Daric Barton Tracker

[Zito75]

Through May 18th:

AB = 88
Runs = 6
Hits = 19
Doubles = 6
HR = 1
RBI = 4
BB = 14
SO = 23
AVG = .216
OBP = .330
OPS = .637

This guy K's once in every 4 AB's and is homering at a 1:88 AB pace. 4 RBI's all season??? What a joke. Why is this guy taking up roster space?

[anna]

Hi Zito!
It doesn't look like Kila Ka'aihue will be the answer at 1st base either. He's worse at defense and the freeswinger bad ball chaser type that the A's usually try to unload.

For now I'd be content with a 1st baseman, who could match Scott Hatterberg's stats and defense. Barton again is looking good at Sacremento, but your personal reference to his behavior in Arizona disturbs me.

[Zito75]

We might have the short term answer to our 1B on our own roster. Either Seth Smith or Johnny Gomes can play there. Gomes isn't a flasher defender but he can hit better than Barton. Smith is a great athlete and can probably play any position. Long term, we're going to have to cut a trade since it's pretty obvious that no one in the Minors is close to being able to step up. Most of our guys there (Carter, Barton, Taylor) seem more like career AAA players to me. Why not go after Adam Lind or Ike Davis? Ike is probably just a matter of weeks away from being cut by the Mets. I think a change in leagues might suit him well...

[anna]

Yeah 1st base is a problem! The A's are trying to get outfielder Brandon Moss to fill the gap, but I'm not optimistic. I'd love to see Seth Smith be a respectable first baseman defensively. Manny Ramirez is playing like a clown in Sacramento so Smith and Gomes will be dh-ing for now. Barton is hitting .345 for Sacramento and I suppose he'll be back soon, unless Brandon Moss erupts offensively.

[Zito75]

Yeah 1st base is a problem! The A's are trying to get outfielder Brandon Moss to fill the gap, but I'm not optimistic. I'd love to see Seth Smith be a respectable first baseman defensively. Manny Ramirez is playing like a clown in Sacramento so Smith and Gomes will be dh-ing for now. Barton is hitting .345 for Sacramento and I suppose he'll be back soon, unless Brandon Moss erupts offensively.

Hey Anna! I need to pay more attention the Cats roster... I kinda figured Manny (aka Manny being MannY) would be a clown... Must be nice to be able to collect $100,000's of dollars for doing NOTHING...

[mlazar]

let's tryout Michael Taylor as a 1st basemen...this year after year of the same Daric Barton shuffle is getting old, he's had too many chances to prove himself...he has absolutely NO POWER ,which is needed at the corner infield spots..he's a good fielder and that is ALL he is...

[anna]

Hi Zito + MLazer!
I'm overjoyed to see that Brandon Moss is erupting offensively and barring an injury probably has first base nailed down for good! Barton's offense looks better in Sacramento and defensively he's probably the best first baseman the A's have, but his slumps have been hurtful. The A's like the way he's patient and drives up the pitch count, but that has to be topped off with real offensive production. Michael Taylor is good offensively for Sacramento, but he does make quite a few fielding errors and he's only in the outfield for Sacramento now! He's was better than Chris Carter defensively! However the Rivercats gave first base to Carter ( and Barton ) so perhaps Carter is developping there.

[anna]

It looks like Barton is fading fast at Sacramento with a .223 batting average there.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=&sid=t105&t=p_pbp&pid=435558

Ka'aihue seems to be fading there with him.

[Zito75]

It looks like Barton is fading fast at Sacramento with a .223 batting average there.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=&sid=t105&t=p_pbp&pid=435558

Ka'aihue seems to be fading there with him.

Thanks for the update - both of those guys better find another job, or else they will be stuck playing in Japan (if they would allow them!) or Independent Ball for the next 5-10 years.