Cards get Brian Barton in the Rule 5 draft

by maurerdj on Dec 6, 2007 12:41 PM EST

Something went right for a change. Here's a link to his minor league states http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/B/Brian-Barton-3.shtml.

I believe he will be a good upgrade over Schumaker and Taguchi. His OBP skills might make him a decent leadoff man. His defense is good and he plays all 3 OF positions. I think he might fit in and perfrom very well here.

0 recs | Comment 39 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Indeed

The Cardinals may have a righthanded bench OF who can bat leadoff vs Leftys.

Let's build for '09...

by Born in 82 on Dec 6, 2007 12:34 PM EST 0 recs

I like it.

He was widely regarded as the best talent availabe in the draft.

From BA:
"Ever the enigma, Barton went undrafted in 2004 after clubs were scared off by his aerospace engineering major at Miami. The Indians signed him for $100,000 and an additional $100,000 in college funds after a brief showing in the Cape Cod League and Barton has not looked back. A five-tool player who can play all three outfield spots, Barton has been hampered by a lingering knee injury since his breakout year in 2006 when he hit .322 with 19 homers and swiped 41 bags in 49 attempts. Even with the knee problem, Barton still turned in a .305/.402/.420 season in 2007, finishing the year in Triple-A. Quiet and leading through example through his 2006 season, some scouts expressed concerns about Barton's demeanor. "I loved him that first year in Double-A," one scout from a National League club said. "But this past year, it was almost like he'd earned this elite status and you saw him have this lackadaisical approach to the game that wasn't there before. Where he was playing with chips on both shoulders with something to prove initially, that part of his game was replaced by some sort of false bravado. He's really tough to get a handle on, but the tools are very real."

He was ranked the Indians 5th best prospect coming into the '07 season and the 86th in all of baseball.

This is a great move and exactly the type of thing the Cards need to be trying. At best, you may have just got your leadoff hitter. At worst, he beats out Schu and gives you a really talented RH 5th OF.

He's got great speed, and by all acounts plays superior defense. He's got a little pop in that bat also.

I'm ecstatic he fell to us.

Barring a trade, which is a real possibility, I'm assuming your OF will be....

Duncan
Edmonds
Ankiel
Ludwick
Barton

Here is what he's done against LHP the past two years.

'05
.323/.461/.504

'06
.319/.453/.558

Lots of that upside stuff. Great move. Zero risk, medium to high reward.

"I'm hungry. Not for food. Just for baseball" Amaury Cazana Marti

by bobbyballgame1 on Dec 6, 2007 12:40 PM EST 0 recs

too intellectual?

"...after clubs were scared off by his aerospace engineering major at Miami. "

That's got to be the funniest reason why not to draft someone I've ever read/heard.

I can imagine the hitting instructor: "C'mon, square the ball. This ain't rocket science." Barton: "Yeah, I know."

by Snacks LaPoint on Dec 6, 2007 4:39 PM EST up 0 recs

Well played

"I'm hungry. Not for food. Just for baseball" Amaury Cazana Marti

by bobbyballgame1 on Dec 6, 2007 6:33 PM EST up 0 recs

Diary duplication

FYI - quite a few comments about it already in the daily thread

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/story/2007/12/6/91621/7736

by siddfynch on Dec 6, 2007 12:42 PM EST 0 recs

Here we go again...

I understand it's already being discussed in the main post, although I haven't read the comments just the post itself.

However, if anything deserves it's own diary it's the aqcuisition of a new player. Especially a player that many might not know much about.

"I'm hungry. Not for food. Just for baseball" Amaury Cazana Marti

by bobbyballgame1 on Dec 6, 2007 12:46 PM EST up 0 recs

fair comment from sidd

let's move discussion about diary etiquette to the new diary on diaries.

i do think this diary is redundant --- there's already discussion about this in the main-page thread and in the daily hot-stove thread. but i'm gonna leave it up because it's got some links in it and so forth.

by lboros on Dec 6, 2007 1:56 PM EST up 0 recs

I just want to be clear on the rules here...

Does this belong in the hot stove thread and if so why not?

The Red Blazer

by Red Blazer on Dec 6, 2007 2:33 PM EST up 0 recs

Here is a video

Its not much but it shows his swing... he gets a base hit up the middle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW4UwKAxYrc&feature=related

Let's build for '09...

by Born in 82 on Dec 6, 2007 12:50 PM EST 0 recs

Swing = Chris Young

DBacks power hitting CF.

"Well, you wait for a strike. Then you knock the shit out of it. - Musial to Flood on how to hit a curveball

by Hardcore Legend on Dec 6, 2007 1:00 PM EST up 0 recs

Pecota Comps...

His list includes...

Milton Bradley (LB), Carlos Beltran, Roberto Alomar.

"I'm hungry. Not for food. Just for baseball" Amaury Cazana Marti

by bobbyballgame1 on Dec 6, 2007 12:57 PM EST 0 recs

sweet

It's been a shitty day,
but this is definitely a big, happy band-aid

BLaw.

by Dttl89 on Dec 6, 2007 1:07 PM EST 0 recs

What...

I'm new to the blog...

What do these numbers mean? 305/412/490

by RDF922 on Dec 6, 2007 1:14 PM EST 0 recs

AVG/OBP/SLG

"I'm hungry. Not for food. Just for baseball" Amaury Cazana Marti

by bobbyballgame1 on Dec 6, 2007 1:17 PM EST up 0 recs

thanks

by RDF922 on Dec 6, 2007 1:31 PM EST 0 recs

also--please use the 'reply to this'

button when responding to posts--when these threads get comment heavy, it makes it a lot easier to see what post you are responding to.

by Valatan on Dec 6, 2007 1:35 PM EST up 0 recs

Fantastic!

This opens up a few doors from different trade standpoints. It might just be the very first domino that needs to fall in this thin offseason.

by RonGant on Dec 6, 2007 2:51 PM EST 0 recs

Side note

Baseball America had him pegged as the one true gem that could be snagged at the Rule 5.

by RonGant on Dec 6, 2007 2:54 PM EST up 0 recs

Stealing speedy 25 year old OF

this HAS worked in the past...pretty well, too.

"Well, you wait for a strike. Then you knock the shit out of it. - Musial to Flood on how to hit a curveball

by Hardcore Legend on Dec 6, 2007 3:09 PM EST 0 recs

a la

Miguel Mejia?

by Toddius396 on Dec 6, 2007 5:20 PM EST up 0 recs

So....

When Tyler Herron comes up and stars, and Herron and Barton are doing well for this team, we can say that the Mulder trade was effectively swept under the carpet...

by mateodh on Dec 6, 2007 3:43 PM EST 0 recs

Nice!

by chuckb on Dec 6, 2007 6:11 PM EST up 0 recs

and just to hedge the bets

we have barden on the roster aswell.

by El Hombre on Dec 6, 2007 6:20 PM EST up 0 recs

I am lost

What do Tyler Herron and Brian Barton have to do with the Mulder trade? Is there a connection?

How about handin' me another helpin' of those mashed taters...thank you very much!

by Elvis on Dec 6, 2007 7:01 PM EST up 0 recs

Daric Barton

and Dan Haren were part of the Mulder trade

Herron => Haren
Barton = Barton

by azruavatar on Dec 6, 2007 7:03 PM EST up 0 recs

2 concerns...

He's old. 25 now, 26 in April. Often older players will do good in the low minors, because they are simply more physically developed than.

His OBP, while nice, seems to be more due to getting hit by pitches than walking a lot.

Career totals : 152 walks, 74 hit by pitches. 30 last year alone

That's insane! Some players have done that at the majors, but I have to think it's an injury waiting to happen, unless he wears a lot of armor.

by DiscoJer on Dec 6, 2007 3:55 PM EST 0 recs

Don't call me old

26 years old...he's still got aloooooooooot of playing ahead of him.

Notable Cardinals' 40-man ages on April 25 (his bday):

Rick Ankiel 28
Chris Duncan 26 (27 in May)
Skip Schumaker 28

These are just our outfielders...I wouldn't call any of them young.

Brendan Ryan is a month older than him
Alberto is 2 years older
Cezar as well

NOTE: I'm not trying to attack you, DiscoJer with the following:

But I'm getting pretty tired of how the age when a player is "old" is getting lower and lower. Kenny Rogers is old. Gary Sheffield is old. Hell, Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen, Russ Springer, they're all old. A 26-year-old guy yet to hit his prime is not old.

It's like we're wanting to turn the club into a bunch of teenagers or something!

Cardinal fan in War Eagle land

by Mr Redbird on Dec 6, 2007 9:24 PM EST up 0 recs

Shit

These are just our outfielders...I wouldn't call any of them old.

I ned too profreed.

Cardinal fan in War Eagle land

by Mr Redbird on Dec 6, 2007 9:25 PM EST up 0 recs

My point was...

not that he was old, as in about to join AARP sense. But in the high school ringer vs. little leaguer sense.

A guy who is a couple years older against the people he plays against in the minors will usually put up better numbers than if he were playing against people against his own age. So my point was, his minor league numbers might be inflated somewhat.

I think he was a great pick up, but at the same time, we shouldn't shocked if he struggles at first.

by DiscoJer on Dec 6, 2007 10:02 PM EST up 0 recs

Ah, gotcha

I still stand by my point, though, that 30 has gotten to be "old"; hate it.

Cardinal fan in War Eagle land

by Mr Redbird on Dec 7, 2007 1:48 AM EST up 0 recs

Barton

was a teamate of jon jay and chris perez at miami in 2004.

by El Hombre on Dec 6, 2007 4:57 PM EST 0 recs

Best player on that team

From most accounts.

"I'm hungry. Not for food. Just for baseball" Amaury Cazana Marti

by bobbyballgame1 on Dec 6, 2007 6:34 PM EST up 0 recs

Conspiracy Theory Time.....

Rumors have Cards trying to send JED to Padres-Padres expressing interest in Reyes-Padres were hoping to acquire Brian Barton in the Rule 5 draft. Is the man trade bait? Part of a bigger deal? And can you trade a rule 5 player? Hmm....

He seems like the type of player we should take a chance on. And I loved So, but I can't bear to watch him make another throw from the outfield. I just can't.

by jillsinmo on Dec 6, 2007 6:50 PM EST 0 recs

Trading Rule 5

Absolutely. The Cubs wish they had not traded away rule 5 guy Josh Hamilton last year.

And I believe Johan Santana was a traded Rule 5 guy. (or his pick could have been)

I wondered about this same thing. My question is...who do we want from the Padres?

How about handin' me another helpin' of those mashed taters...thank you very much!

by Elvis on Dec 6, 2007 6:59 PM EST 0 recs

Who is Mr. Greene blocking at short?

They have some arms that seem to have topped out at AAA-Tim Stauffer, Sean Thompson, Mike Thompson that might be worth a look. They were named AA team of the year by Baseball America. Can't think of any specific names there, but maybe there's a player or two worth having. Don't know if I really want any of those guys, though. I'd prefer the one player they probably won't part with-Kahlil Greene.

by jillsinmo on Dec 6, 2007 7:16 PM EST up 0 recs

Possibly

We could use someone like Kouzmanoff at 3rd base. Which would then allow us to trade Rolen without having to worry about leaving a hole at 3rd. If Rolen isn't traded, I remember hearing that Kouz could play OF. But then we just have another OFer, which is unecessary with this Barton acquisition. However, giving up JEd, Reyes and maybe Barton would net more than Kouzmanoff. Atleast I'd hope so.

by Pujols Is A God on Dec 6, 2007 8:20 PM EST up 0 recs