How many days off does Murton need?

[anemic offense]

For the love of god, how can Dusty continually be giving one of our (few) consistent hitters days off? Aside from the fact the Cubs have had numerous off days to start the season, he is only 24. Fatigue should not be a factor this early in the season especially when it is that young. Furthermore taking one of your better players out of the lineup in the midst of a hot streak of offensive futility is mindboggling to say the least.

 

If his reason for doing so rests solely on the notion of getting more of his "boys" playing time then I am utterly sickened. It's kinda hard to win when your best players are sitting on the bench, especially when the team sucks to begin with.

[YearofDaCubs]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he did it just to tick off the fans.

[BigSlick]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he did it just to tick off the fans.

 

Seriously, he's been phasing Murton of the lineup for some time now, pushing him lower and lower.

 

I dont understand it. He's one of our most productive hitters and somehow in the dog house with big ol Dusty.

 

Whatever...........

[Soul]

With Dusty it's all about who you are, not what you can do. If you're Pierre you can stink to high heaven for months and nothing happens to you because you have that World Series ring. If your Murton you grab bench even if you are hitting .300

 

 

That's not the philosophy I want from my favorite baseball team's manager.

[UMFan83]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he did it just to tick off the fans.

 

Seriously, he's been phasing Murton of the lineup for some time now, pushing him lower and lower.

 

I dont understand it. He's one of our most productive hitters and somehow in the dog house with big ol Dusty.

 

Whatever...........

 

What I love is how our better OBP players like Walker and Murton get benched continually, when crappy OBP hitters like Neifi, Pierre, and Jones continue to be put into the lineup whenever possible.

[RynoRules]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he did it just to tick off the fans.

 

Seriously, he's been phasing Murton of the lineup for some time now, pushing him lower and lower.

 

I dont understand it. He's one of our most productive hitters and somehow in the dog house with big ol Dusty.

 

Whatever...........

 

What I love is how our better OBP players like Walker and Murton get benched continually, when crappy OBP hitters like Neifi, Pierre, and Jones continue to be put into the lineup whenever possible.

 

To be fair, I don't think Walker has been subject to this philosophy.

[Drew Doughty]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he did it just to tick off the fans.

 

Seriously, he's been phasing Murton of the lineup for some time now, pushing him lower and lower.

 

I dont understand it. He's one of our most productive hitters and somehow in the dog house with big ol Dusty.

 

Whatever...........

 

What I love is how our better OBP players like Walker and Murton get benched continually, when crappy OBP hitters like Neifi, Pierre, and Jones continue to be put into the lineup whenever possible.

 

To be fair, I don't think Walker has been subject to this philosophy.

 

Before Lee got hurt, he was.

[CubfaninCA]

maybe baker has money on the games, which may explain mabry batting 5th, murton sitting or batting 8th, and not using dempster in the 1st 2 games in san diego.

 

baker's accounted for about half the loses in the current skid.

[RegulusBlue]

There are no words to describe the visions of blood and destruction that fill my head when Murton gets benched in favor of Neifi or Hairston. It's clear that Dusty just does not wish to win ballgames anymore.

 

He had to sit today because he went 2-3 with a walk yesterday? Or was he punished for the outfield antics that are continually dwarfed by the Jacque Jones Comedy Trifecta?

[CubfaninCA]

murton was 1-3 against young last monday. dusty must be punishing him for hitting into a double play versus young. probably missed the bunt sign. :roll:

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Maybe a .670 OPS against right handers may have something to do with it. 36 games, 127 plate appearances and you are upset with Dusty not playing him every inning? The team is sucking now, but this is really nitpicking.

[stitchface]

Maybe a .670 OPS against right handers may have something to do with it. 36 games, 127 plate appearances and you are upset with Dusty not playing him every inning? The team is sucking now, but this is really nitpicking.

 

You think Dusty actually uses OPS as a stat to evaluate players?

[stitchface]

not to mention his .337 OBP against righties is still one of the best on the team.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Maybe a .670 OPS against right handers may have something to do with it. 36 games, 127 plate appearances and you are upset with Dusty not playing him every inning? The team is sucking now, but this is really nitpicking.

 

You think Dusty actually uses OPS as a stat to evaluate players?

OK, .253 avg and .333 slugging. I don't care which number you use or if it's Billy Beane or Dusty, Murton is not hitting righties well. Yet he still gets the bulk of the playing time in left.

[stitchface]

Maybe a .670 OPS against right handers may have something to do with it. 36 games, 127 plate appearances and you are upset with Dusty not playing him every inning? The team is sucking now, but this is really nitpicking.

 

You think Dusty actually uses OPS as a stat to evaluate players?

OK, .253 avg and .333 slugging. I don't care which number you use or if it's Billy Beane or Dusty, Murton is not hitting righties well. Yet he still gets the bulk of the playing time in left.

 

name the better option? obviously platooning jones and murton would be great, so who plays rightfield? The fact that Murton isn't hitting righties for power does not justify benching him to get any of the gawdawful cubs bench players in the game.

