Another argument with a starting pitcher (despite what they say) and another weak defensive play. This isn't to say Michael Barrett is the Cubs' biggest problem, but he's a big part of it.
Jacque Jones' throw was weak, as usual, but Barrett should have caught it and put the tag on Jose Vidro. Instead, it rolled out of his glove and the Cubs lose another winnable game. Another extra-inning game. Another close game. The qualities of a bad team.
Barrett's just a really bad defensive catcher, and it's costing the Cubs games. Then again, the Cubs are weak all the way up the middle, which is another sign of a bad club.
And enough with the arguing already. Rich Hill said it was just talking about his bad pitch, but why did Larry Rothschild have to get up and get in between the players if they were on the same page?
Every time it looks like the Cubs may be on the verge of turning things around, they start doing things like this. Lou Piniella didn't even talk to the media about it after the game. That's the second time. At least Ozzie is facing the music during his horrible season.
Wow Roman - you were one step ahead of me. I just wrote in saying you should start a blog about Barrett and by the time I posted it you already had one up. Please put my post under that heading, if you can. Feel free to edit out the part where I ask for a blog on Barrett.
I'm liking you a lot right now.
Go Cubs
I agree with you, the only thing Barrett has is a bat. He stinks it up behind the plate. I think it might be time to give him a few days off and let back up catch. Though its not all defense that is cost games. Pie going down looking doesn't help, all you have to do is hit a fly ball. Bases loaded and no outs and we don't score a run. Missing Ramirez bat already. Lou needs to step up and bench Barrett. Only problem with that is Ramirez is down and we need a bat in the line up. But at what point can you let a catcher with horrible attitude run the team. Time to let him go. Are there any other prospects in AAA or AA?
Hey Roman, could we get a "Bad News Barrett" blog going here?
I mean, this guy is so sensationally inept that it makes me think that Hendry and Piniella have been dropping acid daily in order to maintain the hallucination that our catcher can catch.
He's been bad from the beginning of the season, but I don't have time to recant all of the crucial mistakes he's made over the past couple of months, so I'll just concentrate on what has happened recently.
First he antagonizes our best pitcher into a fist fight after making two errors on one play, then he seeks him out in the clubhouse after whining about the first altercation to anyone on the bench who will listen. Wouldn't that have been just awesome if Zambrano had broken his hand on Barrett's excessively hard head? Pitchers are sometimes prima donnas, but catchers aren't supposed to be. They're supposed to protect and calm their pitchers, not try to beat their faces in.
Then let's look at the last three games. In the game that Lilly started, Barrett missed a pitch in the dirt. Granted, it wasn't the easiest play in the world, but the ball bounced back to him and was definitely playable. The result? The winning run crosses the plate.
The next game was caught by Koyie Hill, thank god, and we won of course.
Then yesterday (June 12th), Barrett can't even catch a throw from the outfield that most ten year olds could handle. Worse, he says he "thinks" the ball was in his glove, and wants to look at the replay to see what happened. When I played baseball, I always knew whether a ball went in my glove or not. Of course, I actually watched the ball go into my mitt, and so I always caught the ones that were thrown right to me. Most people who played baseball in middle school on up can say the same thing, as well as many who never got past pee-wee leagues. And yes, I'm taking into account that he had to tag the runner after he caught it. You learn to catch the ball before you make the tag - duh.
This is a guy I've seen miss an easy pop fly because he forgot to take his mask off, and he only seems to be getting worse (although he's found new and better ways to suck).
We must trade Barrett now before the rest of the major leagues realize what a liability he is. He's a good hitting catcher, which looks desirable on paper, and Hendry can't be the only one gullible enough to buy him. Even if no one will take him we should pull him from behind the plate before he completely flushes our season down the toilet.
After Zambrano's gem I said I was glad Hill did the catching because I didn't know if I could take another game blown by Barrett, but now I have to grin and bear it - except I feel more like crying.
All Merciful Whatever please forgive us Cubs fans for our trespasses against the innocent Bartman. Not all of us were so quick to create another goat - haven't we been punished enough?
I've been campaigning all along that Barrett & Jones should be dealt. Neither plays smart as evidence again tues. night..Jones weak throw & Barrett dropping ball. Jacque strike 3 Jones can't hit & he has the arm of a 9 year old. Barrett well publish leads mlb in passed balls & probably base running foul ups too! Cubs can deal these two to improve other weak points such as the bullpen. Too many winnable games lost by cubs this year & it will continue unless moves are made.
Hendry tried to deal Jones in the off season...no takers..surprise! And Barrett. What team, unless they lost their starting catcher, backup and have no one in the minors, would actually want Barrett. Easier said then done dumping these guys.
Weak all the way up the middle? I don't see that. Izturis has been a bit of a disappointment, granted, but Theriot, Fontenot and DeRosa have all been playing well in the middle infield. Felix Pie appears to be worthy of the hype in center (the team's 17-10 record when he plays is a testament to his effectiveness). Time will tell, but I feel pretty good about those "middle" positions. The real weakness was exemplified by that run-scoring play in the 13th: right field and behind the plate. Those spots are manned by untrade-able players in Barrett and Jones. Jones has no plate discipline and a famously weak arm, while Barrett has no behind-the-plate savvy and a famously weak mind. Both are (usually) major league caliber hitters, but there are only so many DH spots open in the AL, so to whom can you trade them? It seems the best thing the Cubs can do is to figure out how to replace them internally, then sit them both on the bench.
In right, Cliff Floyd has to get healthy and become the everyday starter. He's constantly a bit dinged-up, but his bat will be valuable to the team, even if he isn't a great fielder. For a late-inning replacement and occasional platoon (only against real tough lefties) Angel Pagan is suitable. Matt Murton is a decent young player, but he needs to develop his fielding and his power swing. I'm pretty sure he still has minor league options. If so, the Cubs should use them. He's not helping them by sitting on the bench, and he's not a great pinch-hitting option.
Behind the plate, when Blanco becomes healthy he should have every chance to prove he can play daily. If he hits .250 he'll be more than enough to offset Barrett's bumbling. Unlike Barrett he calls a good game, catches the ball well, and even throws out a decent percentage of base-stealers. Much has been made of Barrett's offense, but last I checked he wasn't tearing it up as a hitter either. Every good team has its share of role-players who start - "murderer's row" isn't necessary to win a World Series, let alone the NL Central. Blanco could provide more than enough at that position to help the Cubs win. More importantly, he won't HURT their chances at every turn, a la Barrett.
One last point: Lou needs to give up on Will Ohman. He seems fixated on the guy, putting him in the game at critical times, only to watch him fail miserably. The Cubs have gotten some pretty good contributions from the farm system this year - Marshall and Marmol being recent examples. There must be some other lefty setup guy down there. I heard talk of Clay Rapada earlier in the season, but he still hasn't been called up despite solid numbers at Iowa. With Ohman's ERA hovering at around 5 (over 7 at Wrigley), and his penchant for allowing the big hit (or in some cases, walk), it's obvious the team needs to go in another direction. Forget his ERA against lefties - the Padres have one of the best bullpens in baseball comprised entirely of right-handed pitchers. The Cubs need guys to come out of the bullpen who throw strikes.
Roman responds: You make some good points, but Izturis is more than a bit of a disappointment. He's a liabiility at the plate and in the field. Second base is coming around, and I do like Pie. My argument about being weak up the middle was formed with Jones in center. So they stink in only two of the four middle positions. Still, not so good.
Lou P's mangement style has also contributed to the demise of this alleged baseball team. It's not just Barrett and Jones. Lou continues to insist on playing under performing veterans. Where's Angel Pagan or Cliff Floyd? Stick either one in left field, keep the kid Pie in center and leave Theriot at short and trade for a third baseman if Aramis will be out for an extended period. What untapped talent is wasting away at Double A and Triple A? The half way point is fast approaching if Hendry is going to make a move do it now! Find another solid pitcher and a good bat! Then maybe the sCrUBS will have an opportunity to mimic the Cleveland Caviliers. Because we all know the goal is to make the world series, not win it. Winning a world series, would be asking to much of the baseball gods!
Barrett's liabilities defensively and how he handles the pitching staff outweighs his bats... He'd probably be better off in the american league where he could DH most of the time.
Roman, correct me if I'm wrong, Barrett is Hendry's boy, he wanted him instead of taking a chance on Pudge Rodriguez, right?
Another Hendry blunder...
Good thoughts all around. Lets just release Barrett and be done with it. We can figure out his replacement later. I'm sure Blanco can handle the everyday duties for now, he's in good physical shape. I'm sure he won't have any health problems to worry about. BOOOOO Barrett, you are the worst! I blame you for every bad thing that has happened to the Cubs this year.
P.S. I tried to find the numbers on how many times the Cubs have left the bases loaded, especially with ZERO outs, this season without scoring a run but then I realized that I have a life. Could one of you experts fill me in?
That game last night was ridiculous before Barrett played patty-cake with the throw to home. Can anyone get a hit with bases loaded and no outs? Or a long flyball, or a grounder between first and second? This season has been one missed opportunity after another. I don't ordinarily blame coaches, but the Cub batters seem to have no clue what to do with runners in scoring position. Last night I was screaming "Go with the pitch!" and What happens? The batter tries to pull the ball and grounds out or into a double play. One time Jones had to inside out an inside pitch in order to keep from hitting to right to drive in a run.Stupid is as stupid does, and last night I think even Lou was not too bright, and the players almost uniformly smelled up the place. I couldn't agree more about Izturis and Ohmam. I'm for paying some team in the Central Division to take them provided they let them play against the Cubs. Even then the Cub batters would probably swing at the first pitch and hit into adouble play or pop up to the shortstop.
They say Jake Fox's defense is no good, but his bat is on fire at Double-A TN. He can't be any worse behind the plate than Barrett. I can't foresee any takers for either Barrett or Jacque. However, at this point I'd accept a trade for some minor leaguers just to clear the way for Fox and Pagan, Murton & Cliffy. Have never prayed for a player to go on the DL, but it would be a benefit if Barrett and Jacque got hurt in a dugout slugout. Sometimes prayers do get answered....just not when your a Cubs fan.
Barrett has been a nightmare this season, no doubt. But stranding 13 runners in a game or having the bases loaded three times and coming up empty doesn't win a lot of ballgames either. The 8th inning yesterday was just brutal to watch.
