CuseCubFan69

Do you really think that Hendry would sell high on this one?

If you're that worried about the catcher, then either the catcher is much worse than Barrett defensively, or you're paranoid. The baserunning argument has some merit. However, with Blanco behind the plate, don't you worry about run support a little more? As long as the guy behind the plate can catch the ball, can manage to get his body in front of balls in the dirt, and can avoid throwing the ball into center field on throws down to second, then a pitcher should be comfortable. You might be assuming that pitchers are robots and don't think about these things. What they should think and what they do think may not happen as we would like them to. Look, I'm not saying it's a all or nothing thing which a lot of people seem to think. I like Barrett but he needs to improve in certain aspects of the game. I don't think he will defensively at this age so IMO it's always a good idea to look and see how the Cubs can improve their team and if Barrett is part of that equation so regarding run support I also have to think about how many runs he gives up. Barrett has problems catching the ball and blocking the balls in the dirt. His slow glove and body bother me as it also may bother the pitchers. I don't know how much it effects the pitchers but I would look into it. Winning may be the effect the pitchers need and then Barretts D could be over looked but if Barrett does have them not thinking about their job then let's find out why and have the staff talk this over and find a solution.

I'd still rather have Estes back...he's a proven winner. Williams is doing a nice job and hopefully this will continue on to next year. I like it when players make Hendrys job harder by doing well and that is a heck of a lot better than the alternative.

Point being, who was available? He made a double switch, which was basically pinch hitting. I don't care if Macias pinch hits, I'm resigned to the fact that he will get a PH opportunity nearly every game despite his ineptitude in that situation. However, keeping Macias in the game is completely unnecessary. It's not worth the drop off just to move the pitcher's spot an extra 2 spots away, especially when Walker is having a great night at the plate. Wow...it's almost like he wants to lose. Why the heck would you even double switch with so many players on the roster? He just does not understand the flow of a game in any way or how to use his players.

I agree. I have no idea what Hendry is waiting for unless there is no interest in these guys.

Maybe Lovie should go back to Gilligans Island because the Baker way is the right way. Until the GM releases the veteran they get major playing time no matter how bad they are. He's reached the 500 level many times and can prove it's the right way. the "right way" is 6.0 GB of the wild card right now. :wink: Well...the Cubs would be 50 games back if it was done any other way. and that statement is backed by... :? Sarcasm

It's fun to have a Cub inducted and pretty exciting for the fans and the player. I just hate the way they do it. I am also more of a team believer and not into individual awards. I never give away individual awards for my teams, and very rarely a game ball to a player.

"That's the Chicago way."

I agree with you. I could really care less about anything thats voted on, other than the Hall of Fame. Although it was nice to see Lee's All-star voting comeback this year as well. But the Cy Young/Rolaids Reliever/MVP stuff? I've never really gotten into it. I care about the HOF even less. To me it's like the Oscars or Emmys, a bunch of insiders congratulating themselves on their greatness. Writers spend an inordinate amount of time writing about who they will or will not vote on because they get that vote for supposedly writing about baseball. Play the games and hand out the trophy at the end, the rest is BS. I agree. You put pitcher X on a good team and instead of a 500 win percentage he wins a lot more games thus getting more votes. He isn't any better just on a better team..

Maybe Lovie should go back to Gilligans Island because the Baker way is the right way. Until the GM releases the veteran they get major playing time no matter how bad they are. He's reached the 500 level many times and can prove it's the right way. the "right way" is 6.0 GB of the wild card right now. :wink: Well...the Cubs would be 50 games back if it was done any other way.

Maybe Lovie should go back to Gilligans Island because the Baker way is the right way. Until the GM releases the veteran they get major playing time no matter how bad they are. He's reached the 500 level many times and can prove it's the right way.

Am I the only one that doesn't care about individual awards? I really could care less who wins the MVP or any other "voted" for award. I suppose this stuff is good for the Hall of Fame resume but it just seems way too varied in how people look at these awards. Clemens vs Carpenter/Willis and good player on bad team vs Good players on Good teams there is just way too much of a range on what the requirements are.

...and announcers not giving the players nicknames. Nice addition, Cornstalk. just pulling my weight around here. also, anyone notice how farnsworth's poor attitude is just killing the braves right now? whew, am i glad the cubs ditched him. That's my point. Same player...why is he successful now? This isn't about chemistry but adjustments by the manager/coaches and catcher.

