Jose Barrero Called Up

[mth123]

Agree except there are some fundamental hitting improvements that should be made - at any level, by any coach, and right now.

Like being more selective. Shortening the swing when behind in the count. Not diving after the low outside breaking pitch.

I agree, but those aren't lessons that require facing big league pitchers to learn. "Don't chase pitches that you couldn't reach with a 10 foot pole" isn't really a big league exclusive idea. Neither is shortening up and protecting the plate with two strikes. That's stuff they teach in little league and stuff he should have had in place by now. I actually think he mostly did until he was injured. IMO, he's compensating for the lack of power that comes with a hamate bone injury. Facing big league pitchers is more likely to exacerbate the problem than fix it, also my opinion.

You and I have never been in the big leagues and we know this stuff.

[JCM11]

The thing about Bell is that it's his job to put the team in the best position to win baseball games. Lopez is more likely to make contact and keep the inning moving in that scenario, so it made baseball sense.

It is the organization's job to tell him that while winning games is good, the most important thing right now is to get Barrero consistent ABs. If they haven't conveyed that message to Bell, they need to do it immediately, otherwise you can't really blame Bell for playing the percentages.

I think the organization told Bell that winning games in 2022 doesn't matter when they traded Suarez, Winker, Gray, Castillo, Mahle, Naquin, Drury, and Pham for prospects. If he can't can't figure it out on his own he's a dunce.

[Tom Servo]

I think I'm mostly on the same page with mth here. I feel bad for Barrero, this is the best chance he's received at regular playing time and it comes after the only time he hasn't hit in his career, presumably due to his injury. Not like he's already gotten a Senzel level of PAs.

Nothing should be guaranteed moving forward, he'll still have to produce, but I don't think whatever results he puts up in 2022 should be held against him. I'm more interested in how he looks spring 2023.

[GAC]

I think I'm mostly on the same page with mth here. I feel bad for Barrero, this is the best chance he's received at regular playing time and it comes after the only time he hasn't hit in his career, presumably due to his injury. Not like he's already gotten a Senzel level of PAs.

Nothing should be guaranteed moving forward, he'll still have to produce, but I don't think whatever results he puts up in 2022 should be held against him. I'm more interested in how he looks spring 2023.

He's got to take advantage of the opp and build on it, have something to show, some sort of positive, going into '23. It's not like he should be given a complete pass this season.

But he's only had 25 ABs. Lets be patient.

[Kc61]

I agree, but those aren't lessons that require facing big league pitchers to learn. "Don't chase pitches that you couldn't reach with a 10 foot pole" isn't really a big league exclusive idea. Neither is shortening up and protecting the plate with two strikes. That's stuff they teach in little league and stuff he should have had in place by now. I actually think he mostly did until he was injured. IMO, he's compensating for the lack of power that comes with a hamate bone injury. Facing big league pitchers is more likely to exacerbate the problem than fix it, also my opinion.

You and I have never been in the big leagues and we know this stuff.

I was responding to your comment about tinkering with Jose’s swing. I wouldn’t waste this time, I’d continue to work on his approach and swing. These lessons need to be learned or re-learned and delay is unwise IMO.

I’ve already expressed my skepticism about promoting Jose at this time. On that, we agree.

[mth123]

I was responding to your comment about tinkering with Jose’s swing. I wouldn’t waste this time, I’d continue to work on his approach and swing. These lessons need to be learned or re-learned and delay is unwise IMO.

I’ve already expressed my skepticism about promoting Jose at this time. On that, we agree.

I just think its a crazy way to try and get over what he's getting over. You don't learn to read by tackling War and Peace. Until he's over his issues he should stick to Dr. Seuss.

[RedTeamGo!]

19 Ks 0 BB in 31 AB since being called up. Yikes dawg.

[UK Reds Fan]

19 Ks 0 BB in 31 AB since being called up. Yikes dawg.

I love how the stat - fested posters try to imagine Barrero with slugging only is fine at SS. Barrero has been a mess in minors and he's been equally a mess with Reds. There is no sign he's going to be anything by Senzel-ish at SS next year and all signs point to him being handed the job.

[texasdave]

According to GameDay, he has seen 8 pitches, only two of which were in the strike zone. 2 Ks.

[westofyou]

19 Ks 0 BB in 31 AB since being called up. Yikes dawg.

It's unsustainable... unless he actually hits a little more. Trevor Story K'd 191 times in 2017, he is in the top ten of K's for a SS three times.

If he K's like Adam Dunn and has an OPS+ of 90 and fields like a GG it's going to be interesting to see how it's handled.

I already know how the fans will handle it

[Tony Cloninger]

I agree, but those aren't lessons that require facing big league pitchers to learn. "Don't chase pitches that you couldn't reach with a 10 foot pole" isn't really a big league exclusive idea. Neither is shortening up and protecting the plate with two strikes. That's stuff they teach in little league and stuff he should have had in place by now. I actually think he mostly did until he was injured. IMO, he's compensating for the lack of power that comes with a hamate bone injury. Facing big league pitchers is more likely to exacerbate the problem than fix it, also my opinion.

You and I have never been in the big leagues and we know this stuff.

Who adjusts with 2 strikes anymore. All these hitters are now told to throw that old school make any contact stuff out the window now it seems.

[RiverRat13]

According to GameDay, he has seen 8 pitches, only two of which were in the strike zone. 2 Ks.

Yikes. That ain’t from the hamate bone. The guy has lost all pitch recognition.

[OldFashionedRed]

He's got to take advantage of the opp and build on it, have something to show, some sort of positive, going into '23. It's not like he should be given a complete pass this season.

But he's only had 25 ABs. Lets be patient.

How many K's in that sample? His injuries have nothing to do with swinging at pitches a foot or more off the plate. He can't see, or wants his.

[KronoRed]

Grip It...Rip It...DFA It

[JFLegal]

It's unsustainable... unless he actually hits a little more. Trevor Story K'd 191 times in 2017, he is in the top ten of K's for a SS three times.

If he K's like Adam Dunn and has an OPS+ of 90 and fields like a GG it's going to be interesting to see how it's handled.

I already know how the fans will handle it

if he's a gold glove shortstop and OPS's at a .900 clip ... i won't care at all how much he Ks.

problem is, the chance of jose barrero OPS'ing .900 at any point in his MLB career is less than .01%. he has zero plate discipline. adam dunn struck out a lot, but he had very underrated plate discipline (for a guy who K'd a tremendous amount). dunn would do things like work the count, not always swing at pitches outside of the zone. you know, things that barrero never does.