The Curious Case of Brian Barden, TWO HANDS DUNCAN!

April 20, 2009 | Clark | Comments 0

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Brian Barden

So just who is this Brian Barden dude anyway?  After the first two weeks he has folks saying Miles who (along with Thurston) with highlight defense and flashes of power nobody expected.  Granted, it’s two weeks into the season, but you have to like what you see.

Barden was a sixth round draft pick out of Oregon State in 2002, earning California League all-star honors, hitting .335 in 64 games (eight homers, .502 slugging, .872 OPS).  From there he just seemed to sputter and projections changed from hot prospect to maybe a utility player with some pop, an ok glove and a .280 or so average.

It’s safe to say he isn’t going to hit .400 this year, but .300 looks like a possibility, along with a great glove and some pop, he’s going to do just fine in the Miles role for this team.

TWO HANDS DUNCAN!

I’m sorry, I really like Chris Duncan, but I need someone to explain to me why he insists on using one hand to try and catch balls in the OF.  I can’t remember if it was the Thursday or Friday game against the Cubs, but he butchered a ball he would have caught if he used two hands.

It gave me horror flash backs to the final game of the ‘06 series when he dropped two balls, BECAUSE HE ONLY USED ONE HAND.  I get he’s in the line up for his stick, but that’s no excuse for not playing fundamental baseball.  He rates as an average (really), just above actually OF.  I can live with a missed ball on a dive or tough play, Chris came up as a firstbaseman, but not a can of corn.  LaRussa and Co. are fundamentals freaks – I simply don’t understand why he can’t look at Dunc and say, the next time you drop a ball trying to catch it with one hand, I’m gonna bench your ass…

Clark

Filed Under: Baseball • Prospects

Tags: brian barde • Chris Duncan • two hands