Murton in the 2 spot

[DesMoinesCub]

What is everyone's opinion about having Matty Murton hitting in the two spot?

 

I personally like it and have thought of Murton as a Sandberg type hitter.

[Old Style]

Count my vote as "no". At least not until DLee comes back.

[soccer10k]

I would say yes until Lee comes back because when Lee comes back I would put Walker second in the lineup.

 

I would at least give him a chance to see how he does.

[Sammy Sofa]

Right now? Yes. When Lee gets back? No, put Walker there. Next year? Yeah, I want him hitting #2 and Walker batting 1st. Speed sucks. I want guys on base!

[E.J.]

Right now? Yes. When Lee gets back? No, put Walker there. Next year? Yeah, I want him hitting #2 and Walker batting 1st. Speed sucks. I want guys on base!

 

If Epatt keeps doing well at AA I think we might see him batting #1 for the Cubs next year. I don't see Hendry bringing Walker back.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Right now? Yes. When Lee gets back? No, put Walker there. Next year? Yeah, I want him hitting #2 and Walker batting 1st. Speed sucks. I want guys on base!

 

If Epatt keeps doing well at AA I think we might see him batting #1 for the Cubs next year. I don't see Hendry bringing Walker back.

 

I dont see Hendry bringing up EPATT either......

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I like it. I would also like it if he hit first.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm hoping Hendry has learned his lesson. I would have no problem with Walker for one more year and giving Patterson a little more time to develop. If they Cubs can manage to pick up a serious big bat a la Tejada/Abreu/Cabrera/etc. to slide in with Lee and Ramirez, I'd much rather have a guy who has proven he can consistently get on base like Walker, and who has functioned very well as a leadoff hitter in the past. Combine that with Murton staying patient and walking as much as possible and you set up a ton of RBI's for the 3 big bats this team SHOULD have next year.

[cheapseats]

Right now? Yes. When Lee gets back? No, put Walker there. Next year? Yeah, I want him hitting #2 and Walker batting 1st. Speed sucks. I want guys on base!

 

Reverse that. Walker hits into few double plays. Murton will hit into a lot of them.

 

Murton's ranked #25 in MLB in hitting into double plays per BP right now.

Walker hits into DP's at a below average rate.

 

I know it's early in the season, but their double play numbers were about the same last year.

 

At one point this year, Murton was second to only Juan Pierre in hitting ground balls.

 

I'd like to see Murton first and Walker second.

 

Of course, since Dusty will call on his 2 hitter to bunt in nearly every at-bat, we might as well put the pitcher there.

Edited May 17, 2006 by cheapseats

[Sammy Sofa]

You're right, I'm changing my mind. Murton's walks would be better served hitting 1st, especially since Todd tends to fly out with deep hits that can advance a guy on base. Good call.

[soapy]

I wouldn't mind seeing him lead-off, especially when Lee gets back.

 

Murton

Walker

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones

Cedeno

Pierre

Pitcher

 

That will never happen though.

[TheDude]

Murton is the best hitter on the ballclub suited for the 2-hole. He makes fantastic contact and likely the best hit-and-run guy the Cubs have on the team.

 

When Pierre gets on base, the chances of a successful hit-and-run with Murton shooting the ball to right and Pierre ending up on third are pretty strong.

[soapy]

Murton is the best hitter on the ballclub suited for the 2-hole. He makes fantastic contact and likely the best hit-and-run guy the Cubs have on the team.

 

When Pierre gets on base, the chances of a successful hit-and-run with Murton shooting the ball to right and Pierre ending up on third are pretty strong.

 

I don't disagree with that, but the problem is that Pierre hasn't been getting on base. Hopefully he can turn that around.

[NewUserName]

If Pierre isnt a good lead off man he really shouldnt be in the lineup. His defense is not a lot better than Hairstons. Hairston is probably the better offensive player. Should at least be platooning.

 

I like Murton batting 2nd. I also find it funny that it has taken Dusty this long(and cedeno slumping) to figure this out.

[TheDude]

I like Murton batting 2nd. I also find it funny that it has taken Dusty this long(and cedeno slumping) to figure this out.

With Dusty it's not figuring it out. He knows what kind of hitter Murton is and the potential he has. For right or worng, with Dusty it's a matter of putting his players where he feels they are most comfortable, or where the splits suggest for a given match-up.

 

Dusty has a history of easing young players (to put it politely) and he probably didn't want to put the pressure of the 2-hole on Murton. That doesn't excuse his use of Murton, as he should have gone to the 2-hole right after Lee's injury - just playing the advocate to show it doesn't have to do with 'figuring it out' if you follow Dusty's trends.

Edited May 17, 2006 by TheDude

[goonys evil twin]

Murton is the best hitter on the ballclub suited for the 2-hole. He makes fantastic contact and likely the best hit-and-run guy the Cubs have on the team.

 

When Pierre gets on base, the chances of a successful hit-and-run with Murton shooting the ball to right and Pierre ending up on third are pretty strong.

