Michael Barrett
From Sports Library
| San Diego Padres — No. 4 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: October 22 1976 (age 32) | |
|---|---|
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| September 19, 1998 for the Montreal Expos | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through June 22, 2007) |
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| Avg | .267 |
| HR | 95 |
| RBI | 401 |
| Teams | |
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Michael Patrick Barrett (born October 22, 1976 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a catcher for the San Diego Padres. From 2004 until mid-2007, he was a member of the Chicago Cubs.
Barrett was a first-round pick in 1995 by the Montreal Expos out of Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Drafted as a shortstop, Barrett played both third base and catcher in the minors. Barrett started his career with the Montreal Expos, and was first called up to the big leagues in September 1998. In his first full season in the major leagues, he batted .293 with 8 home runs and 52 RBI. He split his time between third base and behind the plate. In 2000, he struggled at the plate, and spent much of the season in the minor leagues. The following year, Barrett became the Expos every day catcher, and played in 132 games.
Contents |
Traded to the Cubs
After the 2003 season, Barrett was traded to the Oakland Athletics; just a few days later, Barrett switched teams again. This time he was traded to the Cubs for veteran catcher Damian Miller. In 2004, Barrett surprised many with a very solid year. Barrett was one of the better hitting backstops in the National League, while his defense was average. In 2004, Barrett hit .287, with 16 home runs, and 65 RBI. Barrett also slugged .489; 80 points above his career average.
Barrett faced a little controversy late in the 2004 season, after a confrontation with Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt. After giving up a three run homer to Aramis Ramirez, Oswalt hit Michael Barrett in the back with the next pitch; many people, including Barrett, considered the pitch to be an intentional bean ball. Five days later, when the Astros traveled to Chicago, Barrett began arguing with Oswalt, while Oswalt was at bat. Both teams' benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.
Barrett has had another solid season in 2005 (winning a Silver Slugger award), and some think he may develop into one of the best catchers in the circuit. In 2006, Barrett played in the World Baseball Classic for team USA. While playing, he wrote several columns about his experiences with the team. Barrett did not make the 2006 All Star team, which some considered a snub. Going into the all star break, Barrett was second in the NL among catchers in OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage).
Controversies
Oswalt confrontation
During two series between the Cubs and Houston Astros in 2004, Barrett was involved in two incidents with Roy Oswalt. The two were involved in an earlier incident, in which Oswalt struck Barrett with a pitch after Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run home run.[1][2] Though Oswalt was ejected, there was still tension between the two. The following Sunday, in retribution, Barrett began to mouth off to Oswalt, and eventually confronted him. The game’s umpires restrained the two before a fight could break out, but not before both benches cleared out.[2] In a post-game press conference, Barrett deprecated Oswalt's actions, and stated, "We're going to see him again."[2]
Barrett and the Chicago White Sox
On May 20, 2006 Michael Barrett was in an altercation with White Sox catcher A. J. Pierzynski after a collision at home plate. Pierzynski was the runner on third base when Brian Anderson hit a fly ball to left field. Pierzynski tagged from third in an attempt to score. Barrett was set up at home plate to receive left fielder Matt Murton's throw. As Pierzynski reached home plate, he collided with Barrett. The collision knocked Barrett, who had not yet received Murton's throw, back several feet behind home plate. After the collision, Pierzynski enthusiastically slapped home plate. As Barrett got to his feet, the two came together again. Barrett grabbed Pierzynski with both arms and struck Pierzynski just below the left jaw with his right fist. Both benches cleared. Seconds later, Brian Anderson and Cubs first baseman John Mabry were involved in another confrontation. The four were ejected.
Following the game at a press conference, Barrett, Pierzynski, and Cubs Manager Dusty Baker all commented on the play. There was some disagreement about why Barrett struck Pierzynski. Barrett indicated that Pierzynski stepped toward him at the end of play, and he just reacted badly. Pierzynski indicated that Barrett may have struck him because Barrett did not have the ball yet when the collision occurred. In baseball it is a legal play for a runner to collide with the catcher at home plate when the catcher is attempting to block home plate in order to put a tag on the runner.
On Friday, May 26, 2006, Barrett was suspended for ten games and fined an undisclosed amount for striking Pierzynski and inciting the bench-clearing incident. The Cubs catcher appealed the suspension and continued to play, but the appeal was denied on June 19, 2006 and the suspension was upheld.
On June 30, 2006, the day of the next meeting between the Cubs and White Sox at Wrigley Field, Barrett and Pierzynski came to terms during practice.
Michael finished the 2006 season batting above .300 for the first time in his career. He did not win the Silver Slugger award due to a lack of at-bats. Not only did Barrett miss 10 days due to suspension, he also missed most of the last month of the season due to intrascrotal hematoma suffered from a foul ball.
Barrett/Zambrano scuffle
In 2007, Barrett struggled during the first half of the season, making many baserunning and defensive gaffes. In a June 1 game against Atlanta at Wrigley Field, Barrett threw a passed ball into left field, sparking a rally from the Braves. Upon returning to the dugout, pitcher Carlos Zambrano confronted Barrett, pointing at his head, suggesting Barrett was not thinking about what he was doing. A fight ensued, causing manager Lou Piniella to remove Zambrano from the game and send him home. As Zambrano was showering and changing into street clothes in the clubhouse, Barrett went into the clubhouse against Piniella's orders and was greeted by some more Zambrano punches. Barrett did not catch another game from Zambrano as the Cubs' ace seemed to enjoy a resurgence under rookie catcher Koyie Hill.
During a June 12 game against Seattle, Barrett and left-handed starter Rich Hill were involved in a verbal confrontation in the dugout, but no punches were thrown. Barrett, however, made a baserunning gaffe in the eighth inning of the game, which cost the Cubs the go-ahead run. He also dropped a throw from right fielder Jacques Jones in the 13th inning as aging Mariners baserunner Jose Vidro scored the winning run.
One week later, Barrett was traded to the San Diego Padres for Rob Bowen and other players.
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