I think we'd all like to see Jones go -- why not just release the guy? Put him on waivers. And if we want Pie to play every day, then we need to let him get ABs against lefties. He's never going to improve against lefties is he never sees them.
I thought Cubbie fans defended their players until the death march was official?
And some of you guys had the audacity to kick dirt on me the other day. At least
I know my beloved White Sox are next to last place with a losing record instead
of second place with a horrible record.
Are you guys playing softball over on the North Side? Ya Bums!
Go White Sox!
Barrett is bad defensively but they thought his bat would make up for it. By the way, he did tie the game up or they would have lost in nine. And they did have bases loaded with NO outs in the eigth, and didn't score. You can't pin any one loss on one player. I just looked at the all-star ballot. Not too many good catchers around. I wish they would have drafted Weitters(catcher).
With Blanco hurt, I don't know the answer.
You conveniently neglected to mention Barrett's timely home runs in the Atlanta series. You also conveniently neglected to mention the two or three times in the last 4 games the Cubs had the bases loaded with no one out and couldn't get a run in - which places the focus on misplays like the one at home plate. Oh yeh, did you forget to mention that Will Ohman almost completely sucks and that he can barely get left handed hitters out let alone righties? I think you did.
Barrett didn't hang on 0-2 slider to Washburn either.
Who do you want to catch? Hill? That would mean giving up 9 outs a game between Hill, Izturis and Theriot (12 if you add Joke Jones to the lineup). SOMEBODY has to hit in this lineup.
That said, Michael has played like a guy with no clue a lot more this season than the previous two. In particular, not running the ball at the guy who got caught off second. That is very difficult to defend.
Still, it is gutless and bush for any pitcher to show up his catcher in the dugout.
Barrett came up through Montreal's system as a 3rd baseman. To expect him to be a gold glove catcher is ridiculous. That being said, his play this year has been unacceptable. I have hope that he will improve as the year goes on as he is a free agent and a good 2nd half will make him some $. If Blanco were healthy, I would have him starting with Barrett possibly coming in late to hit, if he can still hit. If the Cubs can find a catcher who can handle the bat then Barret should be traded or released. He may have some value to an AL team as a DH/backup catcher or possibly even a 1st or 3rd baseman, which are the positions he played before moving full time to catcher.
Roman responds: Actually, he played shortstop before switching to catcher in 1996.
ok you know what all you people are a bunch of jerks....first of all dont blame michael barrett for everything...it isnt his fault Jones cant throw the ball even if he was trying to throw to the plate from the pitching mond. Secondly..way to many outfielders...third if you wanna talk about bad players you wanna talk about bad players you dont have to look far...remember mark prior and kerry wood? or what about Wade Miller remember him? so if your gunna talk about players to trade remember those wastes of time and money. O and saying Barrett was picking a fight wuth Zambrano in the club house you couldnt be more wrong...he went down there to talk to him and work things out....also the thing between him and Hill that was Hill saying he was mad about his pitch and Barrett was telling him it's ok and to just keep pitching well....So before you say anything about Barrett and how he should be the one traded think of everyone else on that team...and you dont remember all the waste players because they are NEVER ABLE TO PLAY...(prior, wood, millar) So because the focus is always on Barrett for whatever reason we are going to loose a great bat and in 2005 he won the Gold Glove so dont say he sucks and try to remember the guys who really do suck... but you cant because they can never play...michael works his butt off and shut up
Roman responds: Gold Glove? lol. Silver Slugger, yes, no Gold Glove. Never.
Went to the clubhouse to work things out with Zambrano? Uh, yeah, ok. Just like he wanted to work things out with Pierzynski.
BOOO Barrett. Right? BOOO Barrett. Am I in the right place? It's hard to tell. BOOO Barrett. God, you people don't let up do you? Barrett, according to the experts on this blog, you are the reason for all the bad things that happen to the Cubs. Right people?
It's called sarcasm.
Roman responds: You sound like a Cubs pitcher.
Well, I got three or four of my wishes (see post above):
Murton was sent down to Iowa, Clay Rapada was brought up, and Cliff Floyd got the start in right. They even used Pagan as a late-inning defensive replacement. All right, I wasn't using any kind of supernatural powers (I don't believe in that garbage), but I have to admit it's nice to be on-target.
Now, as for Ohman, Barrett and Jones, that will take some more work. In the case of Ohman (who, by the way, does get lefties out, Jed - look at cubs.com stats, which show that lefties average .182 against him), they ought to see if some team looking for a lefty specialist will trade a minor leaguer for him. If not, I'd release him. He's been a disastrous experiment for the past couple of seasons, and it should be evident by now that Wrigley is not the place for him.
Regarding Jones, I've heard that the Mets are looking for an outfielder, and the Dodgers need some power in their lineup. Perhaps one of those teams would take a chance on Jacque if the Cubs would pay part (er, even a large part) of his salary. With starter's playing time (as a Left Fielder, perhaps) he can still hit the ball (remember 27 homers last year?).
Barrett, on the other hand, will not be so easy. Lou already deflected blame from him prior to this evening's game, so he's got that on his side. The White Sox won a world series with A.J. behind the plate, another incendiary player who hits but doesn't field or throw well (though he does seem to have a baseball IQ most of the time, which is where the comparison to Barrett ends). I get the feeling Hendry and Lou aren't ready to give up on Barrett. The best bet seems to be keeping him but reducing his playing time (which may already be happening, considering the fact that the light-hitting Hill got the start again tonight). He can be a good right handed pinch hitter or DH in interleague play, and a spot starter at Catcher. I just wouldn't trot him out there every day.
Incidentally, I didn't see yesterday's game, wherein Barrett and Rich Hill supposedly had a dugout tiff. Tonight's replay of that non-incident showed what appeared to be two players having a conversation. Unless WGN severely edited the footage it looks like maybe the media blew this one out of proportion. Anyone else notice this?
Two words: Damien Miller.
Cubs had a great catcher in Damien Miller, all the pitchers in 2003 loved working with him, good defensively, not considered an offesive threat, but a smart player. Something the Cubs are sorely lacking right now.
I'm not saying the injuries to Wood and Prior could have been avoided if Miller was catching instead of Barrett, but having a strong respected catcher back there would have worked wonders last year with all of the Cubs rookie pitchers pitching. Having a catcher who can call a good game and handle matters defensively is a huge assett. The Cubs bet on Barrett's offense and him maturing as a game caller and defensive catcher. Those things aren't happening now.
I would love to see how Miller would have handled Big Z and his emotions.
Barrett isn't the cause of all the Cubs problems, but the way he is playing right now, he certainly isn't helping.
I'll stand in as a Barrett apologist. I'll even predict that the Cubs will re-sign him next year to a long-term contract. I also think he will come back strong, make some amazing saves for wild pitchers, bat over .280, drive in over sixty runs, and hit 30 plus homers. If one must dream, dream big! Besides, did everyone forget that he drove in the run that put the Cubs ahead night before last? Would any of you nay-sayers like to try and catch those down and out curves and sliders the Cub pitchers often throw in the dirt?
Roman responds: The naysayers don't get paid to do that, and having said that, we couldn't do a much worse job than Barrett.
1st off, Barrett is a good catcher, not a great one. He has never claimed to be one. Zambrano is a 20-something crybaby, and the 2nd time around, the dude is a flipping 1-2 year player! He does not know squat! The Cubs are a lot better off than the Cubs would be with Hill behind the dish. Heck, you idiots who hate Barrett, were probably the ones last year who were on his side when he exploded into AJs puss. Aramis Ramierez is one of the laziest players to play for the Cubs since Dave Kingman. Felix Pie is a rookie. Are you going to run him out of town like you did Cory Patterson, because neither one initially played like Lou Brock, in 1964 for the Cardinals? You all should go root for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. There you can get all drunk, complain all you want and never make a difference.
Roman responds: Or ... you can cheer for a team that spent $300 million in the offseason and is just about as good as Tampa Bay.
I think JD needs a punch in the face like A.J. got. Why post stuff about the Cubs if your not even a fan? I guess Ozzie's not alone on the South Side with his sensless statements.
As far as Barrett and the Cubs, I think they should bring up as many youngsters from Iowa as possible. They're fun to watch, they play with grit and determination and they seem to be producing more than the vets. Koyie Hill should remain the starter for the remainder of the season. Barrett can't catch or get along with anybody so why not see if Hill is adequate for next season?
To WTSW: Ohman sucks. And batting average against says nothing about walks he has given up to lefty hitters in key situations, in case you failed to notice.
Michael Barrett...
If he is the only probelm that people would like to pick on then this is another unhopful season. He has been having a rough couple of weeks but come on! He has played well in the past and because he isnt making the best choices we have to pick on him everytime? The Cubs play as a team they will win and lose as one too. If you are going to single on person out of the many issues of the Cubs then you are not a true Cubs fan. That isnt what we do...we stick up for our players even when it many be hard. Dont go and pick on Barrett when there has been plenty of games we have won because of him. Think of all those times he has come up with a great hit or a nice save. One missed play at the plate and now you are going to trade him? Well I think that is not fare...He was the one who tied the game and plus they had the bases loaded. True Cubs fans stick up for their players and if you are going to single one guy out well then you arent a true fan....thats not what the game is about...
Michael Barrett...
If he is the only probelm that people would like to pick on then this is another unhopful season. He has been having a rough couple of weeks but come on! He has played well in the past and because he isnt making the best choices we have to pick on him everytime? The Cubs play as a team they will win and lose as one too. If you are going to single on person out of the many issues of the Cubs then you are not a true Cubs fan. That isnt what we do...we stick up for our players even when it many be hard. Dont go and pick on Barrett when there has been plenty of games we have won because of him. Think of all those times he has come up with a great hit or a nice save. One missed play at the plate and now you are going to trade him? Well I think that is not fare...He was the one who tied the game and plus they had the bases loaded. True Cubs fans stick up for their players and if you are going to single one guy out well then you arent a true fan....thats not what the game is about...
Roman responds: True Cubs fans also aren't embarrassed to put their names with their posts.
I don't think people are saying Barrett is the only problem on this team this season, or the cause of all problems. I'm not sure if there is a limt on the number of characters we can use in these posts, but if there is, one could easily run out trying to list all the problems with this team this season. Bottom line is that Barrett is not perfroming well this year, which in term is not helping (and in many cases, hurting) this team.
There are a lot of other problems going on with this team again. ARam is hurt (again,) D Lee has a power drop and his hot hitting has cooled, the outfield is a mess specifically Right Field, (though Pie has really helped solidify center field and moving Murton to the minors helps the log jam in right,) the bullpen is schizophrenic, Zambrano has been erattic, Barrett is playing like he is a head case, Theriot, Fontenot, DeRosa and Isturis are battling for 2 spots (though with ARam hurt, DeRosa gets to start at third,) Lou has posted about 50 different starting lineups in 60 odd games, the team can't figure out how to run the bases, timely hitting has not been as timely as one would like (bases loaded, nobody out, and ZERO runs, how many times?) Did I miss something?
There is no CONSISTENCY in this team. It can't even be consnstently bad, this team finds inconsistent ways to lose, and just when you are ready to write them off they show a heartbeat.
I don't think anyone is seriously blaming Barrett for all of this teams troubles. But Barrett has made some boneheaded plays that contributed to some losses that easily could have been wins. Bottom line he is not playing well and it is hurting this team.
JD - why do you make comments that are off-topic and rude? Maybe you think you're being funny, but fyi - you come off sounding jealous and immature. I'm sure you get paid for doing your job, no? Roman should get a raise for having to read your stuff.
Roman responds: Now that's the best post I've read in a while.
To Jed:
I think you failed to read my posts, aside from the part that was addressed to you. I'm not defending keeping Ohman - I want him gone ASAP. The fact is, he does get left-handed hitters out. I mention this only because it's a selling point to other gullible teams that find this stat important (as apparently Lou does, which is the only reason I can imagine that he keeps trotting the bum out there). Ohman has walked only five left-handed hitters in eighteen innings this year (excluding an intentional pass to Ichiro two days ago), which isn't enough reason to hate a guy (especially considering that he mostly faces lefties). Only a few of those walks have turned into runs - that's not the significant part of his 4.91 ERA. Even with those walks, his OBP-against for left-handed hitters is still in the low .200s - quite respectable, actually. He did walk in a couple of bases-loaded runs early in the season, but since that one game it's not the walks that are hurting him. It's the hits. He gets torched in tough situations, especially against right-handed hitters, who hit .325 against him. He's the kind of pitcher who nips at the plate, throws a lot of balls, works deep in the count and gets shelled by righties. Even as a lefty "specialist" who is proven to get lefties out, this isn't an effective way to pitch.
Believe me, I'm not saying don't hate Ohman. I'm saying hate him for the right reason. It shouldn't matter to the Cubs that he can get left-handed hitters out because he's ineffective overall as a pitcher. Period. I think we can agree on this point, right? As I said previously, I'm a believer in the Padres' perennially-great bullpen concept, which is to sign middle-relief pitchers year-to-year (no long-term) because they throw strikes early in the count. Forget whether they're left or right-handed. The best middle-relief guys go to the mound wanting to get ahead of hitters and make short work of their innings. In today's game, Marmol, Howry and Rapada were all working ahead in the count. The results were outstanding. Sure would love to see more of that from Cubs relievers, wouldn't you?
By the way, Roman - your boy Izturis had a fine game today, including the game-winning hit. I'm not sure I'd call him a "major" disappointment just yet. He didn't get hot at the plate early in the year, when Theriot was on a tear, so Riot has gotten his playing time. Riot's cooled off now. Cesar is definitely a better fielder (Riot looks like he can barely make the throw from short to first sometimes), and his switch-hitting is a plus. Give him some time and consistency to develop and he could still be a useful cog.
ok im not embarrassed to put my name with my post because I, CHRISTINA put it because i dont single people out and im not embarrassed to say i love michael barrett and the cubs. and Paul Manter and ARS i couldnt agree with you more all these losers saying bad things about barrett were the people last year who couldnt get enough of him and the whole AJ thing! So im so glad that im not the only one who isnt afraid to stick up for the team and not be a jerk by singling people out!!!!! O and like ARS said are you going to run Pie out of town like Patterson...when he gets in a slump...You people are not true cubs fans!
Roman responds: Hey, we're not the ones giving him a "rest." That would be Piniella.
why are you picking on Michael Barrett...did you ever think maybe he is having a slow start that seems to be the famous one around the Cubs...If every player who sucks can say that then why cant Michael someone who doesnt suck and works hard. Zambrano seems to use that one a lot...well its to cold but now that its June he'll play well that is a bunch of bull and i bet when Michael gets everything together he will be amazing and then all you losers talking crap about him will be like o well he was just having a slow start but i never was saying anything bad about him...that is how you people are a bunch of losers who dont stick up for your team,,,if you are going to be like that go watch a different team because cubs fans are there for their team through think and thin...
why are you picking on Michael Barrett...did you ever think maybe he is having a slow start that seems to be the famous one around the Cubs...If every player who sucks can say that then why cant Michael someone who doesnt suck and works hard. Zambrano seems to use that one a lot...well its to cold but now that its June he'll play well that is a bunch of bull and i bet when Michael gets everything together he will be amazing and then all you losers talking crap about him will be like o well he was just having a slow start but i never was saying anything bad about him...that is how you people are a bunch of losers who dont stick up for your team,,,if you are going to be like that go watch a different team because cubs fans are there for their team through thick and thin...
Roman responds: Liz, you sound - and write - a lot like Christina. The ladies like Barrett, that's for sure.
since you say Michael stinks lets see you go out there catch horrible pitches and hit a baseball....i bet you couldnt
This lady thinks Barrett sucks.
