will the cubs resign barrett?

by Glacier on Dec 29, 2006 12:02 PM CST

this is barretts last year under contract. i was wondering as too what you all think bout resigning him. personnally hes my favorite player on the cubs and has been for a couple years now.( not just for hitting a.j) Anyways i think the cubs should resign him regardless of his defense. Hes one of the few players on the cubs with fire and reaally seem to care about the game. anyways this is my first diary ewver so i hope i didnt mess this up at all but id appreciate your feedback. ill include a poll at the bottom of the page here.

Poll

Will barrett get resigned?

no i dont think theyll resign him but i hope they do

11 votes

Yes he likes the city likes the team and will want to be resigned

47 votes

no let him and his defense walk

15 votes

73 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

I say no...

...unless Barrett is willing to sign at roughly the same pay he's making now, there's no reason to bring him back in a year.

The money spent on Barrett can be spent at other positions (shortstop, CF), or earmarked for Big Z if the Cubs decide to keep him.

PINIELLA!

by theprognosticator on Dec 29, 2006 12:10 PM CST reply actions

I think that Barrett and Izturis

could have really good seasons......if the past few seasons have proved anything, it's that mediocre/slightly above average players excel beyond anyone's expectations in their contract season.

I would LOVE Barrett back with the CUBS, but I'll take Gio Soto if the CUBS can sign Ichiro!

Check out my daily baseball blog at MLB-threeSIXTYfive

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 29, 2006 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

By any offensive measure...

...Barrett is a well-above-average player, especially for his position. His defense, admittedly, is just a few shades above replacement level. But I fail to see how the catcher with the fifth-highest VORP at the position in baseball qualifies as "mediocre."

by cwyers on Dec 29, 2006 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

Oh, you'll get no arguement here....

I have stated many a time how I feel about Michael Barrett....but I had to group him with Izturis.....

No doubt, Barrett is a top hitting catcher in MLB.

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by TheBeerBaron on Dec 29, 2006 3:24 PM CST up reply actions

He's mediocre

because when your a catcher, I don't care what level it is, your job is to catch. Anything you get with the stick in a good defensive catcher is just bonus. You can figure a good catcher will save you 20-30 runs in a year by obseriving the runners he cuts down, pitches blocked, or just smart decisions. A good catcher will save you that many runs. Thats like offensive production itself. Having a good catcher behind the dish is so underrated, and lets face it, defensivley he's rancid.

JKuhle "I'd walk through hell in a gasonline suit to play baseball."

by TCobb1911 on Dec 30, 2006 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

I think he's okay.

It's a good trade-off for the Cubs in that his offense is a good matchup in favor of Cubs against most others and the defense isn't that bad. It's not like he's letting 4-5 baserunners a game on dropped 3rd strikes. His arm is average but the Cubs have some lousy pitchers in terms of holding runners close. We've had power pitchers with slower deliveries and Maddux who doesn't care about the runners. I'm fine with him catching. If it turns out he can play OF or 1B or 3B to add more flexibility in the future then that's good, too.

by DudeVf11 on Dec 30, 2006 6:39 PM CST up reply actions

i hope they do

he is a all star caliber catcher...no reason not too resign him unless we DO need the money for Z

by tbizzle83 on Dec 29, 2006 12:33 PM CST reply actions

one thing

barrett fans should think about is that barrett os one of hendry's success stories, kind of a diamond in the rough he found. his ego might force him to resign barrett.

i like barrett. he's a fantastic offensive catcher and i love his personality. he sucks at throwing out runners, but i think his game-calling is under-rated (not that its fantastic, but its not as bad as is perceived).

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Dec 29, 2006 12:50 PM CST reply actions

My sig line...

...says it all.

I love Michael's playing style on the field, his ability to hit the ball (and the odd White Sox player here or there...) and his honesty (to a fault) off the field. Given the way his offense has been improving, I look for him to have a career year in '07, and I hope they re-sign him.

All that said, I voted for No. 3 in the poll. I think with Soto and that kid we got in the Neifi! deal, plus the deal we just gave Blanco, the Cubs may unload Barrett as they channel more dollars toward Big Z. I hope this isn't the case, but I fear it might be.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Dec 29, 2006 1:29 PM CST reply actions

I hope he walks..

Spend the money on a good bat elsewhere in the lineup.

To me, his playing style does as much to ignite the other team as it does our guys. See the tear Houston went on in 2004 after the Barrett incident.

I've said many times that I'd rather have a banjo hitting/good defense catcher than a guy who hits but has no glove or arm. Catcher is the most important defensive position in baseball.

I'll never forget the run down in Philly. With defense like that, I'd rather have a folding chair there.

Well, sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.

by wicubfan on Dec 29, 2006 1:55 PM CST reply actions

the connection between the tear Houston went on...

...and the incident with Michael Barrett is coincidental at best and therefore, a terrible reason to let him go.

The good news is, there are plenty of other reasons why Barrett should be let go so that the "igniting" of the other team reason isn't even necessary.

PINIELLA!

by theprognosticator on Dec 29, 2006 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

agree..

I think his playing style is a wash at best.

Every time I see a team like St Louis win the WS with Molina or a team like the D Backs win with Mueller, it makes me wonder why the Cubs just don't get a real good defensive catcher a get better hitters elsewhere.

Well, sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.

by wicubfan on Dec 29, 2006 3:18 PM CST up reply actions

re: I hope he walks..

Well, I definitely agree with you about the rundown. I remember that, too...yow, what a low point. I just feel like Michael's offense and leadership on the field makes up for defensive gaffes such as that.

And it seems to me that Michael does make a lot of great stops behind the plate, it's just his ability to throw out runners (whether trying to steal or in the aforementioned rundown situation) that seems to be lacking.

