catcher and most of those things you can't see in stats. Obviously to be a great Catcher you need to have a good %of throwing runners, low PB and WP etc etc etc, but it's the intangibles that, clearly to me anyway, Barrett just doesn't have and I personally don't feel the Pitchers enjoy pitching to him.

 

I know I wouldn't have.

 

He'd be better suited as a DH IMHO, that's all I'm saying.

[badger1679666666]

 

Barrett just doesn't have and I personally don't feel the Pitchers enjoy pitching to him.

 

I know I wouldn't have.

 

Good thing you're personal friends with Prior, Z and the rest of the staff.

 

Thanks for the laugh, I needed it to help my depression.

[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?

 

Who said anything about replacing him with Henry Blanco boss? Henry Blanco is a fine back up Catcher and if Barrett was unable to learn a lick from Blanco, he's hopeless. He should DH in the AL or play 3rd or LF (somewhere FAR away from Wrigley...he'd actually be a better DH), cuz he's a liability as a Catcher, period.

 

But since you didn't read my entire post, I said to replace Barrett with RAMON HERNANDEZ, who is a 100% upgrade over Barrett and would be SPECTACULAR on the Cubs in 2006.

 

Because all people are talking about in this thread are how important it is to have a defensive catcher. Who needs offense from catcher, just go out and grab these unnamed stud OFs since they're a traditionally hitting position. Sound like Blanco to me. After all he's an even better defensive catcher than Ausmus OR Molina!! World Series here we come!!

 

For that matter, SS is a defensive position too. Forget pursuing Furcal, let's stick with Neifi, he's got a slick glove over there. CF too, they're defense is too important, let's stick with Corey, no need to upgrade there iether. Now all we need are top 5 players at 1B, 3B, both corner OFs, and a stud starting staff and we'll be set!

[Andy]

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?

 

Who said anything about replacing him with Henry Blanco boss? Henry Blanco is a fine back up Catcher and if Barrett was unable to learn a lick from Blanco, he's hopeless. He should DH in the AL or play 3rd or LF (somewhere FAR away from Wrigley...he'd actually be a better DH), cuz he's a liability as a Catcher, period.

 

But since you didn't read my entire post, I said to replace Barrett with RAMON HERNANDEZ, who is a 100% upgrade over Barrett and would be SPECTACULAR on the Cubs in 2006.

 

Because all people are talking about in this thread are how important it is to have a defensive catcher. Who needs offense from catcher, just go out and grab these unnamed stud OFs since they're a traditionally hitting position. Sound like Blanco to me. After all he's an even better defensive catcher than Ausmus OR Molina!! World Series here we come!!

 

For that matter, SS is a defensive position too. Forget pursuing Furcal, let's stick with Neifi, he's got a slick glove over there. CF too, they're defense is too important, let's stick with Corey, no need to upgrade there iether. Now all we need are top 5 players at 1B, 3B, both corner OFs, and a stud starting staff and we'll be set!

Seriously. Of all the positions the Cubs have, some fans are choosing to focus on a position that the Cubs are already among the best in the majors at. Barrett is, at worst, a slightly below average defensive catcher, and I'll take that and his .270-15-60's every year and you fans will take a Brad Ausmus type and my team will win every time, all other things being equal. Blanco is a very solid backup. The Cubs' catching is among the best in baseball and for the moment there is absolutely no reason to tinker with it.

[Cubzfan64]

The thing that most concerns me about Barrett is probably something none of us know a thing about, but the fact that 2 of our starting pitchers obviously preferred pitching to a different catcher bothers me.

 

I'd love to know if it was because they didn't trust him defensively or didn't have any faith in his pitch calling ability.

 

Ultimately the pitcher is the one who decides what pitch he wants to throw in certain situations, but I would think having to shake a catcher off alot and/or not being "in sync" with a catcher would be tiresome for a pitcher. It just makes me wonder how good Barrett is as far as working together with pitchers to actually learn them and how good of a student of baseball he is in studying and identifying what the opposition hitters weaknesses are - enough so that the pitcher feels confident that their only job is to hit the locations because their catcher is calling the right pitch in the right spot.

 

It just worries me that 2/5 of our starting staff last year had "some" reason for not wanting to pitch to him.

I thought only Prior used Blanco last season, so that's 1/5. And I believe in the few innings that he threw to Barrett, he actually pitched better. Blanco's game calling skills didn't impress me at all and could have been the reason for Prior's struggles. Blanco called way to many fastballs and not enough breaking stuff when Prior was pitching.

 

Maybe I'm incorrect, but I thought Maddux pitched primarily to Blanco as well. I'm definitely not saying that Barrett/Catcher is a huge prbolem with the team, I'm just saying there's something odd about 2 guys on the staff not pitching to him on a fairly regular basis and wondering why that would be?

