Biographical

Portrait of Daric Barton

Daric Barton 1B

Player Cards | Team Audit | Depth Chart

Career Summary
Years PA AVG OBP SLG DRC+ WARP
16 2085 .247 .356 .365 100 4.0
Birth Date8-16-1985
Height6' 0"
Weight215 lbs
Age38 years, 7 months, 12 days
BatsL
ThrowsR
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

YEAR TEAM AGE G PA H 2B 3B HR BB SO HBP SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ DRAA BRR FRAA BWARP
2007 OAK 21 18 84 25 9 0 4 10 11 1 1 0 .347 .429 .639 128 3.4 -1.0 -0.5 0.3
2008 OAK 22 140 523 101 17 5 9 65 99 3 2 1 .226 .327 .348 89 -5.5 2.4 -1.3 0.1
2009 OAK 23 54 192 43 12 1 3 26 25 2 0 2 .269 .372 .413 107 2.1 -1.8 1.8 0.4
2010 OAK 24 159 686 152 33 5 10 110 102 3 7 3 .273 .393 .405 116 13.3 2.1 3.3 2.7
2011 OAK 25 67 280 50 13 0 0 39 47 2 2 1 .212 .325 .267 82 -5.4 1.6 1.8 0.1
2012 OAK 26 46 136 23 7 0 1 22 32 1 1 0 .204 .338 .292 77 -3.6 0.2 -0.4 -0.2
2013 OAK 27 37 120 28 2 0 3 13 18 1 0 0 .269 .350 .375 110 1.5 0.9 4.3 0.9
2014 OAK 28 30 64 9 1 0 0 5 14 1 0 0 .158 .234 .175 76 -1.6 -0.6 0.7 -0.1
Career551208543194113029034814137.247.356.3651004.23.79.74.0

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G PA oppAVG oppOBP oppSLG BABIP BPF BRAA repLVL POS_ADJ DRC+ DRC+ SD FRAA BRR DRAA BWARP
2003 JCY Rk APL 54 212 .000 .000 .000 .390 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2004 PEO A MDW 90 393 .000 .000 .000 .332 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2005 STO A+ CLF 79 361 .000 .000 .000 .362 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2005 MID AA TXS 56 249 .270 .331 .417 .350 104 4.1 2.8 -1.8 151 0 1.0 -0.2 15.5 1.8
2006 SAC AAA PCL 43 180 .264 .340 .406 .303 92 6.4 5.1 -3.3 120 0 -0.1 2.3 4.8 0.9
2006 ATH Rk AZL 2 5 .204 .336 .245 .200 103 0.5 0.2 -0.1 118 0 0.0 0.0 -0.2 0.0
2007 OAK MLB AL 18 84 .263 .333 .408 .362 91 9.8 2.5 -1.6 128 19 -0.5 -1.0 3.4 0.3
2007 SAC AAA PCL 136 604 .281 .349 .439 .324 98 31.2 18.8 -10.4 131 0 3.2 2.5 26.3 3.9
2008 OAK MLB AL 140 523 .263 .327 .409 .270 98 -8.4 15.1 -9.5 89 7 -1.3 2.4 -5.5 0.1
2008 SAC AAA PCL 8 33 .284 .343 .460 .167 110 -2 1.0 -0.7 56 0 1.0 -0.1 -2.0 -0.1
2009 OAK MLB AL 54 192 .264 .331 .421 .296 100 3.7 5.5 -3.5 107 12 1.8 -1.8 2.1 0.4
2009 STO A+ CLF 1 4 .259 .340 .387 .000 95 -1.1 0.1 -0.1 47 0 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 0.0
2009 SAC AAA PCL 70 313 .278 .346 .437 .281 90 14.6 8.9 -5.7 130 0 5.7 0.4 11.7 2.1
2009 ATH Rk AZL 6 24 .256 .347 .364 .308 100 1.7 0.6 -0.4 144 0 0.0 0.2 2.2 0.3
2010 OAK MLB AL 159 686 .259 .324 .407 .316 100 20.8 18.9 -12.1 116 7 3.3 2.1 13.3 2.7
2011 OAK MLB AL 67 280 .258 .318 .399 .260 96 -7.3 7.5 -4.8 82 9 1.8 1.6 -5.4 0.1
2011 SAC AAA PCL 17 75 .289 .359 .453 .267 94 -3.4 2.3 -1.5 79 0 2.3 0.3 -1.8 0.2
2012 OAK MLB AL 46 136 .251 .317 .401 .275 92 -1.9 3.7 -2.3 77 16 -0.4 0.2 -3.6 -0.2
2012 SAC AAA PCL 74 336 .279 .347 .432 .286 94 16 10.0 -6.4 128 0 -4.6 0.9 12.5 1.2
2013 OAK MLB AL 37 120 .252 .319 .397 .294 93 4.2 3.2 -2 110 8 4.3 0.9 1.5 0.9
2013 SAC AAA PCL 110 488 .281 .348 .438 .327 99 25.7 14.0 -6.1 133 0 9.0 -0.2 12.6 3.0
2014 OAK MLB AL 30 64 .249 .314 .391 .205 92 -5 1.7 -1.1 76 12 0.7 -0.6 -1.6 -0.1
2014 SAC AAA PCL 85 375 .283 .348 .439 .271 87 12 11.2 -7.2 112 0 6.4 -1.9 3.0 1.1
2015 NHP AA EAS 4 19 .268 .330 .391 .357 101 1.8 0.5 -0.3 128 0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.1
2015 BUF AAA INT 27 111 .254 .317 .358 .227 94 -7 3.1 -2 73 0 5.1 0.5 -4.6 0.2
2016 PUE AAA MEX 94 390 .000 .000 .000 .264 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2017 MVA AAA MEX 26 96 .000 .000 .000 .226 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2018 JAL Wnt LMP 24 94 .285 .356 .404 .245 119 -0.7 1.4 -0.9 128 3 0.0 -1.0 3.0 0.2

