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I understand your point. And I hope that Barrett improves defensively. This team needs to make some changes before 2006 starts, I just don't think that moving the 28 yr old best offensive catcher in the NL is one of them.

So you want Neifi at 3B? Or Nomar at 3B & Neifi at SS? Either way, I'd rather have Walker at 2B, Cedeno at SS, and an actual 3B at 3B (I guess McClain is going to get that chance for a while). At this point, any start that goes to Neifi at any position is a waste, imo. If he's back next year as a backup, I'm all for it. But he shouldn't be starting, so we should be playing Cedeno, etc, to see what we have.

That would be an excellent move, Walker is a defensive liability & the Cubs do have Hairston & Neifi who can play 2nd along with rosters expanding on Sept. 1st. Neither Hairston nor Perez should be an everyday 2B for the Cubs next year, esp not when they have a cheap option on Walker and his .350 OBP. It's not like we're overflowing w/ top of the order hitters here.

Really? Yes. For the time being, it makes sense to ride the wave..... Perez AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 07/10 - 08/26 44 5 17 4 0 1 24 5 3 3 0.386 0.426 0.545 0.971 I'll take my chances with Walker v. LHP this year (.357/.392/.629). All well and good. The original assertion was about Neifi playing; not necessarily play second base, no? Yes, I suppose it was. But framed in a discussion of Nomar playing 3rd & Cedeno starting at short - I assumed Neifi at 2nd. Though I suppose that was not necessary what Cubbie_Gal had in mind.

Really? Yes. For the time being, it makes sense to ride the wave..... Perez AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 07/10 - 08/26 44 5 17 4 0 1 24 5 3 3 0.386 0.426 0.545 0.971 I'll take my chances with Walker v. LHP this year (.357/.392/.629).

I guess so, if he's really that bad. But I haven't seen anything conclusive, or even persuasive, which demonstrates that. In addition, how many runs is Barrett giving the Cubs with his offense over a replacement-level catcher?

Really?

Yankee hater alert: I don't mind this trade so much from the Cubs perspective. Getting something for Lawton is better than nothing. I just don't want Lawton to turn it on in NY and push the Yanks into the playoffs. Man I hate watching the Yankees win.

If you want to actually watch the game and understand what you are watching instead of cheerleading for a guy you "like" for whatever reason, fine. I'm confused by this. Am I the cheerleader in this situation? I do want to actually watch the game and understand what I am watching...in fact, I do watch the game and understand what I am watching. I'm not sure I understand what you're saying though.

I totally agree. I don't care what Barrett did in 12 ABs that you picked. I want to see his stats (w/ a relatively large sample size) so I know what to expect of him in the future. But let's assume that Barrett sucks in the 7-10 ABs he has every year when the bases are loaded and the Cubs are tied or losing. Based on those 10 ABs we should get rid of him, even though he has great offensive numbers overall and in most situations? Even if Barrett really is bad with the bases loaded in a close game, I'll take him for the 500 other PAs he has every year where he's a great offensive player (esp for a C).

Alright? I think you at least have to admit that he's been a great offensive catcher this year. Again - not that he's untouchable, but he's been one of our most consistent producers this year. I didn't like trading Miller away either. But the offense would really be hurting if you subtracted Barrett's .857 OPS and replaced it with Miller's .710. I think we can admit that Barrett has good looking numbers. He does seem to tighten up at the plate when the pressure is on (eg, Tuesday night, struck with the bases loaded in 2-0 game and then doubles with the bases loaded in an 8-1 game; Wednesday, strikes out looking as the tying run at the plate on an 0-2 pitch). Also, he is not a good receiver, is very lazy at times about moving his body to block pitches. if another position is upgraded offensively, I would trade Barrett and replace him with a defensive-oriented catcher. This team seems to have no spark and has had none since '03. I think Barrett and Walker, despite their good-looking offensive numbers, are part of the problem and not part of the solution. His stats are great for this year and pointing out 2 situations in which he has not come through in a tight game proves nothing. He lead off the 9th w/ a single in a 2-run game last night, so does that prove he's a great clutch hitter? After last night he's hitting .292 with a .357 OBP and .503 SLG. It's just not plausible that all his hits, walks, and power come only when the Cubs are in a blow out. Barrett (.292/.357/.503) and Walker (.302/.351/.468) are part of the problem? I'm sorry, but that just doesn't make sense to me at all.

