Darwin Barney dealing with part-time status

Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney was benched Thursday for the fourth time in nine games this season. That marks the first time in his career he has missed that many games in an identical stretch not marred by injury.

"That's the nature of the game," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "And last year happened. So I have to continue to show that's not who I am."

Barney slipped from .276 to .254 to .208 in the last three seasons. The sizzling start of all-purpose Emilio Bonifacio has also contributed to Barney becoming a part-timer so far this year.