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It is hard not to be impressed with Barney's spring numbers.

After going 4-for-4 in yesterday's game, he has brought his batting average up to .450 in his 40 at-bats. It's absolutely stellar and he can put that in his back pocket with pride, but he'll need to show he's more than a one-month wonder as he was last year.

Barney has certainly bulked up and he needed it. A starting player in baseball cannot have league-worst power AND patience, it just doesn't work. It is humbling to know that he saw his problematic areas is making strides to change them.

It doesn't look like he'll ever be a guy who knows how to take a walk or get on-base well, but his added power could certainly make up for it.

If he can net 35-plus extra-base hits, it might be enough to off-set his detriments in other offensive areas.

While DeJesus may not net more than a handful of stolen bases next year, Barney won't be doing much better. If the team gets 15 total from the two of them, they'd be lucky.

Either way, the only player in the entire line-up who will top 15 stolen bases himself will be Castro. This isn't a team that will be moving much after they get on-base, which is good, because they'll need to cherish whenever they do get on-base.

All-in-all, Barney has plenty of problems.

If his new-found power is legitimate, he may actually have a place as a full-time guy. But if he fades after one month of play again, he can fit in quite nicely as an ideal utility infielder.

I would not mind having him on the team for some time, but whether it's in a full-time role or a back-up situation should be decided this season.

If Barney struggles he needs to be moved down to the 8-hole to alleviate the concern, and it's possible that Blake DeWitt may start siphoning some of his at-bats.

I truly hope that Barney takes the next step up this season so the team has one less position to worry about. I'm not entirely optimistic, but what is this time of year for anything except a positive outlook?