Barden

by Warcard on Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM EDT

getting the start at 3B today is interesting. I always wondered if Mather and Freese were being given a shot and if they did not prove out that Tony could always go back to Barden. Barden has enough experience that they know what they are going to get from him and he is hitting better than any of 3B candidates or the other utility players. I know it is only spring but his .400 avg. is hard to ignore.

He also flips with Schumaker in the leadoff and second leadoff spot and that might be an advantage for him. Of course this may mean absolutely nothing and he may be the guy that gets cut when it is all said and done as most are speculating. However, I think the case can certainly be made for Barden to make this team and even start at 3B. He does not have the power that Mather or Freese has, but that is really not what the Cards need. They need people who can get on in the leadoff and second leadoff spots and I think a case can be made for Barden being the best at that particular need.

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I like Barden

but there’s no way in this world he’ll be starting the year as our first choice 3B. I’d like to see him as a backup IF though.

Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.

by Felonius_Monk on Apr 1, 2009 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

If it is Freese or Mather

then why in the world would one of them not be in the line-up today? Just seems to me like they need experience more than anyone, and I really cannot make much sense out of Barden getting a start at 3B this late in the spring training, especially at 3B.

by Warcard on Apr 1, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

because i think tony wants to see more of barden.

at this point, i think freese is pretty likely to stick as the temp starting 3b, mather is probably now just a 5th outfielder until he gets out of his funk.

tony is realistically deciding among barden, ryan, and thurston as backup IF. if I were tony my biggest question would be whether barden was having a temporary streak or had really turned an offensive corner. i’d want to see as much of his bat as possible. and seeing him at 3b might help decide among the options — barden probably has the defensive edge there.

by tom s. on Apr 1, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Hit the nail on the head

TLR is narrowing down his choice for bench infielders in this final week. Freese and Mather will break with the Cards.

"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."

--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS

by bgh on Apr 1, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

but

it’s a good chance Ryan will make the team because he doesn’t have any options left, and he’s too valuable to lose going on waivers and being picked up by another team without getting anything in return even though he’s not as offensive as Barden is.

Cardwash Definition: Birds on the Nat.
OHHH YEAHHHH!!!!!!!

by cardwash on Apr 1, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

brian barden takes offense to your comment about his offensiveness.

by tom s. on Apr 1, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I find Barden polite

Not at all offensive. Oh! You meant in terms of baseball skills. Kidding…

"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."

--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS

by bgh on Apr 1, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

It looks like it'll be two out of Thurston, Barden and Ryan making the 25-man

I think the “early favourites” were Thurston (because he’s the best bat of the bunch, despite being LH which doesn’t help in a Schumaker platoon) and Ryan (because he’s realistically the best defensive bet at SS as a backup and is out of options). But my feeling is that Barden’s out-hit Ryan and has more upside. I just don’t rate Ryan as a hitter at all, although his defense seems v good.

I guess they’re deciding between these folks and Barden’s decent ST stats are pushing his name into the equation. I’d like to see him break camp; I just think that Ryan is v replaceable and personally it wouldn’t bother me if we lost a no-hit, decent glove MIF to waivers. We’ve got another one in Tyler Greene (who realistically might have more upside in both areas) and probably more mediocre MIF types in the system (Barden, Hoffpauir), all of whom are better hitters. I just don’t think Ryan’s bat belongs at MLB level, unless he turns out to be a truly superlative fielder. He hasn’t OPSed over .700 at ANY level in the minors or majors, his combined OBP at AAA and MLB is about .315-ish (with no power), he’s 27 this year, and I don’t really see any upside in his bat.

Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.

by Felonius_Monk on Apr 2, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions