Chicago Cubs' Dale Sveum all praise for Darwin Barney – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs’ manager Dale Sveum on Tuesday, July 3, praised the lithe and effective defensive display of Darwin Barney, enabling the team to maintain some grip on the defence. Barney’s fascinating spinning catches back-to-back in the game against Atlanta Braves on Monday, which the Cubs won by 4-1, were a treat to watch.
That aggressive and exciting display elicited awe and laudation of team-mates. It was Dale Sveum, the team manager, who was elated most of all. In Sveum’s view, there is no better second baseman in the game this year than Barney who is playing with such efficiency and flawlessness.
Barney now has a total of 66-game errorless streak this season in just over 543 innings. Barney is successfully marching to another glory; all set to break the record of his former team-mate Mike Fontenot who had a 90-game errorless streak only in the recent past, starting from May 7, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
Can Barney do it? Whether he eventually succeeds in gleaning this glory or not is a question that cannot be answered with certitude. Nonetheless, what he has achieved so far is in itself a big milestone for the player.
"That's about as good as it gets," Cubs' manager Dale Sveum said Tuesday of his second baseman's highlights. "Those kind of plays and the defense he's had all season long are incredible. It's hard to believe there's been a better second baseman in baseball this year than Barney. Maybe somebody as good, but not better, that's for sure."
Barney does not boast, nor feel complacent. What is important for him, as he puts it, is contribution. For him winning accolades in defence is one big goal.
He said, "Just contributing is important. Obviously, there are goals, and one of my goals that [infield coach Pat Listach] and I talked about is trying to win accolades defensively, which isn't easy to do.”
In all, it has to be emphasised that the player is not going for any personal recognition. The goal is to lend some credible power and strength to the team at this stage to enable them to win more games.
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