Baseball fans love the undersized guys. They get labeled with terms like scrappy, tough, hard-nosed and other adjectives that describe a player with minimal athletic abilities. As fans, we can relate to the athletes that look more like we do. They’re not the physical specimen that won the genetic lottery, but guys that persevered and found a niche in their sport. They’re supporting cast players who fill a role but don’t make the big bucks or drive the flashy cars. They’re overlooked by scouts for not having flashy tools and ignored by GM’s who are looking for the impact guys. Darwin Barney is one of those players.
Listed at 5’10 and 180 pounds, Barney doesn’t look any different that the average weekend warrior playing in a softball game playing in some part in Chicago. He’s posted a decent season and shown some signs of being an everyday player. Unlike Starlin Casto, however, Barney doesn’t scream All Star or impact player. While you can win with David Eckstein and Craig Counsell, you don’t really win because of them. He’s not really a building block, but more likely a piece in the puzzle.
That being said, it’s nice to have someone you can rely on. With so many big money guys that disappoint and leave you shaking your head about what they should be, it’s not bad having someone who seemingly maximizes their talents. Whether Barney fits prominently in the Cubs future, or he’s just a Ryan Theriot type who’s passing through town temporarily, the Cubs could worse than the diminutive second baseman out of Oregon State.
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