Interesting how it's all or nothing. I don't deny that talent wins games because it does. I also think that the balance of offense/defense is what has to be decided like players Nomar/Walker/Barrett and see what the cost analysis is going to be. I do not deny that the Cubs have not went after the wrong players and manager but I do not believe for a moment that you can short change what a catcher has to do for a team to help the staff improve. This isn't roto league it's real people playing a very difficult game and having a catcher that can do a range of things to help can only make a staff better. I am not advocating to go after some 200 hitting catcher because of his defensive/communication skills but I am saying there is a point where I would look at when the defense or offense as a liability. Look at Piazza, he has the same offensive numbers as Barrett but in 98 games. Is it worth having him in there? Do the pitchers like thowing to him even though he has a superior bat to Castro? Who do they want behind the plate? I don't care about chemistry or blaming Barrett or any one player for this season. I am talking about a postion that I think demands a leader or at worst a player that can help the staff keep their minds on pitching. I am not "blaming" medicore pitching on a catcher. I am saying that a good receiver helps a pitcher be the pitcher he really is. He doesn't have get along with the pitcher but he has to know how to help him when he needs it and to identify the adjustments needed. Chemistry or vodoo have nothing to do with it.

The last time I threw a pitch in a competitive game I was a 12-year old version of Stu Miller. I wasn't exactly concerned with my catcher's ability to catch the ball, just my ability to get it to him. ;) Statistically, a pitcher throwing to catcher A doesn't perform much differently than the same pitcher throwing to catcher B. While some of the issues you mentioned may (and probably do) run through a hurler's head, it would seem they are always secondary to the pitcher's own abilities. I'd say a catcher's greatest defensive contribution lies in his ability to block pitches and throw out would-be base stealers. Don't be shy about those 5 no hitters in a row BK...it was quite an accomplishment! I think it also depends on how a catcher can take over a game and control the pitcher when he needs someone to take charge. Obviously some pitchers don't need that but some do and a good reciever knows what buttons to push and can adapt to the different personalities.

What kind of haul could Barrett bring in? Also, since Johjima doesn't know the league, how confident would the Cub pitchers be with him calling the pitches?

Unless those players are Macias or Holla...the more they played the better Murton looked! Yeah, Macias our primary pinch-hitter and his .188 avg doing it. I hope he too is gone next year. The only reason hednry wanted this guy is because he had one good series against US 2 years ago and Hendry fell over his chair about him. Now that he is here, he is terrible. Another dumb Hendry move. Yes it was a bad move by Hendry and I thought it was a decent move at the time as I thought he was going to be a 25th guy thuy used in emergency situations and pinch running. Let's hope Mr. Hendry has learned from this or it may be time for him to go too.

Have you ever pitched and worried if you threw a ball in the dirt it might get by your catcher? If you let a fastball go and worry that the catcher might not get to it in the air? Had a baserunner on and know that your catcher couldn't throw out Ramirez? Some pitchers can block this stuff out and some can not. This effects the pitch before the ball gets to the batter and changes the spot thus changing how the ball may be hit so before you can look at the defensive burden of the other 7 fielders this problem has to be addressed.

Unless those players are Macias or Holla...the more they played the better Murton looked!

I wonder what the pitchers feel about D. Miller and if they would rather be throwing to him instead of Barrett. I like Barrett but he isn't a leader behind the plate IMO. He doesn't do the little things that would make him a better reciever and if the pitchers do not have confidence in him that alone could be worth looking at different options. You can not have pitchers thinking about the catcher and they HAVE to have confidence in him to pitch as efectively as they can. What hurts the Cubs is that they can't hide any more bats. If they upgrade the OF and SS (Perez) they can hide a 250/310 hitting catcher that excels on D. Until they do that Barrett is a good option to help with those weaknesses.

What's the deal with that IMB? You skip school and you don't practice but you can play? It's like saying you can't have supper but desert is ok.

He's like Sullivan and trolls. If you don't make any comment about them they will go away. They have no talent and write absurd articles so we can talk about them thus keeping their job. Once we stop putting up their articles they will go away. My bad. I understand why you did it JG and that is the trap these clowns pull us into. It's the last thing they teach them...if your career if failing, you're lazy or you have no talent write outragously stupid controversial articles.

How about Welly and Mitre? I think Mr. Hendry has to start moving some of these young pitchers or get a manager that knows how to use them.

I don't think Moorad is the sharpest knife in the drawer. I could see him bringing Dusty in. In fact, its the only scenerio that I've heard of that I think is remotely plausible to get Dusty out of Chicago. Let the trade talk of Dusty for Connor Jackson begin! I hope you're right JC...except I'd rather have Quentin. :D

Probably Moorad helping an old friend get some bargining power. I hope Hendry doesn't fall for it.