As reported here by WilliSC48, Scott McClain. Which is good. I'd like to see a real 3B at 3rd today.

What a fitting end. Barrett singles. FC by "The Savior." DP by Burnitz. Go Cubs!

Barrett singles to lead off the 9th w/ the team down 2 - another "meaningless" hit. Damn stat-padder.

August stats (according to Cubs.com): .348/.388/.543 Hack. Let's take him outside and beat the snot out of him.

Wow. There's an overreaction.

I'm sitting in an office building where the floor above me is being renovated and I could barely hear the pounding hammers over the boos coming through my Gameday Audio. Wow.

Barrett - I know you're hitting 4th but take some pitches. Ugh!

Down 4-0 in the 3rd. I, for one, think a sac bunt is dumb right there. There are precious few outs and this isn't a killer lineup. Not to mention Vargas is having some control issues.

I would too. Please keep those of use stuck in the office w/o ESPN updated on Stone's comments. BTW - Santo couldn't talk fast enough to defend Neifi on that bunt to Nomar. I've noticed Pat & Ron really love Neifi.

Huh? I highly doubt Hill was only striking out barely over 1 batter per 9 innings at AAA. Sorry, trying to post a response quickly - never a good idea. 90 K in 64 IP at AAA. 1.4 K/IP - 12.66 K/9. Thanks.

I think we saw enough of Hill to know he wasn't ready and needed another pitch or two. 04/04 - 08/24 IP H R ER BB K HR PC BB/9 K/9 HR/9 WHIP ERA Rusch 106.7 126 54 50 43 87 10 1907 3.63 7.34 0.84 1.58 4.22 Hill 21.0 24 20 20 13 21 3 426 5.57 9.00 1.29 1.76 8.57 I don't know. In 64.0 IP at AAA he has a 1.03 WHIP and 1.4 K/9. Neither is a very large sample size, but I don't think we saw enough of Hill in Chicago to determine anything.

Maybe he ought to be ?? :wink: Team record by cleanup hitter W L pct 1. Ramirez 29 37 0.439 2. Lee 3 5 0.375 3. Burnitz 27 23 0.540 4. Dubois 1 1 0.500 5. Barrett 1 0 1.000 Totals 61 66 0.480 Don't go by that chart or Burnitz would be hitting cleanup a lot.

Yeah, what's his deal since joining the Cubs? Can we really chalk this up to "trying to do too much"? I mean, he's a what, .370 career OBP guy, taking 2 walks in a month. I just don't get it.

I'd take Furcal. Though if we can't get him, I don't mind trying to get Nomar for cheap or putting Cedeno out there. He's been tearing up AAA. Don't know about paying that much for Giles and Wagner. Though I'm not convinced that Dempster can convert 90% of his saves again next year and there doesn't seem to be a lot out there for impact OF bats this winter. Don't think there's any way Beane gives up Zito (not to mention a prospect too) for Hairston, Hill, and the remains of Corey's potential. Would rather have Zito, but I'm not totally opposed to Williams or Hill as the 5th starter (assuming Wood can start 30+ times - if not, don't really want Jerome, Hill & Maddux in the rotation). Though I think Corey needs a change of scenary (and shipping him out of the NL and not to the ChiSox is a good call) and I don't think Hairston wants to be back to play for Dusty again. Overall the ideas are good and other than Zito (imo) realistic. For the record, if Hendry gets Zito & a prospect for Hill, Corey, & JHJr, I'll happily eat some crow.