Statistics For All Levels

Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
Year Team lvl LG PA AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG ISO SF SH
2003 JCY Rk APL 212 170 29 50 10 0 4 72 29 37 48 0 3 .294 .426 .424 .129 0 0
2004 PEO A MDW 393 313 63 98 23 0 13 160 77 69 44 4 4 .313 .449 .511 .198 0 0
2005 STO A+ CLF 361 292 60 93 16 2 8 137 52 62 49 0 1 .318 .443 .469 .151 0 0
2005 MID AA TXS 249 212 38 67 20 1 5 104 37 35 30 1 1 .316 .413 .491 .175 0 0
2006 SAC AAA PCL 180 147 25 38 6 4 2 58 22 32 26 1 0 .259 .391 .395 .136 0 0
2006 ATH Rk AZL 5 5 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 .200 .200 .400 .200 0 0
2007 SAC AAA PCL 604 516 84 151 38 5 9 226 70 78 69 3 4 .293 .392 .438 .145 0 0
2007 OAK MLB AL 84 72 16 25 9 0 4 46 8 10 11 1 0 .347 .429 .639 .292 1 0
2008 OAK MLB AL 523 446 59 101 17 5 9 155 47 65 99 2 1 .226 .327 .348 .121 3 6
2008 SAC AAA PCL 33 31 4 6 0 0 1 9 3 2 0 0 0 .194 .242 .290 .097 0 0
2009 SAC AAA PCL 313 253 48 66 21 1 9 116 48 45 43 1 0 .261 .388 .458 .198 2 2
2009 STO A+ CLF 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0
2009 OAK MLB AL 192 160 31 43 12 1 3 66 24 26 25 0 2 .269 .372 .413 .144 3 1
2009 ATH Rk AZL 24 18 3 5 1 0 1 9 3 6 4 0 0 .278 .458 .500 .222 0 0
2010 OAK MLB AL 686 556 79 152 33 5 10 225 57 110 102 7 3 .273 .393 .405 .131 5 12
2011 SAC AAA PCL 75 61 10 12 2 0 0 14 4 14 16 0 0 .197 .347 .230 .033 0 0
2011 OAK MLB AL 280 236 27 50 13 0 0 63 21 39 47 2 1 .212 .325 .267 .055 3 0
2012 SAC AAA PCL 336 259 49 66 14 3 8 110 35 66 53 7 1 .255 .411 .425 .170 5 0
2012 OAK MLB AL 136 113 8 23 7 0 1 33 6 22 32 1 0 .204 .338 .292 .088 0 0
2013 OAK MLB AL 120 104 15 28 2 0 3 39 16 13 18 0 0 .269 .350 .375 .106 2 0
2013 SAC AAA PCL 488 391 77 116 29 1 7 168 69 87 57 1 2 .297 .423 .430 .133 6 1
2014 OAK MLB AL 64 57 7 9 1 0 0 10 5 5 14 0 0 .158 .234 .175 .018 1
2014 SAC AAA PCL 375 314 46 82 18 1 9 129 56 51 40 0 1 .261 .371 .411 .150 4
2015 BUF AAA INT 111 97 10 19 4 0 2 29 8 12 21 0 0 .196 .282 .299 .103 1 1
2015 NHP AA EAS 19 17 4 6 2 0 1 11 4 2 2 0 0 .353 .421 .647 .294 0 0
2016 PUE AAA MEX 390 295 70 77 16 0 20 153 50 75 62 1 2 .261 .429 .519 .258 3 3
2017 MVA AAA MEX 96 69 18 15 3 0 3 27 9 25 14 0 0 .217 .421 .391 .174 1 1
2018 JAL Wnt LMP 94 74 11 16 3 0 3 28 7 18 18 0 0 .216 .383 .378 .162 0 0

