I just don't see him sustaining it for the rest of the year. Everyone else was convinced that they had proven me wrong after he had a similar stretch at the end of May. Predictably, he went back to su.cking again.

"under"

Look at Sandberg's OPS his first couple of seasons.

Who really cares about his OPS?

He plays 2B. Defense is all I care about.

your point?

He had a stretch like this at the end of May (from the 27th-30th) where everyone was convinced they had proven me wrong and that he was going to keep it up. He didn't.

Why are you making it a point to care about a defensive positions OPS?

not this sh*t again....

By the time Sandberg was 26 (Barney's current age) he was a three-time all star and had two seasons with an OPS over .850. Not to mention that Sandberg was a patient power hitter in AA at the age of 20 Barney was still in college at that age.

There is absolutely no comparison to be made there. Sandberg was an all-star at the same age that Barney was putting up a .711 OPS in a hitter's league.

Defense is overrated. Name me a team that won a world series (or got to the playoffs) with a bunch of light-hitting defensive specialists.

Offense wins ballgames. Defense doesn't.

1 guy turns into a whole team? Nice.

Average team OPS in the NL is .719.

Average team OPS in MLB is .725.

No, but if defense were *that* important you could surely find some "defense-first" teams that were winners.

Cubs fans like to say "we just need pitching & defense" til they're blue in the face but no one can name a team that wins on "pitching & defense" alone.

" DBarn says that medication has been affecting his on field performance and making him sluggish at the plate."

LOL! last year it was "he got tired" This year medication has made him bad, what will be the great excuse next year? And if it was just his wisdom teeth then he is an idiot for waiting, it is a 2 day thing and your fine, I just had mine done

"Look at Sandberg's OPS his first couple of seasons. "

Really? and how old was Sandberg? Now look at Sandberg when he was Barneys age, he already had an MVP, let me know when Barney even sniffs that

So you're saying Barney can't improve? Only 2 years in the league and there's no way he can get better? The Cubs have a potential Gold Glove 2nd baseman who hits around .270 and that's not good enough? WOW! The old" allstar at every position " theory jumps out at me.

It was 7 to 10 days for me under heavy medication (valium, percoset and darvadol). They almost had to transport me to the hospital because 2 of mine wouldnt come out. The doc actually woke me up pounding on my jaw with a hammer during the process even though i was heavily under.

One of those things thats different person by person.

And I dont think it was being used as an excuse. Just a story they were passing along and why he was out of the line up the other day.

2011 Cardinals - 2B had .668 OPS
2011 DBacks - 2B had .699 OPS
2010 Giants - 9th in runs / 8th OPS
2008 Tampa - 9th in runs / 13th in BA
2006 Cardinals - 2B had .672 OPS
2006 Tigers - 2B had .693 OPS

Of course you need timely hitting and power to win. But a 2B who hits .270 with a .700 OPS is one of the Cubs lesser problems.

We've already seen what a difference a real hitter in the middle of a line-up can make.
If you're trying to contend immediately, then attention and money need to be focused on the middle of the line-up and at more traditional power positions.

"2011 Cardinals - 2B had .668 OPS
2011 DBacks - 2B had .699 OPS
2010 Giants - 9th in runs / 8th OPS
2008 Tampa - 9th in runs / 13th in BA
2006 Cardinals - 2B had .672 OPS
2006 Tigers - 2B had .693 OPS"

Could your examples be any more cherry-picked?

"Of course you need timely hitting and power to win. But a 2B who hits .270 with a .700 OPS is one of the Cubs lesser problems."

Hitting is hitting no matter what defensive position a guy is playing. And I hate to break it to you, but the chances Barney maintains a .700+ OPS over the season are slim. He's just had one of his good games, he'll be back to su.cking for the rest of the year.

He hasn't really improved in his career. Look at the minors and then the majors. When has he really ever improved? Right around never.