 

That being said, and considering I think you said you watched the game via the Washington broadcasters, did you catch what they said about Murton in the 2 hole. One guy said he watched a lot of Murton and could never envision him there. I didn't get it. Murton's patient, high OBP, mediocre SLG, go the other way, smart hitting approach seems to be pretty close to the ideal 2 hitter.

 

Count my vote as "no". At least not until DLee comes back.

 

So you don't want him in the 2 hole now, but do when Lee returns? Why?

[goonys evil twin]

Dusty has a history of easing young players (to put it politely) and he probably didn't want to put the pressure of the 2-hole on Murton.

 

Then how does it explain his use of the younger Cedeno?

[TheDude]

Dusty has a history of easing young players (to put it politely) and he probably didn't want to put the pressure of the 2-hole on Murton.

 

Then how does it explain his use of the younger Cedeno?

 

Don't know - probably speed would be his stance and the fact that Murton had been more clutch with RBI opportunities. He's faster than Murton so when Walker dropped to the 3-hole after Lee's injury he got the nod. Add in that Murton has had several 3-5 hole opportunities and one could argue Murton got the greater of the pressure spots. That's my best guess at Dusty's thought process.

 

But for what it is worth, Cedeno's 2-hole numbers are .268/.288/.380/.668, while his 8-hole numbers are .395/.425/.526/.951. Granted they are limited splits.

 

Ronny seems better suited at the bottom of the order and Murton at the 2-hole.

[biittner77]

With Murton going 0-3 batting 2nd last night I'd guess he's unlikely to ever bat 2nd again ala the 1 game experiment with Bellhorn leading off.

[biittner77]

Dusty has a history of easing young players (to put it politely) and he probably didn't want to put the pressure of the 2-hole on Murton.

 

Then how does it explain his use of the younger Cedeno?

 

He had to use one or the other and Cedeno is faster and therefore more qualified.

[goonys evil twin]

Dusty has a history of easing young players (to put it politely) and he probably didn't want to put the pressure of the 2-hole on Murton.

 

Then how does it explain his use of the younger Cedeno?

 

Don't know - probably speed would be his stance and the fact that Murton had been more clutch with RBI opportunities. He's faster than Murton so when Walker dropped to the 3-hole after Lee's injury he got the nod. Add in that Murton has had several 3-5 hole opportunities and one could argue Murton got the greater of the pressure spots. That's my best guess at Dusty's thought process.

 

That would be my guess as well. I think it has more to do with Dusty's stereotypical views of what a top of the order guy looks like, than what a hitter actually should be. Speed trumps all.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Dusty has a history of easing young players (to put it politely) and he probably didn't want to put the pressure of the 2-hole on Murton.

 

Then how does it explain his use of the younger Cedeno?

 

Don't know - probably speed would be his stance and the fact that Murton had been more clutch with RBI opportunities. He's faster than Murton so when Walker dropped to the 3-hole after Lee's injury he got the nod. Add in that Murton has had several 3-5 hole opportunities and one could argue Murton got the greater of the pressure spots. That's my best guess at Dusty's thought process.

 

That would be my guess as well. I think it has more to do with Dusty's stereotypical views of what a top of the order guy looks like, than what a hitter actually should be. Speed trumps all.

 

I believe speed played a role, but Ronny was also hitting 90 points higher than Murton when Lee went down (370/396 vs 280/345).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Murton is the best hitter on the ballclub suited for the 2-hole. He makes fantastic contact and likely the best hit-and-run guy the Cubs have on the team.

 

When Pierre gets on base, the chances of a successful hit-and-run with Murton shooting the ball to right and Pierre ending up on third are pretty strong.

 

That being said, and considering I think you said you watched the game via the Washington broadcasters, did you catch what they said about Murton in the 2 hole. One guy said he watched a lot of Murton and could never envision him there. I didn't get it. Murton's patient, high OBP, mediocre SLG, go the other way, smart hitting approach seems to be pretty close to the ideal 2 hitter.

 

On a somewhat related note, I think Bob Carpenter was trying to break Joe Morgan's record of blatantly incorrect statements in one game last night.

[BigSlick]

What is everyone's opinion about having Matty Murton hitting in the two spot?

 

I personally like it and have thought of Murton as a Sandberg type hitter.

 

Murton in the 2 hole makes BigSlick a happy boy.

 

Murton leading off would make BigSlick a VERY happy boy.

 

 

Use him like the Red Sox are using Kevin Youkilis. OBP machine- leadoff. Unfortunately Murton isn't quite as good as Youkilis.

[cheapseats]

 

 

Use him like the Red Sox are using Kevin Youkilis. OBP machine- leadoff. Unfortunately Murton isn't quite as good as Youkilis.

 

Yes.

 

There was an article today in Baseball Prospectus that argued that Murton's greatest value to a contending team (not the Cubs this year, but perhaps next year if they make smart moves) would be leading off.