 

If I could get Hernandez and ship off Barrett in a package trade to improve one of the other positions we need help with, I would do it in a heartbeat - if that couldn't be done, I'd be happy having Barrett catching and I would hope he keeps improving on the non-offensive parts of his game. I'm not down on Barrett at all - I just feel like there's something missing in his game is all.

[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.

 

So, no then?

[fromthestretch]

The thing that most concerns me about Barrett is probably something none of us know a thing about, but the fact that 2 of our starting pitchers obviously preferred pitching to a different catcher bothers me.

 

I'd love to know if it was because they didn't trust him defensively or didn't have any faith in his pitch calling ability.

 

Ultimately the pitcher is the one who decides what pitch he wants to throw in certain situations, but I would think having to shake a catcher off alot and/or not being "in sync" with a catcher would be tiresome for a pitcher. It just makes me wonder how good Barrett is as far as working together with pitchers

 

DING DING DING

 

Well said. People can bring up all the stats they want about Barrett but the thing that bothers me the most about Barrett is exactly what you said. He just doesn't seem to be on the same page with the pitchers and he doesn't seem to posess that "Catchers mentality" or the toughness or Leadership it takes to be a Catcher. There's a lot of things that going into being a good Catcher and most of those things you can't see in stats. Obviously to be a great Catcher you need to have a good %of throwing runners, low PB and WP etc etc etc, but it's the intangibles that, clearly to me anyway, Barrett just doesn't have and I personally don't feel the Pitchers enjoy pitching to him.

 

I know I wouldn't have.

 

He'd be better suited as a DH IMHO, that's all I'm saying.

 

A good pitcher should be able to pitch to any catcher, and Barrett is hardly the worst defensive catcher out there. As for calling pitches...unless a pitcher has been specifically told by his manager or pitching coach that he is never to shake off his catcher, then pitch-calling by a catcher is an overrated skill. The pitcher himself should know better than anyone what he has and doesn't have working well on any given day and knows what he's comfortable throwing in any given situation. The starting pitcher is the one with 4-5 freaking days of nothing between starts to prepare a plan of attack for his next start.

 

Don't get me wrong...I would certainly like to see Barrett get better defensively. I'd like to see him get better at blocking balls in the dirt, simply because I do believe that would improve a pitcher's confidence. There are situations where a pitcher may be able to get a hitter out by getting him to chase a ball in the dirt, but if the pitcher isn't comfortable with his catcher's ability to block it with a runner on, then he may have to do something else. Outside of that, Barrett's ability to throw out runners is mediocre at best but could be helped immensely if our pitchers could actually hold runners on. Wood is the only starter I can think of that has a decent pickoff move. Maddux is and always has been slow to the plate.

 

All of that being said, Barrett's defense is nowhere near the top of the list of problems with this team.

[RockTheIvy]

The question I have for the Barrett knockers is would the Cubs have won more games with, say, a Molina behind the plate, all other facets remaining the same? I am willing to bet that Barrett's bat makes up for any bonehead plays he might make. Now take the other side of the coin, can a catcher's defensive contributions make up for a Mendoza-line bat? I don't know the exact answer, but I'd be willing to bet the answer is no. Offense is more valuable.

[2242005CY]

If a good pitcher can pitch to any pitcher, then why do so many of the greatest pitchers prefer better Defensive Catchers, such as Maddux, Johnson ETC ETC

 

False statement.

 

First move the Cubs need to do is trade Barrett the flake, to an AL team where he can DH and sign Hernandez.,,,

 

To those of you who love the Barrett and think he's so gd great and think the Cubs could do better elsewhere are missing the point: The Cubs need to make MANY decisions and why just address some? Why half ass it, especially since Hernandez is available NOW, not next year and that would include trading Barrett. If you disagree, I don't know what to tell you other than watch more of the games if you think Barrett is so great.

 

Before I reply to anymore of the flamers on this subject, answer me this:

 

WHo would you rather have over the next 3-4 years....Barrett or Hernandez????????????

[YearofDaCubs]

I for one was one of the people who complained we needed offense from that position when Miller was here so I am happy Barrett is here. Barrett did indeed have on of the best pitching staffs when he was in Montreal. Maybe the pitchers should look in the mirror if they think the catcher is the one making them a worse pitcher.

[YearofDaCubs]

If a good pitcher can pitch to any pitcher, then why do so many of the greatest pitchers prefer better Defensive Catchers, such as Maddux, Johnson ETC ETC

 

False statement.

 

First move the Cubs need to do is trade Barrett the flake, to an AL team where he can DH and sign Hernandez.,,,

 

To those of you who love the Barrett and think he's so gd great and think the Cubs could do better elsewhere are missing the point: The Cubs need to make MANY decisions and why just address some? Why half ass it, especially since Hernandez is available NOW, not next year and that would include trading Barrett. If you disagree, I don't know what to tell you other than watch more of the games if you think Barrett is so great.

 

Before I reply to anymore of the flamers on this subject, answer me this:

 

WHo would you rather have over the next 3-4 years....Barrett or Hernandez????????????