I'm not sure I can agree about igniting other teams, though. I've heard that before and, without at least several other similiar instances to point to, I don't see how it's fair to blame the Astros resurgence that year on the fact that Michael Barrett yelled at Roy Oswalt.

I mean, look at the White Sox after the Pierszynski (did I actually spell that right? I'm too lazy to check) incident. Well, OK, they did stage that crushing ninth-inning comeback involving A.J. himself a game or two later. But I think it's safe to say the White Sox were hardly a resurgent team in the second half of '06.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Dec 29, 2006 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

I say let him walk.......

He's getting at that age where catchers start to decline and I don't think his offense is really all that great taking his D into consideration. He's not worth it on a long term deal.

RAMIREZ!! PRIOR!! Get MANNY!!!!

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Dec 29, 2006 3:08 PM CST reply actions

I like

Barret. I hope they sign him. How can you not like a guy who punched AJ?

COTTS!!!

by sue369 on Dec 29, 2006 3:48 PM CST reply actions

Its great he punched.....

AJ, but he also suffered the consequences and it cost the team. It was great to see but it wasn't a very headstrong idea.

RAMIREZ!! PRIOR!! Get MANNY!!!!

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Dec 29, 2006 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

Didn't Henry...

play very well during the suspension?

I hope Barrett thanked Blanco because it was not a very smart thing to do.

I like Michael. I think he likes it here and would stay here for cheap, but that's just my feeling.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Dec 29, 2006 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

Hank White's batting average went from

like a .150 to a .240 or something like that when Barrett was out.

I know those aren't the real numbers, but I am too lazy and pre-occupied with going home to look it up.

Check out my daily baseball blog at MLB-threeSIXTYfive

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 29, 2006 4:39 PM CST up reply actions

Who needs that....

... when you have Yahoo's gamelogs available?

During Barrett's suspension Blanco went 16-for-46 (.348) with nine runs scored, 3 doubles, 3 HR and 10 RBI (in 13 games, including 3 Barrett sat out before the suspension because he had a minor injury).

His .723 season OPS was a career high.

by Al Yellon on Dec 29, 2006 5:29 PM CST up reply actions

I of course agree with you.

If they get rid of Barrett, I would personally knock Hendry upside the head with tcjhawk's Cub Champagne bottle.

WOODY!!!!

by Sarah Hope on Dec 30, 2006 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

barrett

i think he,s getting a todd walker like reputation which will eventually bite him on the ass.i,d like him to stay,i think he does a fine job.soto and blanco together could not put up his numbers.depends on whether pinella likes him or not. i say keep him,he,s got a lot of heart and loves the cubs

by NOMAR on Dec 30, 2006 6:22 AM CST reply actions

Keep Barrett

good catchers are hard to find. We got one in Blanco. I like Barrett for the same reason(s) I liked Walker. He's a hard nosed, blue collar type that loves baseball and loves the Cubs. I remember an interview with him when he had a career game in which he said that he's love the Cubs since he was little and hoped that he'd retire a Cub.
Look, most of the deals that were made with the Cub's players pretty much locked up everyone for at least three years. I say we offer him another three year deal. I believe he's like Wood, loyalty first. I bet we'd get a hometown discount.
If I remember correctly, Al along with BeerBaron wanted to trade Barrett for Vernon Wells. I don't see the Cubs improving much in future offseasons (reason being, everyone's pretty much locked up as a starter for the next few years) so we might as well get one of the best offensive catchers who is pretty much durable if not for a freak groin accident. Which that Ramirez and Nomar can tell you is horrible. DO IT HENDRY!!

All right, Hendry!! Time to sign Zambrano to an extension!!

by fuzzycubfan on Dec 30, 2006 9:06 AM CST up reply actions

blue collar?

Just once, I want to see someone praised for being a white collar baseball player.

PINIELLA!

by theprognosticator on Dec 30, 2006 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

Individual statistics aside

You judge a catcher by the wins and losses of your team. It is obvious that Barrett is out of position, could he play RF like Moreland or 2B or DH? Maybe on a team like KC or Baltimore or Oakland. In fact he would make for a very good platoon DH/OF/C/IF roving player but not your #1 catcher even if he hits .300+ and hits 18HR's.

Blanco has shown he can hit above a defensive catcher's expectations and what the Cubs need is a Blanco clone to platoon.

If the Cubs wanted they could platoon Barrett in the OF with Pie in RF or Floyd in LF this year.

Best Harry moment: 'Hey there's Marla without her shorts on!'

by Ivy Walls on Dec 30, 2006 11:06 AM CST reply actions

Do you think before you post?

I disagree with just about every single sentence here.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 30, 2006 11:30 AM CST up reply actions

WHY??

by nickler on Jan 3, 2007 8:57 AM CST up reply actions

It bothers me

to no end when someone on one of these diaries comes along and trashes someone else's opinion (and raises questions about their intelligence) without offering any reasons why he disagrees or even bothering to state his own opinion.

"Eighty-five percent of the $#@&$ world's working! The other 15 come out here! A %&$&# playground for the $&&*@!"

by danimal15 on Jan 4, 2007 4:46 PM CST up reply actions

what?

barrett in right or second. come on first off hes a catcher and before he was a catcher he palyed third base i believe. im sorry but i dont see barrett patrolling second base. maybe right field but dont we have enough defensive liability outfielders

by Glacier on Dec 30, 2006 1:30 PM CST reply actions

Barrett

Though I don't like his defense, look at his numbers, he's a pretty solid offensive asset, nowhere close to superstardom, but a slightly below average catcher that fits in well.