[stitchface]

and you should care what number you use because they are different and tell you different things.

[CubfaninCA]

if we're going by numbers:

 

Hairston v. righties ~ .382 obp

 

murton v. righties ~ .333 obp

[stitchface]

if we're going by numbers:

 

Hairston v. righties ~ .382 obp

 

murton v. righties ~ .333 obp

 

Shouldn't he be playing second base? I won't even bother to look up his career splits.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Maybe a .670 OPS against right handers may have something to do with it. 36 games, 127 plate appearances and you are upset with Dusty not playing him every inning? The team is sucking now, but this is really nitpicking.

 

You think Dusty actually uses OPS as a stat to evaluate players?

OK, .253 avg and .333 slugging. I don't care which number you use or if it's Billy Beane or Dusty, Murton is not hitting righties well. Yet he still gets the bulk of the playing time in left.

 

name the better option? obviously platooning jones and murton would be great, so who plays rightfield? The fact that Murton isn't hitting righties for power does not justify benching him to get any of the gawdawful cubs bench players in the game.

It could be argued he should sit against righties in favor of Hairston. No I'm not in anyway advocating that. I just responded to the emotional posts on Dusty to show he has not been playing as well as people perceive and Dusty seems to be supportive and playing him. Nothing more.

[stitchface]

yea, too bad the whole frickin' team sucks.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hairston has 31 AB's against RHP so far this season.

 

In over 1750 PA's prior, he put up a .257/.337/.363/.700 line.

[Careless]

A player's age=the most games in a month he can handle. Murt has to sit, dude.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

not to mention his .337 OBP against righties is still one of the best on the team.

One of the best? Hardly not. Cedeno .385, Walker .371, Jones .349, Barrett .385. Yes he has Neifi .255 and Ramirez .291 (though it is unlikely he will by season end), and Pierre .317. Even with Ramirez and Pierre slumping and sucking terribly; their .715 and .695 OPS against righties exceed Murton’s .670. When Lee returns with .417. So he is one of the worst hitters against righties on the team when compared to the starters in OBP and SLG.

 

You also need to realize he dropped from an April OPS of .809 to .676 in May. So he sat for a few days. He’s started 10 of 13 games. I don’t understand the problem with giving a struggling rookie a few days off. He’s still the starter.

 

Hairston has 31 AB's against RHP so far this season.

 

In over 1750 PA's prior, he put up a .257/.337/.363/.700 line.

But if you look at his 3-year splits (2003-2005) which is more telling of his hitting, he has a .365 OBP against righties in 679 plate appearances (.747 OPS), coupled with his .382 this year says he’s likely to produce better in the short term.

 

I’m not advocating this, but just pointing out that Murton is not there yet, and is still a work in progress, not a savior (unless it’s with his 1.100 OPS against lefties). Dusty has been more then fair with his development and playing time.

 

yea, too bad the whole frickin' team sucks.

The last few weeks yes, but shouldn't this be in rants?

[Tracer Bullet]

not to mention his .337 OBP against righties is still one of the best on the team.

One of the best? Hardly not. Cedeno .385, Walker .371, Jones .349, Barrett .385. Yes he has Neifi .255 and Ramirez .291 (though it is unlikely he will by season end), and Pierre .317. Even with Ramirez and Pierre slumping and sucking terribly; their .715 and .695 OPS against righties exceed Murton’s .670. When Lee returns with .417. So he is one of the worst hitters against righties on the team when compared to the starters in OBP and SLG.

 

You also need to realize he dropped from an April OPS of .809 to .676 in May. So he sat for a few days. He’s started 10 of 13 games. I don’t understand the problem with giving a struggling rookie a few days off. He’s still the starter.

 

Hairston has 31 AB's against RHP so far this season.

 

In over 1750 PA's prior, he put up a .257/.337/.363/.700 line.

But if you look at his 3-year splits (2003-2005) which is more telling of his hitting, he has a .365 OBP against righties in 679 plate appearances (.747 OPS), coupled with his .382 this year says he’s likely to produce better in the short term.

 

I’m not advocating this, but just pointing out that Murton is not there yet, and is still a work in progress, not a savior (unless it’s with his 1.100 OPS against lefties). Dusty has been more then fair with his development and playing time.

 

yea, too bad the whole frickin' team sucks.

The last few weeks yes, but shouldn't this be in rants?

 

You make some good points, but I just don't believe that Dusty is looking at OBP or splits or anything like that to determine who starts against whom. If he were, Jones would never face a lefty pitcher.

 

I don't mind if Murton gets a night off now and again, but with Dusty's reputation, I don't think fans can be faulted for getting anxious when he seems to be dropping a rookie in the order and getting him more time off.

[Shavo]

If this continues for the rest of the season (Murtons inability to hit righties) then he should be platooned with Jones next year. Then sign Carlos Lee for Left =P~