I personally am indifferent about it. I would take either of them.

[RockTheIvy]

If a good pitcher can pitch to any pitcher, then why do so many of the greatest pitchers prefer better Defensive Catchers, such as Maddux, Johnson ETC ETC

 

False statement.

 

First move the Cubs need to do is trade Barrett the flake, to an AL team where he can DH and sign Hernandez.,,,

 

To those of you who love the Barrett and think he's so gd great and think the Cubs could do better elsewhere are missing the point: The Cubs need to make MANY decisions and why just address some? Why half ass it, especially since Hernandez is available NOW, not next year and that would include trading Barrett. If you disagree, I don't know what to tell you other than watch more of the games if you think Barrett is so great.

 

Before I reply to anymore of the flamers on this subject, answer me this:

 

WHo would you rather have over the next 3-4 years....Barrett or Hernandez????????????

 

So I guess SANDY MARTINEZ is a great catcher, since Wood k'd 20 with him catching?

 

I would rather have Barrett, because I think you'd have to spend more to get Hernandez when there are more pressing needs.

[2242005CY]

If a good pitcher can pitch to any pitcher, then why do so many of the greatest pitchers prefer better Defensive Catchers, such as Maddux, Johnson ETC ETC

 

False statement.

 

First move the Cubs need to do is trade Barrett the flake, to an AL team where he can DH and sign Hernandez.,,,

 

To those of you who love the Barrett and think he's so gd great and think the Cubs could do better elsewhere are missing the point: The Cubs need to make MANY decisions and why just address some? Why half ass it, especially since Hernandez is available NOW, not next year and that would include trading Barrett. If you disagree, I don't know what to tell you other than watch more of the games if you think Barrett is so great.

 

Before I reply to anymore of the flamers on this subject, answer me this:

 

WHo would you rather have over the next 3-4 years....Barrett or Hernandez????????????

I personally am indifferent about it. I would take either of them.

 

Then you haven't seen Hernandez play much then. I live in So Cal and saw him a lot and he's got THE ENTIRE PACKAGE and hands down is a better option than Barrett at the position. Hernandez is a REAL Catcher and Barrett is a freak experiment gone wrong and appearently most Cub fans haven't realized that.

[2242005CY]

If a good pitcher can pitch to any pitcher, then why do so many of the greatest pitchers prefer better Defensive Catchers, such as Maddux, Johnson ETC ETC

 

False statement.

 

First move the Cubs need to do is trade Barrett the flake, to an AL team where he can DH and sign Hernandez.,,,

 

To those of you who love the Barrett and think he's so gd great and think the Cubs could do better elsewhere are missing the point: The Cubs need to make MANY decisions and why just address some? Why half ass it, especially since Hernandez is available NOW, not next year and that would include trading Barrett. If you disagree, I don't know what to tell you other than watch more of the games if you think Barrett is so great.

 

Before I reply to anymore of the flamers on this subject, answer me this:

 

WHo would you rather have over the next 3-4 years....Barrett or Hernandez????????????

 

So I guess SANDY MARTINEZ is a great catcher, since Wood k'd 20 with him catching?

 

I would rather have Barrett, because I think you'd have to spend more to get Hernandez when there are more pressing needs.

 

DOn't be an idiot about Martinez. That was terrible.

 

Hernandez wouldn't be much more than Barrett and who cares if he is?? Catcher is an important position with a team who seemingly is building the team around the starting rotatio, don't you agree??

[YearofDaCubs]

If a good pitcher can pitch to any pitcher, then why do so many of the greatest pitchers prefer better Defensive Catchers, such as Maddux, Johnson ETC ETC

 

False statement.

 

First move the Cubs need to do is trade Barrett the flake, to an AL team where he can DH and sign Hernandez.,,,

 

To those of you who love the Barrett and think he's so gd great and think the Cubs could do better elsewhere are missing the point: The Cubs need to make MANY decisions and why just address some? Why half ass it, especially since Hernandez is available NOW, not next year and that would include trading Barrett. If you disagree, I don't know what to tell you other than watch more of the games if you think Barrett is so great.

 

Before I reply to anymore of the flamers on this subject, answer me this:

 

WHo would you rather have over the next 3-4 years....Barrett or Hernandez????????????

I personally am indifferent about it. I would take either of them.

 

Then you haven't seen Hernandez play much then. I live in So Cal and saw him a lot and he's got THE ENTIRE PACKAGE and hands down is a better option than Barrett at the position. Hernandez is a REAL Catcher and Barrett is a freak experiment gone wrong and appearently most Cub fans haven't realized that.

What exactly about Barrett do you not like? He did a real good job of throwing baserunners out and I personally think the high team ERA had to do with our pitchers moreso than Barrett. There was a thread some time ago that showed all pitcher's ERAs cmparing both of our catchers and it was a moot point.