Michael Barrett and why I think he should stay.

by santo for prez on Aug 16, 2006 5:14 PM CDT

Being a catcher growing up from little league through Legion Ball, this is a position that I am passionate about. It is hard for me to comment on his defense this year as I have not been able to "see" him play over here in the desert.

A lot of people don't understand that stats don't tell everything about a catcher. While I do agree that he is not a stellar defensive catcher, there are other variables that slightly invalidate some of his stats. The Cubs pitching staff is very young and wild. They do not seem to do a great job of holding runners on and pitch location is a huge part of throwing runners out.

I am comparing Barrett to a catcher whose name has been thrown around here quite a bit in comparison to Michael. Damian Miller is your prototypical catcher with great defensive numbers and sub-par offensive numbers.

They both get about the same ammount of playing time so I don't think that any stats need to be adjusted.

Offensively Barrett has 178 total bases compared to Miller at 117. That is a difference of 61 total bases. Barrett has 5 errors compared to 1 for Miller. Let's take 4 bases away from this total......Barrett +57

Opponents have stolen 82 bases off of Barrett versus 31 on Miller for a difference of 51 steals.....Barrett +6

There have been 21 runners caught stealing versus Barrett as opposed to 15 runners stealing versus Miller for a difference of 6 baserunners....Barrett +12

Barrett has 108 hits compared to Miller's 73 hits. RBIs and runs scored are a stat that depend on their teammates so I am just throwing this stat out there to show how many more opportunities Barrett has provided to drive runs in than Miller has. Barrett has 14 HRs compared to Miller's 6 HRs.

I think that Michael Barrett's inadequacies behind the plate are more than made up for with his bat.

If the Cubs were better offensively with more run-producers in the lineup then I would have no problem with a Damian Miller-type catcher in the lineup. However, given the current situation, I think that Michael Barrett is more of an assett to the Cubs offensively than he is a liability to the club defensively.

Poll

Should the Cubs trade Barrett for a "defensive" catcher.

No, he is a bigger assett than liability.

54 votes

Yes, the catcher position is a defensive position.

6 votes

No, try him at another position.

2 votes

62 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 like Barrett, we need his bat...

...especially with little to be had in the free agent market.

by theprognosticator on Aug 16, 2006 5:20 PM CDT reply actions

Keep Barrett in the 3 spot

Forget Zito, Soriano, Schmidt & Lee. Its Mulder, Kennedy, Wood & Cameron instead.

by CubFaninCA on Aug 16, 2006 5:25 PM CDT reply actions

Dusty may not be smart....

...but at least for his sake he's not dumb enough to put Barrett in the 2-hole. He has much to big a bat to be put there:)

My Immediate Kindness Eventually Sets Up Cool Kosier Status.

by santo for prez on Aug 16, 2006 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Like the Walgreens commercials

In a perfect world, I'd love to see the Cubs get rid of him and have much more offensive firepower elsewhere. I think catcher is most important defensive position on the field and it's not adviseable to have a below average defensive player there.

Dealing with reality, the Cubs are almost forced to keep him because of the offensive deficiencies in this lineup. Unless we acquire 2 more big time offensive threats, Barrett has to stay.

by wicubfan on Aug 16, 2006 6:12 PM CDT reply actions

ARE U GUYS SERIOUS

you actually want barrett gone? he is one of the biggest leaders on this team. and is hid defense really that bad??? maybe his arm but he blocks alot of balls in the dirt. his offense is awesome. what else do you people want pudge. well he only comes around everyonce and a while. the only catchers i feel are better than barrett are mauer and pudge.

by tbizzle83 on Aug 16, 2006 8:01 PM CDT reply actions

Blocks balls in the dirt?

You must be watching different games than the ones I see. Barrett's one of the worst I've ever seen at blocking pitches.

The man can hit. I wonder if he could play left field.

by Al Yellon on Aug 16, 2006 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep

I'm all for Barrett staying in the lineup if they could find a different position for him. He's a huge liability behind the plate.

by cubsbak on Aug 16, 2006 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions

How can anyone truly compare...

...the value of defense versus offense at a position.. I thought about that a lot and came to the conclusion to add up all of the extra bases allowed by his defense and all of the extra bases that he reaches versus a non-offensive catcher. Everyone said that they would rather have a guy like Damian Miller and I thought I did a pretty good job of showing that at the end of the day, his offense outways his defense.

As I said in the diary though, if the Cubs built a solid offense then I would be with you guys on finding a defensive oriented catcher. I just think that Michael Barrett is one of the two or three LEAST concerns on this team.

My Immediate Kindness Eventually Sets Up Cool Kosier Status.

by santo for prez on Aug 16, 2006 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions

This year

Barrett's offense is probably outweighing his terrible defense. I say probably because it's difficult to judge. You make a good point that it's very difficult to use statistics to measure defense, particularly at catcher, which includes responsibilities such as handling a pitching staff, throwing out runners, blocking balls in the dirt etc.

