Post-Gazette: Pirates may be Interested in Michael Barrett

by Charlie Wilmoth on Dec 11, 2007 12:22 AM EST in News

The Pirates could have interest in Padres catcher Michael Barrett, the Post-Gazette reports. The P-G also suggests the Pirates wouldn't give up a whole lot.

If that's the case, then I'm interested. Barrett has a well-earned reputation for being a big pain to work with - trading for him would surely silence all Neal Huntington's talk about changing the culture of the organization. But he's one year removed from hitting .307/.368/.517 for the Cubs, and we all know how much the Bucs could use an upgrade at catcher. The Padres are in need of outfielders and might ask for one in return. I don't know what a good match would be. Really, the Bucs should only be trading players of value for prospects.

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Barrett

I don't know any numbers, but just my impression from watching Barrett on Cubs' WGN games is that he's not a particularly good defensive catcher ... and doesn't get along with some pitchers all that well, right Carlos Z?

by NW Pirate fan on Dec 11, 2007 12:31 AM EST reply actions

You're largely correct...

...and yet the fan in me still likes him better than Ron Paul.

by Vlad on Dec 11, 2007 7:54 AM EST up reply actions

As a Cubs fan

I'd take Doumit over Barrett, I think he's getting better but he apparently has the hamstrings of an infant.

http://baseballshmaseball.blogspot.com

by baseballshmaseball on Dec 11, 2007 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Can you imagine ...

Michael Barrett and Ian Snell?

What could possibly go wrong?

by bern1 on Dec 11, 2007 9:22 AM EST reply actions

Maybe they'll team up in the third reel.

Just like a John Woo movie!

If they do, I hope that it's Barrett who takes a bullet for Snell, and not the other way around.

by Vlad on Dec 11, 2007 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

Wouldn't be anything new

Snell and Paulino had a physical altercation at Altoona.

by WTM on Dec 11, 2007 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

Paulino

Man, the hatred of Ronny is endless on here. He's done enough good things (rehashed in a thread late in the season) that the guy should be given a chance to be the answer behind the plate.

All the complaining and accusations about his "lack of effort" is pure speculation and unfortunate. Did he look like he was lazy and dogging it? I could see that. But do we truly know that? Unless any of you are on the team then you're just making him the lightning rod for your overall frustration.

If we see the same thing this year and Russell calls him out or benches him then there's likely fire with the smoke. But the smartest thing the Bucs can do is give him the chance to seize the job and prove the doubters wrong (which apparently there are many).

by OmarMoreno18 on Dec 11, 2007 12:49 PM EST reply actions

Lack of effort

Apparently, people closer to the situation thought so, otherwise we wouldn't see this:

Russell was asked specifically how he might handle catcher Ronny Paulino, whose lackluster effort made him a focal point on the issue last season. Russell replied that he already has spoken with Paulino and that he and new bullpen coach Luis Dorante, also the catching instructor, will meet with him further to address his play.

As for the effort ...

"He's going to start being accountable for some of these things," Russell said of Paulino. "I had one guy say, 'You should take him out back and really jump him.' Well, that's not always what it's about. This guy needs to know what it is to play the game right and how important it is behind the plate. To me, having been a catcher, that position is huge. It's not going to be a slack deal. It won't be tolerated. But it will be handled in a way to try to get the best possible results out of Ronny because he's a good player."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07343/840324-63.stm

by WTM on Dec 11, 2007 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

However...

Russell was not here last year. He's being asked a question by a reporter, not giving first hand unsolicited feedback here.

What he's ultimately saying is that he'll have a clean slate and will be judged firsthand, as it should be.

by OmarMoreno18 on Dec 11, 2007 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

It's not just Dejan

It's obvious from Russell's answer that Paulino's effort level has been identified as an issue internally. Russell may not have been with the Pirates, but NH was for a while and most of his special assistants were there all year.

by WTM on Dec 11, 2007 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

Paulino and effort

I saw my fair share of games last year, and there were numerous occasions where Paulino didn't do simple things like go down on his knees for a ball in the dirt, or shift his body behind a ball that was outside (instead of just waving at it with his glove). These things happened, and they happened all too often.

As such, we're left with two possible choices: Either he didn't do the right thing because he elected not to (laziness - or, to be thorough, willful malice), or he didn't do the right thing because he's incapable (gross and fundamental incompetence).

I think that people here are actually being charitable when they advance the belief that he was lazy, because the alternative is that he's just a slow fumble-fingered putz who has no more business being on a Major League Baseball club than he does in the Swedish Navy.

by Vlad on Dec 11, 2007 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

Did you mean

Swiss navy? Sweden actually has a coastline.

by bucdaddy on Dec 11, 2007 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

and a navy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Navy

by johnnycuff on Dec 11, 2007 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

I picked it at random.

I just liked the mental image of fat ol' Ronny crammed into a submarine with a bunch of pasty little guys who talk like the Swedish chef.

by Vlad on Dec 11, 2007 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

I mean...

...it's not like he'd exactly blend in on HMS Gotland, know what I mean?

by Vlad on Dec 11, 2007 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

Or...

The wonderful Pirate organization failed to teach and push basic fundamentals. Not saying he is without blame, but there's often a bigger picture that should be considered.

by OmarMoreno18 on Dec 11, 2007 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry, doesn't fly with me.

This isn't some big, complex idea he could've missed. Closing your legs on a ball in the dirt is Little League stuff.

by Vlad on Dec 11, 2007 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

If it's any consolation...

...to Paulino's admirers, my liberal guilt means that I feel like crap for calling the Dominican guy lazy, and reinforcing that old stereotype.

Still, things kind of are what they are.

by Vlad on Dec 11, 2007 5:13 PM EST reply actions

Question

Does the Bucco interest in Barrett tell us that the Indians deal is not gonna be revisited? I was starting to like the idea of Shoppach blocking pitches, throwing guys out (once in a while), and holding onto the ball (like Ed Ott) on plays at the plate.

Also...I know this is off subject, but what the hell did Huntington need to call out Torres in the press for when he knew he was trading him? Salomon Torres is a good man. There is no need to do that in the press. How about face to face? If I ever quit this stupid baseball addiction of mine it won't be because of the players. The ownership and management of this franchise doesn't resemble the team I grew up with. (Ask Jeff D'Amico what class guys the Buc management boys are.) Littlefield screwed Torres out of money resigning him and then blew off any commitment to Torres' honest efforts to offer a resource to young latin players. Real nice. Torres deserved much better treatment. That would be a culture change!

by tjmac on Dec 11, 2007 6:44 PM EST reply actions