Looks Like We Were Wrong on Barfield (and Reyes)

by Pawtucket Pat on Aug 23, 2007 9:22 AM EDT

At the beginning of the year I asked everyone who I should cut from my fantasy squad--Jeff Kent, Anthony Reyes, or Josh Barfield (http://minorleagueball.com/story/2007/3/8/11395/70073). The majority suggested cutting Kent, some Reyes, fewer Barfield.

Just posting this today because we've all been sadly proven wrong on that front. After cutting Reyes after his 10 straight losses and subsequent demotion, I'm going to have to cut Barfield today when Andrew Miller comes off the DL, on account of needing the roster spot and already having another 2B to fill in for the recently benched Barfield.

Just a sad day for me, wanted to share in my disappointment. Sometimes fantasy isn't as cut and dry as we think it is, I guess.

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Reyes

will win many a fantasy championships next year.

by Curtis Pride on Aug 23, 2007 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

maybe...

...but when you're competing for a championship, you can't afford to have dead weight like that dragging you down. He was awful at the beginning of the season.

by Pawtucket Pat on Aug 23, 2007 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe I'm stubborn but....

I'd still take Barfield over Reyes.

by my dixie wrecked on Aug 23, 2007 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Over Reyes

Sure, but I shouldn't have taken either one over Kent. It's hurt me pretty badly. I also traded Troy Tulowitzki for Rafael Furcal, thinking I could use the immediate production now and sacrifice the future production down the road. Whoops.

by Pawtucket Pat on Aug 23, 2007 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

i was surprised

at how poorly barfield has played this season. i was expecting a fairly decent season and man was i wrong.

Babe Ruth and Travis Snider back to back!!!

by realityconquest on Aug 23, 2007 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

Hmm

i wasn't expecting a ton out of him but really, i expected him to do better than Miguel Cairo jesus. he's almost clearly the worest everyday 2B in the majors this year

by RollingWave on Aug 23, 2007 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Not anymore

"he's almost clearly the worst everyday 2B in the majors this year"

Not anymore...they took his starting job away. That's how bad the guy's been...such a disappointment.

by Pawtucket Pat on Aug 23, 2007 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Keeper League?

I would be hesitant to give up on Barfield so soon. He's young and switched leagues. It's not unusual to struggle.

Of course if it's a one year league, or you are trying to win at all costs, you do what you gotta do. But people give up on players too soon on here... just look at these posts! If he sucks it up next year as well then we have a problem.

Patience, people, patience... :-)

by niespodj on Aug 23, 2007 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

Reyes

I was always skeptical about Anthony Reyes, he dominated the strike zone (good K and BB rates) but didn't do a good job limiting power. It seems to my like these types (Y. Petit is another) seem to get overrated by informed fans and analysts (ie, not people who still care about pitchers W and L).

That said, I thought he was more of a middle-to-back of the rotation starter as opposed to the ace potential others saw. Im really suprised he's struggled so much and pitched himself back to AAA.

If I were his agent Id try to figure out a way to get him to San Diego, he should look at least solid there.

by sanchez101 on Aug 24, 2007 1:31 AM EDT reply actions

Petit

I was never a big Petit fan either. His fastball sat 85-87 MPH when I saw him pitch in Spring Training a while ago. He was a guy that got by with good command and those guys have very little room for error in the majors.

Reyes was a power pitcher in the minors pitching around 90-94 MPH back in 2004. Unfortunately he hardly ever pitches in that range now. He's more in the 88-90 range and without a good breaking ball. His changeup is still awesome but he needs to regain his velocity or learn a slider. The gopher ball has been a problem, though.

by UncleBuck44 on Aug 24, 2007 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

The Indians

should probably try to move Barfield, obviously he is not going to fit into there plans.

by Rajah358 on Aug 24, 2007 9:10 AM EDT reply actions

Barfield could be a possible trade candidate

down the road, but right now, I'm not sure his value would be that high.

Hello Rajah358,

If a solid trade comes along, the Indians might do that, but I think it's more likely they'll wait to see what happens with both Asdrubal Cabrera and Andy Marte - if you trade Barfield, those two likely would have to both make it to make that trade work without hurting the Indians.

While Casey Blake has done a solid job at 3B this year, he's not the long-term answer, and lately, his bat has been faltering as well. Therefore, you'd really need Marte to step up and take the starter's job at 3B if you want to trade Barfield (with Cabrera likely taking Barfield's spot at 2B and Peralta remaining at SS.)

I'm guessing the Indians will give Barfield another chance to earn the 2B job next year, thinking that his bat will probably be better now now that he has seen the AL. He'll still have some adjustments to make, but being that he's still under control by the Indians for the next few years at a minimum price, it's likely the Indians won't trade him that quickly.

Plus, if Barfield can rebound, his value will go up considerably, making it all the more reason to trade him later rather than sooner, and as we've mentioned on LGT, Barfield has Boras as his agent, so it's quite possible the Indians will probably trade Barfield at some point before they lose control of him and have to deal with Boras, but I'll be a bit surprised if it's this offseason, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Marte's ability to consistently perform at the ML level and the fact that the Indians don't really have enough long-term options to man 3B, SS, and 2B by next season (Hodges and Mills won't be ready by early next season, if at all next season, and like I said, Blake isn't a long-term answer, plus the fact I think the Indians like his versatility to play many different positions. Plus, there's the possibility Blake could be a trade candidate as well, since his value probably won't get any higher than it is now, and he's not a core piece of future Indians teams like Sizemore, Hafner, and Martinez are.)

Just my 2 cents. :-)

Take care and have a great day!

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Aug 27, 2007 3:37 AM EDT reply actions