Roman responds: But he is cute.
the ladies do like Barrett! he is cute!
Barrett is a bad defensive catcher period! His base running isn't exactly great either. Anyone who knows baseball knows Barrett is not a good catcher & stats speak for itself. Led league in pass balls in 06 & 07 will break his own record for miscues. Hopefully cubs will unload Barrett & Jacque strike 3 Jones soon!
Yay! I finally have something positive to say about Lou.
Today (6/14) and yesterday Lou put up a lineup that was absolutely perfect. Most importantly, he was smart enough to put Koyie Hill in and take Barrett out, and what happened? We won both games by one run, and I don't believe it's a coincidence. For those who say we can't win without Barrett's bat, I believe we're 5-1 with HIll.
Also, I now realize that Lou has wanted Floyd in right field all along, but that Floyd has been hobbled a bit by his achilles and other injuries (not to mention bereavement leave). Lou was just taking it easy on him to keep him from getting injured.
Also, Lou sent Pie down to AAA and told him to work on being more selective as to what pitches he swings at, and voila! He has almost as many walks as strikeouts since he's come back, and his average is up too.
As for Barrett, some people don't seem to recognize that catcher is the most important defensive position on the field. Why do you think that catchers typically can't hit too well? It's because everyone knows they can cost a team a lot more runs playing poor defense than they could possibly generate with the bat, so great hitting catchers who can't field usually don't make it to the majors.
If Barrett keeps getting regular playing time, his defensive goofs will result in more than 60 runs for the other team, so who cares if he manages to get 60RBIs? Barrett can't throw, can't catch, and is so terrible at framing pitches that he effectively tightens the strike zone for our pitchers. Koyie Hill, on the other hand, is pretty good at framing pitches, and it's a pleasure to watch him hypnotizing the umps. Barrett has been bad defensively for a long time - why do you think our team is always among the league leaders in wild pitches? It's because Barrett is awful at digging anything out of the dirt.
On the other hand, Barrett is pretty good with the bat, so let's not get too carried away about letting him go for nothing. We should be able to get something for him, and if not then he should make a good power-threat pinch hitter. Plus I heard somewhere that he's friends with Derrick Lee, who is my favorite Cub of all time (and who I supported from the beginning, even when he had that slow start with the bat).
And I am a true die-hard Cubs fan since 1982. Forgive the Barrett apologists Ron Santo, for they know not that they sin.
Go Cubs!
having a slow start to the season? give me a break! it's the middle of June for christ's sake! Ryne Sandberg was notorious for slow starting seasons at the plate going 0 or his first 20 at bats a few times but his SLOW START never lasted past the last week of April let alone well into June. what's the excuse gonna be when he's making the same stupid mistakes in the middle of August? catchers are paid to call inteligent games, keep runners from stealing bases,keep balls thrown in the dirt in front of them and catch balls thrown to them from the outfield and hang on to them before attempting to tag a runner out. so I ask myself why is Barrett even getting paid? because he can hit? if Sandberg's glove at second been as bad a s Barrett's behind the plate how long would his bat have kept him in the line up? I have been a Cub fans since I can remember first hearing Jack Brickhouse yelling HEY HEY! as an Ernie Banks home run landed on Waveland Avenue and I haven't been more disappointed in a Cub team since the "foul ball" that turned the tide and they lost the penant. Christina do you actually know anything about baseball or do you just like Barrett because he's cute? don't answer that I already know the answer.
If the Cubs had the huge payroll of the White sox and were stuck with A.J.,
Then and only then could you be accurate when you say "Chicago's baseball team has seriously over payed it's players and has a terrible catcher." Also, if you were to acknowledge a woman's fondness of Michael Barret as a common trust of Cub's fans,instead of dismissing it as a crush, then we would be accurate in saying that Roman Modrowski does not make sexist,morbid,embarrasing comments that keep the Suntimes from being a higher quality paper than the Tribune.
I have interviewed Barrett for my own sports show and found him to be a class guy. Here is the best offensive catcher the Cubs have had since Jody Davis. He has made some plays but he is better than Hill or any other guy you want to throw out there...everybody needs to relax. The fans and the doopy press are tighter than Barrett.
Roman responds: Who you calling doopy? What does doopy mean, anyway? I've interviewed Barrett, too. He blew me off once, then came up to me the next day, apologized, and gave me an interview. Seems like a decent guy, although there was something about him that seemed a little different. It was indefinable.
I'm glad Barrett still has a few apologists. Maybe that means the cubs can still get something for him in a trade instead of just dumping him. If he wasn't one of Hendry's wishful thinking finds, he would have been gone a long time ago.
No coincidence that cubs top pitchers all wanted blanco; maddux, prior and now zambrano. The other pitchers probably feel the same way but just don't have the clout to go against hendry's pet player.
You have to love that Comical play the other day where jones threw the ball from short right field to barrett for a play at the plate. The runner actually held up rounding third and didn't even slide into home, missed the bag and still made it back in safely. Jones throw was on target which may have shocked everyone involved, it did roll all the way across the infield. Barrett managed to not block the plate, drop the throw, miss the tag, lose the ball and let the baserunner walk back and touch home safely. This takes an almost complete lack of instincts at the position to accomplish. And poor Jones finally makes an online throw that would have nailed the runner, and the catcher drops it. Unbelievable. Hard to win with defense like that.
Tim Little...you are a jerk! i know baseball like the back of my hand! Dont go and say stuff when you dont even know my life. Baseball is one of the only things that will get my family together. Im Cuban and have had a hard time with it. You dont understand all that I have had to go through. Just because I like Michael Barrett doesnt mean I dont know anything about the game, It is a Passion and maybe if you had to go through the same things I have you would understand. To me this isnt just a game...and michael barrett isnt just a player. In Cuba the big team was the Yankees and when my family came to Chicago it was a whole different thing. Dont say I dont know anything about baseball because i like Michael Barrett. It is my life...and you are a big jerk. I cant believe that you would say such a rude thing...Getting back to Michael Barrett..ya he isnt the best catcher but what about his bat. He is better then Hill and Blanco. Blanco is a nice back up but I think that once Barrett gets things together he will be able to play better then ever. He is a nice guy and will work hard to get his game in order. So thanks for listening...and I'm sorry that you would think I dont know what I'm talking about...and a Cuban girl knows everything..
Barrett is fine. He's generally been a very good offensive catcher, and he's getting way too much blame for any Cubs woes. He's certainly not a defensive star, but he's the best catcher in the organization and gives them the best chance to win. There are definitely better overall catchers in the league, but he's not bad. Give him a break. (this from a sox fan btw)
What I really want to know, Roman, is why there isn't an ongoing Sox thread for us Sox fans to whine. This season has be horrible and I need a place to vent!
Roman responds: Coming up.
According to Cubs.com Barrett will catch today. Poor Ted Lilly can't catch a break. I wonder if Lou is punishing him for pitching too aggressively when he hit Renteria. That would be terrible if true, because our pitchers lack aggressiveness enough as it is.
I've heard Barrett's a nice guy. I've also heard that Jimmy Carter is a nice guy. Should Jimmy Carter be offered a position on the Cubs?
Heck - my friends will tell you that I'm a nice guy, and I would love to play for the Cubs. Sure, It'll take me a few years to get into the swing of things, but I'll be super nice to everybody while I'm making hideous errors and running mistakes. I'll even be nice enough to antagonize the Ace of the staff if you want me to. I won't chase him into the clubhouse and try to beat him up though - the guy's second favorite sport is boxing... nobody's that stupid.
I think I know what you mean, Roman, when you say that it seemed like there was something off about Barrett when you interviewed him. He has a look in his eyes that is really unsettling - it sort of reminds me of the look of a teenage boy who knows that he is filling bigger shoes than he can handle.
Well, if Barrett's catching today then I'll be rooting for him. After all, miracles do happen in baseball. I'd still feel more comfortable investing my money in a bet that Barrett will never win the Gold Glove than I would in T-Bills, but there is always that .00001% chance that he will turn things around.
Barrett isn't our only problem, he's just the player who is most responsible for the Cub's bad record. Good pitching wins championships, and good pitching doesn't happen too often with a bad catcher behind the plate.
What I really want to know, Roman, is why there isn't an ongoing Sox thread for us Sox fans to whine. This season has be horrible and I need a place to vent!
Roman responds: Coming up.
Posted by: Drew | June 15, 2007 01:05 PM
Hey Drew, what's up man? Don't you have your 2005 White Sox Championship DVD to review over and over and over? You know the Cubbie Fans are haters, we will be fighting all day with those guys. Come on man, just look at the DVD...
Go White Sox
wait, I don't understand why Michael Barrett is getting all the blame. He had a bad play at the plate and is that why? Also, why does he get blamed for the fight with Carlos Zambrano, everyone knows he is a hot head, he is the one who started the whole thing anyways.
Well if someone could please explain this to me that would be great! Thanks and Go Cubs!
wait, I don't understand why Michael Barrett is getting all the blame. He had a bad play at the plate and is that why? Also, why does he get blamed for the fight with Carlos Zambrano, everyone knows he is a hot head, he is the one who started the whole thing anyways.
Well if someone could please explain this to me that would be great! Thanks and Go Cubs!
Okay Roman- I've only now stopped laughing at you saying Michael Barrett is cute. I didn't realize he was your type! I don't think he's cute, and please quit lumping me in with those other girls who think he is. He looks like the definition of doopy.
Hey John S, you sound kinda of creepy. Talking about looking into teenage boys' eyes. And the way you used that phrase in your arguement didn't even make sense. But hey your posts are just Sooooooo insightful. BOOOO Barrett, right?
P.S. Your theory of "whenever Barrett catches we lose", failed today. In fact I'd say that the Cubs had a superb day defensively, even with Barrett behind the plate. And he did go 2 for 4, with no passed balls and scored the go ahead run on Fontenot's Homer.
Roman responds: One thing about Barrett I should have mentioned is he's doing a lot to help out Derrek Lee in his fight against that eye disease.
Hey, the Cubs won with Barrett catching today.
Lilly pitched eight good innings with Barrett catching.
The Cubs even survived not one, but two Bartman's at the ballpark.
Maybe, just maybe, things are looking up!
Barrett is the Rex Grossman of the Cubs. (Although Rex never got into fisticuffs with his linemen)
The Cubs will probably trade him this year, or if they can't, they won't re-sign him next year.Then he will go on to be an All-Star on some other team.
Who would have thought that the Cubs would have some guys from the farm system come up and play well consistently ?
Lou seems to be pushing all the right buttons, now. Let's see if he can do it the rest of the year.
Still a long way to go.
I'd like to see Barrett, Big Z and A.J. in a steel cage match.
Last man standing!
Either that or Lou Pinella and a couple of Umps.
Roman, you have no credibility if you believe it was Michael Barrett's fault that hed didn't catch the throw from Jacque Jones the other night. Could Barrett have caught it? Sure, but it was a horrendous two-hopper from short right field -- the blame lies with Jones.
The problem with Barrett, as any astute baseball observer will tell you, is not his defense, but his mental lapses. Be it the wild throw into left in the infamous dugout-clash game to his throw to second the other day with a runner trapped to his asinine throw to third in Philadelphia last year (or was it two years ago?) that allowed Kenny Lofton to score the winning run in the ninth, Barrett just loses his cool way too often for the Cubs to count on him.
Is this bad defense? I would say no; it's mental weakness.
BTW, when the guy referred to the doopy prees, I doubt he was referring to you, Roman -- you hardly qualify as the "press," more like an agitator. You having an opinion doesn't make you a journalist. It just makes you a fan.
Roman responds: Hey Sultan, take it easy. And tell me again how all of Barrett's passed balls are caused by mental lapses. You are the only one who really knows. Please enlighten the rest of us.
And one other thing, if the ball is in his glove, he should hang onto it and make the tag. What's so hard to figure out about that?
If someone goes into a locker room without have the sensitivity that a ball players sometimes needs time to cool down...he needs to find a "real job"! Certainly Tony Stewart needs that time and all reporters need to know when and how to approach these guys. I detest reporters that are running their mouth 24/7 and write stuff that is negative because it sells papers or radio time... and then then wonder why the ball player won't talk them the next time they shove a mic in front of them. I don't know you friend but I have seen score of reporters who should not be in the locker rooms...they are simply want-to-be's reporters who are frustrated ex athletes that never made it to the big time. No wonder they is a growing number of Steve Carlton's!!!
If someone goes into a locker room without have the sensitivity that a ball players sometimes needs time to cool down...he needs to find a "real job"! Certainly Tony Stewart needs that time and all reporters need to know when and how to approach these guys. I detest reporters that are running their mouth 24/7 and write stuff that is negative because it sells papers or radio time... and then then wonder why the ball player won't talk them the next time they shove a mic in front of them. I don't know you friend but I have seen score of reporters who should not be in the locker rooms...they are simply want-to-be's reporters who are frustrated ex athletes that never made it to the big time. No wonder they is a growing number of Steve Carlton's!!!
Roman responds: You make some good points, but players do get time to cool down after games before the media is allowed in the locker room.
well Christina excuse me for not knowing that you know everything. which means you love Barrett even though you must know he sucks defensively since you know everything. but then I could be wrong since I have never claimed to know everything and seem to learn something new everyday. but then I have other things in my life that are more important then baseball which is just a game to me.
Funny thing how these blogs always seem to veer into reporter-bashing eventually. At least Roman's not as detested as, say, Rosenbloom over at chicagosports.
Frankly, I don't have much sympathy for the players when it comes to sports reporting. The average major-sport salary is probably at least ten times higher than the people who post on these blogs (likely quite a bit higher than that), most of whom would donate an organ or two to switch places with any given bench warmer. Part of the deal when athletes sign these huge contracts is the knowledge that there's a target on their backs. Someone will eventually write something negative about them. They know this. It doesn't matter how nice they are, nor how much they do for their communities or charities (though these traits don't hurt them, and may indeed help deflect some criticism). The public cares about their performance, and reporters are paid to analyze and, yes, criticize that. The public, in turn, gobbles up what the reporters write. The critics of these reporters (critics of critics) wouldn't have much to say if they weren't voraciously reading what the reporters write, which is in turn paying their salaries (i.e. putting food on their tables, putting their kids through college, providing them health insurance, feeding their gambling/drinking habits, etc., just like the rest of us working stiffs).
The way I see it, reporters are sort of representative voices for us readers who don't get the opportunity to ask these mega-salaried players why their performances and/or efforts often stink (on that note, maybe one of you folks I'm defending could corner Soriano on the "effort" topic for me? Thanks!). In some cases, it's not so much questioning the players/coaches/management in person, but just calling them out on their awfulness in a major forum, which can be just as effective. I don't always agree with what they write, but sometimes I do. Heck, I'll even cop to agreeing with the devil himself, Jay Mariotti, on infrequent occasions. When I'm really angry about someone's boneheaded play, or lack of effort, or inept management/coaching, etc., it's actually a bit cathartic to read Jay's vitriolic spewery. Why? Because ya gotta admit, he's pretty good with inflammatory rhetoric.
Anyway, keep up the good blogging, Roman. Sometimes I like what you write. Sometimes I think it's dumb, too, but at least you take the heat and even respond to it.
Wow, I just realized that the stance I've taken is "a critic of critics of critics." I feel so postmodern...
Roman responds: It's Sunday morning, I'm a bit hungover and heading to Wrigley in a few hours. Postmodern? Uh, yeah.