But keep in mind Barrett is currently enjoying a career year. I think Barrett would have a lot more value to an AL club where he could primarily DH. The Cubs would be wise to trade him this year while his value is at its highest. I don't see Barrett hitting .325 for the rest of his career, considering his career average is .269.

by cubsbak on Aug 17, 2006 1:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Reply

Barrett's offense is probably outweighing his terrible defense

There is no "probably" about it.

Peter: "Brian, there's a message in my Alphabits! It says, 'Oooooo!'"
Brian: - "Peter, those are Cheerios." - Family Guy

by VS on Aug 17, 2006 4:08 AM CDT up reply actions

The question is what do we get back for Barrett?

From anybody?

Who would be a big player for him and what would we get in return that would help us offset the fact that we would be putting yet another guy who can't hit in the starting lineup everyday by going defense at catcher?

Even with his career year, I think a market for Barrett is small because while he does hit well, he doesn't do anything offensively that jumps out at you. His power is decent but not spectacular, yes he has hit for a high average this year, but the usual for him is around .280-.285. And if we, the blogosphere can tell that Barrett is playing over his head right now, what team in baseball wouldn't know that as well?

And if there is that team that thinks Barrett will continue to be a perennial .300 hitter, what team would pay what we would deem valuable enough in order to make the deal a positive for us?

I say you have to keep Barrett unless we get blown away with an offer. And unless Barrett is a lynchpin in a deal to land say a Vernon Wells, then there's no reason to deal him away.

by theprognosticator on Aug 17, 2006 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

The fact that

you don't see a big market for Barrett should tell you something. If Barrett could bring back a quality second baseman, a quality outfielder, or a quality starter I'd trade him in a heartbeat. But you may be right, it may not be possible to get much for him.

by cubsbak on Aug 17, 2006 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions

k

if you did that how would start as catcher

by tbizzle83 on Aug 17, 2006 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Blanco

would be fine with me. Pick up a servicable backup who can play defense.

by cubsbak on Aug 18, 2006 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Blanco

Blanco is a servicable backup who can play defense.

Peter: "Brian, there's a message in my Alphabits! It says, 'Oooooo!'"
Brian: - "Peter, those are Cheerios." - Family Guy

by VS on Aug 19, 2006 6:48 AM CDT up reply actions

blockedballs

he had to of blocked 11 balls the other game when guzman started. and what about years past blocking prior wood and z's out pitches in the dirt. he isnt really that bad

by tbizzle83 on Aug 16, 2006 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions

ok

im not saying he is the best catcher but he is way better than alot in the MLB. but off the topic its been reported soriano is on waivers, anyone think we can get him

by tbizzle83 on Aug 16, 2006 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't want

Barrett gone. Keep him!!

I can't wait for Iowa football!!

by sue369 on Aug 16, 2006 8:17 PM CDT reply actions

We need to keep Barrett

Yeah he can be an idiot behind the plate but he is our best hitter and I think he will only improve. I feel if we had controlled pitchers that would help Barrett and he wouldn't miss so many pitches.

by FLCubsFan on Aug 16, 2006 8:59 PM CDT reply actions

AJ

He should get a lifetime contract for punching Pierzinski in the face like we all want to. He is a team leader, and just the kind of guy we need. His defense isn't that bad. Remember pitchers have an affect on the number of stolen bases too. No pick-off move, slow delivery, that sort of thing has to be taken into account too.

Chicks dig the weak pop-out.

by sandbergfan on Aug 16, 2006 9:23 PM CDT reply actions

If you want Michael Barrett off this team

you aren't a CUBS fan....go take your puppy kicking, candy stealing ass elsewhere......What this guy lacks in defensive prowess, he more than makes up with his bat and his heart. I think he is the emotional leader of this team. Aside from 10 games out, he hit his BEST with Derrek Lee, Mark Prior and that "other guy" out.....(unlike Pierre and Aramis).

Barrett won't be moved......besides, he just started catching 5 years ago...and works on his game in the offseason....something a LOT of others don't do.

Hey Phillies, you already gave us Ryne Sandberg once....can we have the left handed version??

by TheBeerBaron on Aug 17, 2006 8:23 AM CDT reply actions

I hope you aren't referring to me...

...because I definitely do not want Barrett gone. Being a former catcher myself and teaching my brother to be a catcher (incidentally he has been contacted by USC and Miami) I think I know a thing or two. I definitely think that Barrett could improve defensively and I firmly believe that he will. I agree that he is an inspirational leader to this team and he shows more heart than anyone else on the team. I don't think that his arm will improve but I also think that the pitching coach has got to do a better job of teaching the pitchers to hold runners on and developing a quicker release to the plate. A good deal of the time, steals against him he has no chance to throw the runner out.

My Immediate Kindness Eventually Sets Up Cool Kosier Status.

by santo for prez on Aug 17, 2006 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't believe I was refering to you

I don't think I have ever questioned what you have stated......I hold your opinion on BCB to be one of the most knowledgable on BCB. I was speaking in generalities.

Forget Zito, Soriano, Schmidt, Durham & Lee. Its Lilly, Armas Jr., Kennedy, Wood & Cruz Jr. instead.

by TheBeerBaron on Aug 18, 2006 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions