Brian Barton

by Jombari on Apr 5, 2008 2:31 PM EDT Comment 2 comments

Living in St. Louis, I watch the Cardinals play and I noticed that Brian Barton made the club, plus he has started the last two games. I am watching the game today, and the guy looks goofy, but he can fly. The reason I am posting this, is because I know the Rays were thinking about taking him in the Rule 5 draft, and I kind of wish we did. I know there were problems with his injuries, but it seems as if he is over them and ready to play at a high level. Any thoughts?

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A few reasons

1) The team didn't anticipate having a dearth of OFs when Rule 5 happened. If anything, it looked like there would be too many, and that's even knowing that Dukes would be traded/released.

2) Functionally, he's extremely similar to Fernando Perez, who we have starting in Durham this year.

3) Management didn't think they had room to hold a Rule 5 guy for a full year this year, so they sold the draft spot.

4) He's been hurt a lot and wasn't that spectacular last year.

Barton should be pretty decent if he can stay healthy - an OF who's good at everything but not great at anything, and he's the type of person who tends to overachieve based on his physical limitations. I don't blame them for not taking Barton at the time, but in retrospect, it would have been a good move. Same tack I have with leaving Hammy unprotected the prior year.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Apr 6, 2008 1:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I'm a Cardinals fan as well, and love watching Barton play. But I must say that I think he was a better fit for the Redbirds than the Rays. As much as it'd be nice, just can't get everyone . . .

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Apr 6, 2008 5:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs