On the Cubs three-way at second base, the platoon of Bonifacio, Valbuena and Barney has left Mr. Fife out in the cold. He is becoming the odd man odd in this rotation. He made an error. He is hitting weakly. He is leaving runners in scoring position. He is the new Mike Fontenot.
It just shows how quickly a hustling, likeable player can fall from grace. It is no clearer than when you compare the situation to the Tigers, who are desperate for middle infield help due to injuries.
MLBTR tells the tale of the Tigers search for a short term shortstop. The Tigers' search for a replacement at shortstop led them to ask 46-year-old Omar Vizquel if he was interested in making a comeback, reported Paul Hoynes in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "They asked me if I'd like to come and take some grounders," said Vizquel. "I said, 'No, I've been retired for two years.'" This bodes
badly for Barney and the Cubs. If the Tigers believe a 46-year retired
shortstop is a better option than Barney, Barney has no trade value this
year for the Cubs.
