You all probably do not remember me, but I used to post on the old motownsports pretty regularly about 10-15 years ago. I definitely recognize a lot of the names in this thread. Grew up in Toledo going to Mud Hens games and have been to a bunch of Tigers games, so that is why a Reds fan used to post on here. I randomly had the thought to check motown and see what you folks were saying about the Barnhart trade and it is some gambling site? Wtf?
Anyways, here are my thoughts on Barnhart none of you asked for:
He is excellent at throwing out baserunners. Just a cannon for an arm. He is solid at blocking pitches in the dirt. He is not good at all at framing pitches. In my opinion he is pretty overrated defensively. Certainly not bad behind the plate, but, and maybe this is just random it seemed like the pitchers responded much better to Stephenson than Barnhart. Castillo particularly. Also, Sonny Gray refuses to pitch to him for whatever reason. That is why Curt Casali started nearly every game behind the dish while he was on the team for him.
Now, with the bat: he is decent for a C. He will go on stretches, usually earlier in the season, where he tears the cover off the ball. He has this really long swing that when he connects its leaving the park, any park. Most of the time its a strikeout, though. When his bat is not on fire, he is an auto-out.
Some Reds fans are upset they did not pick up his option. He is a good team leader, great clubhouse presence, and all around good ol boy from Indiana, somewhat local player according to those fans. For some reason that matters to them.
Also, his wife is hot.
Also, I follow the draft pretty closely every year so I know Quintana is a nothing, haha.
Good to see all these familiar names! I might pop around here and there to see what is up with the Tigers as the Reds are an absolute dumpster fire and the Tigers look like they are going to be fun to watch the next several years!
