Josh Barfield Gets Lost in the Shuffle
Yesterday, Josh Barfield got sent down to the minors with the addition of Chris Perez. Josh Barfield? Remember him? He was the guy whom we traded Kevin Kouzmanoff for a couple years ago to take over at second base.
First, the customary Tribe disclaimer: This post about Josh Barfield is by no means encompassing of the Indians’ overall problems. It is just one of many on a laundry list of problems that can be used to somehow capture the debacle that is 2009 in Cleveland. With that out of the way, I am extremely disappointed with the way Josh Barfield has been handled.
I know Barfield was given an opportunity to shine as he was basically handed the second baseman’s job after being traded here. I know that. I also know that Asdrubal Cabrera emerged two years ago as the Indians were making their run all the way through the ALCS. I also am going to admit that I like Jamey Carroll. I find him to be a really nice insurance policy on this major league team. While not ignoring all these things, how is it that Josh Barfield hasn’t been given something resembling an opportunity at the major league level in the last two seasons after he stumbled out of the gate his first year in the American League?
In 2007 Barfield disappointed, batting .243 with a .270 OBP in 420 at-bats over 130 games. Asdrubal Cabrera then stepped up later in 2007 and played well down the stretch. Obviously, Cabrera was handed the starting job in 2008.
But considering the fact that Cabrera struggled in 2008 - including a trip to AAA - and then got hurt for a good portion of this season so far, it seems inconceivable that Barfield has only gotten 20 at-bats in 17 games as a 26-year old who has a better than average glove. It has gotten so bad for Barfield in the Indians organization that 37 year-old Tony Graffanino has 23 ABs in the stat sheet for the Indians this year in seven games. And that dude was completely out of the majors last season.
Again, I know this seems like just a tiny bit of minutiae compared to the problems that the Indians have. But I would be remiss if I didn’t point it out as one of the examples of a young player who has stumbled below expectations after donning a Cleveland Indians uniform.
I am not trying to say that Josh Barfield is going to set the world on fire. I am just pointing out that he hasn’t been given a chance in a season where both Asdrubal Cabrera and Jamey Carroll have spent time being hurt; all the while there have been struggling players all over the field who keep getting run out there to get a chance to turn it around. Everybody except Josh Barfield, I guess.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I like Barfield, I think he deserves a shot again…I think hes more seasoned than Valbuena, who looks like hes lost at times…barfield will produce if given the chance…the pressure of a new team, a new league, etc, contributed to his rough first year here…but I think he can turn it around if given the chance…hes got a good glove (seemingly better than Valbuena), good pop, and has some speed…at this point I would give him the nod over Luis…
just my opinion…
June 30th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I agree with your article. Why do they keep putting Valbuena in there when he can’t even bat 200. Bring Barfield up and give him another chance.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
im not JB fan., but the dude has gotten completely passed over. I thought the handling of him on his first recall was awful.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
The Indians problems are so varied and numerous it’s like trying to cut your lawn with a push mower. It’ll get done eventually, but it’s easier to spend more money and buy a tractor. Problem is — do we have the money? Doubtful. Forget this season, maybe the next as well. Work on 2011.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
didnt mean to submit. wasnt done..
as I was saying, he came up, played in a game in Toronto where he came in and had two big hits late in the game, and you’d figure Wedge would give him a start the next day to get him going. He didnt see the field again for a week.
Worst of all, he made one bad route on a ball in Toronto and hasnt played OF since. Yet Garko and Francisco are complete butchers who arent tearing the cover off the ball at the plate, and they play almost every day….
June 30th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
agreed 100% with you TD…
dunno if theres something we dont know about with regards to why Garko and Franswhiffco keep getting AB’s…
June 30th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
two of my favorite young players the Tribe has had recently in their system were Kouzmanoff and Frankie-G…
oh well.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Another casualty of Wedge’s preference for grinders (Carroll and Graffinino).
June 30th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
If I were Barfield I would have gone AWOL on the last road trip. Im tired of watching Valbuenas avg drop below Oprahs current weight.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
When, exactly, Barfield should have been given another chance or handled differently than he has?
After his 2007 (.243 BA / .270 OBP / .324 SLG / .594 OPS) in which he posted the 2nd worst OPS among MLB players with more than 425 PA, he did this in AAA:
2008 in AAA
.251 BA / .292 OBP / .368 SLG / .659 OPS in 320 PA
THAT comically bad line should have earned him AB in MLB to see if he could stick when he couldn’t hit in AAA?
Or was it this one:
2009 in AAA
.220 BA / .239 OBP / .266 SLG / .505 OPS in 113 PA
When should the Indians have promoted him and given him an everyday opportunity to play and what did he do in AAA to merit such a shot?
June 30th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Wow, can we give Valbuena a pass here? This is his first crack at big league pitching. A couple weeks ago everyone was pumped at watching this kid hit.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Can we trade Barfield for 12 maple bats?
June 30th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
DiaTriber you are 100% right about his struggles. I would start with every AB that Tony Graffanino had this season though. There have been injuries and situations where it seems to me that Barfield could get a chance. While not plentiful, what are we accomplishing with Graffanino and Jamey Carroll, really? Carroll is 35. This team can’t get to the playoffs it wouldn’t seem.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
That’s fine if you want to talk about 23 AB for Graffanino (though I don’t think it makes that much of a difference), but I would say that Graffanino and Carroll’s ability to play multiple defensive positions (and play them well, which Barfield has yet to do, 2B included) would put them in front of Barfield in terms of having a roster spot not being COMPLETELY wasted by a pinch-runner who is a middling defensive player.
If you’re thinking that Barfield is more than he has shown himself to be over 3 years now and that steady MLB AB is suddenly going to flip the switch for him, I fail to see it.
Otherwise, we’re just debating about the 25th man on a 25-man roster, which is the least of the Indians’ problems.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I have a man crush on Paul Cousineau….Dude knows how to make a point.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I don’t know that consistent ABs for Barfield will give us any more production than anyone else. HOWEVER, I would rather lose with someone that may have more upside than Jamey Carroll. At least we’ll know, right? It’s like what they did with Marte last season – “Here’s the position, show us what you’ve got.”
I think the Barfield situation is a micro-view of the macro problems with the organization – it has NO direction. Shapiro keeps trying to plug holes that he created with trade after trade. We gave away DeRosa and Aubrey in order to do what exactly?
Fire Shapiro, Fire Wedge, Fire the ENTIRE COACHING STAFF. Bring in some real baseball people, and maybe we’ll have something to cheer for later in the summer. This team isn’t even making progress at this point, they’re just stagnant. BOOOOOOO!!
June 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
@14…Was Herb Washington considered a waste?
June 30th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I dont think that Barfield was given a fair shake just based on the fact his dad was a successful MLB player…he, like other famous athlete’s kids, are expected to tear it up…look at Tony Pena Jr, Tony Gwynn Jr…theyll never get out of their dad’s shadows…not that theyre super prospects, but at the same time, they might have a different career if they werent who they were…(Tony Pena Jr is horrific by the way)
I would have liked to see them at least give Barfield a shot…much the same shot theyve given Garko and Franswhiffco…its the same problem they have with LaPorta…not giving them a good chance and a good shot at success…LaPorta doesnt need 500 ABs…but use him intelligently…if he gets on a tear, KEEP GIVING THEM ABs…I would like to see consistancy in one form or another…one position…6 days a week…5 if needed…how the heck can anyone get in a rhythm when you dont know where, or when youre playing? play the kids, but give them a shot…at this point youre better off trying them out than a 30 something punching judy…yah, carroll gets on base, but his range is limited, he doesnt have a great arm, doesnt really steal bases…why are we still hanging on to him?