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr% CSAA
2008 1961 0.5512 0.4023 0.8124 0.5883 0.1739 0.8428 0.6863 0.1876 -0.0038
2009 843 0.5397 0.3843 0.8673 0.5846 0.1495 0.8797 0.8103 0.1327 0.0030
2010 2973 0.5530 0.3384 0.8678 0.5085 0.1279 0.8900 0.7588 0.1322 -0.0106
2011 1201 0.5520 0.3872 0.8495 0.5701 0.1617 0.8862 0.6897 0.1505 -0.0030
2012 636 0.5409 0.3836 0.8320 0.5988 0.1301 0.8689 0.6316 0.1680 -0.0011
2013 453 0.5342 0.3885 0.8409 0.5455 0.2085 0.9318 0.5682 0.1591 0.0004
2014 210 0.5667 0.4238 0.7865 0.5882 0.2088 0.8571 0.5263 0.2135 -0.0010
Career82770.54950.37370.84570.55510.15250.87700.71070.1543-0.0049

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2014-03-09 2014-03-15 Camp 6 0 - Thigh Strain Hamstring - -
2012-03-24 2012-04-09 15-DL 16 4 Right Shoulder Recovery From Strain 2 Cortisone Injection - -
2012-03-01 2012-03-24 Camp 23 0 Right Shoulder Strain 2 Cortisone Injection - -
2011-09-02 2011-09-29 60-DL 27 25 Left Shoulder Surgery Labrum Tear 2011-09-12
2011-07-09 2011-09-02 Minors 55 0 Left Shoulder Cartilage Injury Labrum - -
2011-04-21 2011-04-21 DTD 0 0 General Medical Illness -
2011-03-07 2011-03-13 Camp 6 0 Right Lower Leg Strain Calf -
2010-10-02 2010-10-02 DTD 0 0 Right Thigh Tightness Quadriceps -
2010-09-22 2010-09-22 DTD 0 0 Left Thigh Contusion -
2010-08-09 2010-08-10 DTD 1 1 Left Shoulder Spasms -
2010-07-18 2010-07-19 DTD 1 1 Lower Leg Cramp -
2010-07-02 2010-07-02 DTD 0 0 Right Knee Contusion -
2010-04-26 2010-04-27 DTD 1 0 Right Fingers Fracture Middle Finger Volar Plate -
2010-04-19 2010-04-20 DTD 1 0 Right Elbow Contusion HBP -
2009-09-21 2009-09-22 DTD 1 1 Foot Soreness Heel -
2009-07-27 2009-08-21 15-DL 25 23 Right Thigh Strain Hamstring -
2009-03-07 2009-03-14 Camp 7 0 Thigh Strain Quadriceps -
2008-12-15 2008-12-15 Off 0 0 General Medical Surgery Tonsillectomy 2008-12-15
2008-10-24 2008-10-24 Off 0 0 Left Hip Surgery Labrum 2008-10-24
2008-07-14 2008-07-14 On-Alr 0 0 Head Laceration Diving In Pool -
2008-07-14 2008-08-01 15-DL 18 12 Neck Strain Diving In Pool -
2008-05-24 2008-05-25 DTD 1 1 General Medical Illness Tonsillitis -
2008-03-30 2008-04-01 Camp 2 0 Left Wrist Soreness -
2008-03-02 2008-03-09 Camp 7 0 Left Hand Soreness -
2006-05-24 2006-09-05 Minors 104 0 Left Elbow Fracture Radial Head In Collision At First Base -
2005-02-28 2005-04-07 Camp 38 2 Abdomen Surgery Appendix 2005-02-28

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2015 TOR $
2014 OAK $1,250,000
2013 OAK $1,100,000
2012 OAK $1,100,000
2011 OAK $425,000
2010 OAK $410,000
2008 OAK $390,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
6 yrPrevious$4,675,000
6 yrTotal$4,675,000

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
4 y 80 dDan Lozano1 year (2015)

Details
  • 1 year (2015). Signed by Toronto as a free agent 12/16/14 (minor-league contract).
  • 1 year/$1.25M (2014). Re-signed by Oakland 12/20/13 (avoided arbitration, non-guaranteed contract). DFA by Oakland 5/15/14. Sent outright to Triple-A 5/17/14. Refused outright assignment by Oakland 10/13/14.
  • 1 year/$1.1M (2013). Re-signed by Oakland 11/30/12 (avoided arbitration). May earn additional $0.25M in performance bonuses. DFA by Oakland 3/29/13. Sent outright to Triple-A 4/4/13. Contract purchased by Oakland 5/8/13. DFA by Oakland 5/18/13. Sent outright to Triple-A 5/21/13. Contract selected by Oakland 8/26/13.
  • 1 year/$1.1M (2012). Re-signed by Oakland 12/12/11 (avoided arbitration).
  • 1 year/$0.425M (2011). Re-signed by Oakland 3/11.
  • 1 year/$0.41M (2010).
  • 1 year/$0.41M (2009). Re-signed by Oakland 2/26/09. Optioned to Triple-A 4/4/09. Recalled 6/9/09. Optioned to Triple-A 6/28/09. Recalled 7/20/09.
  • 1 year/$0.39M (2008). Re-signed by Oakland 2/28/08.
  • 1 year (2007). Contract purchased by Oakland 9/10/07.
  • Acquired by Oakland in trade from St. Louis 12/04.
  • Drafted by St. Louis 2003 (1-28) (Marina HS, Huntington Beach, Calif.). $0.975M signing bonus.

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT PA R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ VORP FRAA WARP
Weighted Mean???????00??.000.000.00000.0?0.0

BP Annual Player Comments

The rest of this card is restricted to Baseball Prospectus Subscribers.

Not a subscriber? Click here for a free card so you can see what's missing.

Click here for more information on Baseball Prospectus subscriptions or to subscribe and get instant access to the best baseball content on the web.

BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Daric Barton

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2013-02-19 13:00:00 (link to chat)Does Daric Barton have anything left in him?
(John from Napa)
Organs. And whatever he ate for breakfast. (Ben Lindbergh)
2012-05-31 14:00:00 (link to chat)Which one (or more) of the A's' non-hitters are closest to running out of chances?
(edwardarthur from Illinois)
Daric Barton comes to mind. A's fans have been frustrated with him for years now, though some of that is his approach more than his actual performance. Turns out that not even followers of Team Moneyball appreciate guys who strike out because they take a lot of pitches. Me, I have a Jack Cust shirsey in my drawer, so I love the guy.

One wonders about the length of Kurt Suzuki's leash, too. He appears to be a good defensive catcher with the blocking of balls, and I don't recall him doing too badly by Mike Fast's pitch-framing studies, either, but a repeat of his 2010 year offensively might open the door for Derek Norris sooner rather than later. (Jason Wojciechowski)
2012-01-12 13:00:00 (link to chat)With all of the hubbub over who will be playing 1B for the Nats, the future of La Roche has been forgotten. Will he be here, and if not, who would be potential suitors?
(Tyler Clippard's Specs from Washington, DC)
Lyndon LaRoche will never make it in Washington, and he's certainly not going to lead the Nats to an October Surprise. (See, I told you I was a fan of bad puns.)

I'm actually kind of a fan of Adam LaRoche, but I don't know what happened to him last year. If I'm going to spend a moderate amount of dollars on a mediocre first baseman, I'd rather it be somebody like LaRoche with some power than someone like Daric Barton with an allegedly superior glove. (Mike Fast)
2011-07-13 12:30:00 (link to chat)With the A's season is over, what offensive players should be brought back? The only ones I definitely bring back are Jemile Weeks and Scott Sizemore.
(Tom from Madison)
Well, Kurt Suzuki isn't going anywhere, Chris Carter will be worth playing, and maybe Daric Barton will have hit his way back to the majors by then. Other than that--I was going to say Cliff Pennington (who was actually Oakland's most valuable player last season, according to WARP), though it would be better if the A's could arrange to bring back his glove and substitute someone else's bat. However, I've just noticed that FRAA seems to hate him this season as much as it loved him in 2010. Anyone noticed any big change in Pennington's play in the field? (Ben Lindbergh)
2011-02-02 13:00:00 (link to chat)James Loney = Casey Kotchman? Daric Barton = John Olerud?
(Bob from Seattle)
I'll buy it in the broad strokes, though Olerud is a best-case outcome for Barton. Barton needs more batting helmet. (Ben Lindbergh)
2011-03-02 13:00:00 (link to chat)Over/under 12.5 home runs for Daric Barton this season?
(Dave from Chicago)
Call me a glutton for punishment, but I'll pick the over. He has to wind up with more homers than sac bunts this year... doesn't he? (Christina Kahrl)
2010-11-23 13:00:00 (link to chat)If the A's go into next season with the team as currently configured and the Rangers fail to sign Cliff Lee, are the A's legitimate contenders for the AL West?
(Dave from Chicago)
I like the pitching but where the hell is the offense supposed to come from on that team? They had three guys with TAvs above .275 last year, Jack Cust, Coco Crisp, and Daric Barton, and the first two are gone now. Yes, they'll have Chris Carter, but that's not enough.

Billy Beane's inability to build an offense in Oakland over the past several years is downright depressing. (Jay Jaffe)
2010-10-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)Do you see Daric Barton ever becoming more than a poor man's Mark Grace?
(Tom from Madison)
No. Barton has his uses as a hitter but he's not as good a consistent gap hitter as Grace became. (John Perrotto)
2010-03-17 14:00:00 (link to chat)How does the A's bullpen shake out? Also, if Chavez is healthy enough to start the season on the roster, is there any place for Fox?
(David from Alameda)
I think the big issue with the A's pen is that right now, it's almost as if everyone has one owie or another: Wuertz, Devine, Bailey, Breslow... it's the sort of nagging laundry list that Cedrick Bowers' or Jason Jennings' dreams are made of. So other than taking it for granted that most of those four will be available on Opening Day, and that Brad Ziegler's a lock, it's a bit up in the air. Henry Rodriguez's velocity turns heads. As for Fox, I wouldn't be too down on him. He's out of options, but I'd anticipate that part of keeping Chavez healthy would involve days off for him, and between the four corners and DH, there should be at-bats to go around. The guy who's playing for the present is Daric Barton, who's rising to the challenge, but he has to, because the future belongs to Chris Carter. (Christina Kahrl)
2009-10-13 14:00:00 (link to chat)Is it time to non-tender Jack Cust and move on to Chris Carter? Is Ryan Sweeney really the solution in right? Can Daric Barton ever hit in months that don't start with "S"? It was nice to see the team play well down the stretch, but there are still a ton of question marks.
(ashitaka from long beach, ca)
Cust has been a fine placeholder at DH, but he needs to be seen as such. If he's game for a one-year deal, the A's can afford to buy the time and see if Barton fends off Carter initially. While slotting Cust in an outfield corner if both Carter and Barton earn their keep wouldn't be lovely, nobody's going places with an outfield trio of Sweeney/Rajai Davis/Scott Hairston. (Christina Kahrl)
2009-09-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)Christina, can you offer your take on two NL outfielders, Raul Ibanez and Garrett Jones? Both had surprising performances this year. Ibanez has been AWFUL in the second half. Maybe he's injured? Garrett Jones just hasn't let up. When the clock strikes 12, will he be a pumpkin again? Or is he here to stay (sort of a Ryan Ludwick type late-bloomer)? Thanks!
(Sharky from The Deep End)
Re: Ibanez, I'm reminded of one old Strat opponent who always liked to mildly observe, "it all evens out in the end." I never really bought into that (Willingham's season is going to look insanely great relative to the rest of his career no matter what, for example), but it certainly seems that somebody's applied a leveller of some sort. Jones might be a latter-day Paul Sorrento of sorts, in that he's always had employable power, and simply needed the opportunity; Jones has helped himself by being employable enough in an outfield corner, but first base is really the position he'll wind up at, sort of the same way Sorrento had to diversify. That's the nature of first base, if you're not someone like Pujols (superstar moving from another position) or Prince Fielder (drafter to be a superstar), you need to make a great impression with what opportunities you do get. Witness what's happened to Daric Barton, or how long it took Carlos Pena to finally stick; if you blow an opportunity, competition for playing time at first base is *fierce*. (Christina Kahrl)
2009-08-04 14:00:00 (link to chat)Who will have the better MLB career, Jeff Clement or Daric Barton? Thanks!
(MikeAlan from N.C.)
Ah, Chagrin '09, an excellent vintage, best served tepid. I'm more optimistic about Clement at this point given the opportunity he has in that organization, but that could be a grass/greener issue for me. (Christina Kahrl)
2009-08-04 14:00:00 (link to chat)What's the difference between Brett Wallace and Daric Barton?
(Bill from New Mexico)
The base they're parked at next season. (Christina Kahrl)
2008-12-23 14:00:00 (link to chat)If the A's sign Jason Giambi, how would that impact Jack Cust, Daric Barton, and Travis Buck? Does Giambi play first with Barton going to the bench or minors? Does Giambi DH with Barton staying at first and then Cust moving to the outfield, thus displacing Buck, or does Cust go to the bench?
(Eric from Denver)
I think this potentially impacts Barton more than anybody, because while the A's don't see Cust as unplayable in the outfield, it seems more likely that he'll get more DH time than outfield play, and that means Giambi'd be playing a lot of first base. (Christina Kahrl)
2008-10-20 13:00:00 (link to chat)If you were Beane, would you try to sign Jason Giambi to a one or two year deal or would you stick it out with Daric Barton?
(Dave from Chicago)
Another good question, because Barton was roundly awful this year. It's pretty special when your 1B puts up a -7.4 VORP. That said, I believe in his minor league record enough to think he can rebound and be a decent if unspectacular producer at the position. I think the A's are still a bit too far down on the rebound curve to get real use out of Giambi, who has a limited shelf-life. (Steven Goldman)
2008-08-15 15:00:00 (link to chat)Christina, What is your assessment of the A's going forward 2009 and beyond. I know a lot of people are bullish, but I have my worries. Unlike the Rays who were stacked with four and five star players, the A's seem to be almost overloaded with three star types - They must be pushing 20 of these guys. How good of a team can you have with a plethora of useful roleplayers and platoon partners? Is a team with no weaknesses, but no real strengths either a playoff contender? Matt
(lentzner from Fremont, CA)
I don't know why people would be all that bullish. It's an interesting and deep organization, but you're exactly right, and this is why I was so down on the Harden deal. Near-adequate corner outfield types or somebody who might be a third starter if things break right, but who's more certainly a four and five... you don't hoard those guys, you bundle them to *get* good things.

I see plenty of weaknesses. The infield lacks a single reliable regular under 30. The outfield has Carlos Gonzalez and... well, maybe Travis Buck pans out, but you can just as easily say the same of Daric Barton. The pitching staff has all sorts of depth, but nobody's an obvious ace in the making. I guess I see a lot of adequacy and a shot at 80 wins if a lot of things go right. (Christina Kahrl)
2008-07-24 13:00:00 (link to chat)Billy Beane is showing much more patience with Daric Barton than he did with Carlos Pena--is he mellowing as he ages?
(Drew W from NoVa)
Perhaps, but I think it also reflects the difference between how Barton works at his craft now, and how Pena did then. (Christina Kahrl)
2008-07-23 13:00:00 (link to chat)Alright, I need somebody to break this down for me. Why is catcher such a crucial defensive position? I understand why the guy needs a respectable arm so other teams can't run all day, but there are several others on the field that can call a game (Tony Larussa) and there just aren't that many plays for a catcher to make that could go either way. It's fairly rare to have a wild pitch or passed ball, but hardly a game goes by where Jeter doesn't get to a ball that a good SS would get to. I don't have the stats, but a wild pitch/passed ball is like what? every third game? How many of those does pudge stop that Piazza doesn't? Also, it's proven that catching hinders a hitting prospect's development. Why wouldn't somebody like Daric Barton get moved back to catcher when it looks like his bat won't carry at 1st?
(Jed from San Francisco)
There's an interesting argument to be had here. I think teams still place a lot of emphasis on game-calling skill, no matter how much work Keith Woolner does to try and get them off that trail. But it's also a case where ... we've never really had a team say "screw it, we're going to play Jayson Werth behind the plate for a year and see what happens", so those examples might not exist in the dataset. It's as much fear of the unknown as anything, I think. (Nate Silver)
2008-07-23 13:00:00 (link to chat)re: catchers' defense, Woolner's work notwithstanding, significant research (published thru SABR, http://www.philbirnbaum.com/btn2004-11.pdf) strongly suggests catchers help pitchers' ERAs as they spend more years with a team, implying giving the spot to just anyone for a month or a year would not work well. This matches most opinion too, doesn't it?
(TomH from Lexington Park MD)
That's interesting stuff. But isn't that a problem with any rookie catcher, then? I'm not saying you should change catchers on an ad-hoc basis, but to take a guy like Daric Barton who could be your catcher for four or five years -- even if he's not liable to be an especially good one -- is a different matter. (Nate Silver)
2008-06-27 14:00:00 (link to chat)Any chance the A's give Dan Johnson another shot if Daric Barton needs some time in AAA to sort out his swing? Hannahan at first base seems wrong somehow.
(dwiest12 from NoVa)
None, because Johnson's a Durham Bull, and hitting .286/.405/.500 in ~240 PA. Hannahan at first gives me Bruce Bochte flashbacks. (Christina Kahrl)
2008-05-30 13:00:00 (link to chat)Jay Bruce comes up for auction next week in my fantasy league (points-based NL pool). The winner can keep his rights for the next six years. Worth breaking the bank on? And should I be concerned about Daric Barton (I already have his rights for the next six years)? Thanks!
(Dennis from LA)
I stashed Bruce on my roster from draft day until now, so I'm all for spending on him if you get to keep him for six years. (Marc Normandin)
2008-03-05 13:00:00 (link to chat)Thanks for the chat. I have Daric Barton and Alex Gordon as my first base combo in my league (not a keeper league). Will I get enough power out of either of them, or should I try to get something else? I'm pretty set everywhere else.
(kingofstyle from New York)
PECOTA thinks you could use a boost. Gordon's down for a .195 ISO, and Barton for a .152...if you're really set everywhere else, then you shouldn't be hurt too much holding on to them, especially with Gordon's potential, but you might want to start sending out feelers. (Marc Normandin)
2008-02-28 14:00:00 (link to chat)What are the odds Dan Johnson sticks with the A's out of ST?
(dwiest12 from Vienna VA)
It would have to seem like a dodgy proposition, wouldn't it? Daric Barton's also a lefty, and also only plays first, and the roster's got a full-time DH in Jack Cust, which bites into any possibility of keeping two like players. Add in the fact that Johnson's out of options, and the stakes get higher still, because if he doesn't win the job, he's going to have to go through waivers. (Christina Kahrl)
2008-01-17 14:00:00 (link to chat)Who are your picks for Rookie or the year in both leagues?
(Mike from NY)
Daric Barton in the AL, and Fukudome in the NL. (Christina Kahrl)
2008-01-09 13:00:00 (link to chat)Am I crazy to think that Daric Barton could hit 300/400/500 this year?
(MarinerDan from San Francisco)
Crazy insane? No. A little optimistic? yes. (Kevin Goldstein)


BP Roundtables

No BP Roundtables have mentioned this guy.

 

PITCHf/x Hitter Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC