Murton...is it too late already?

[Sammy Sofa]

I hate to be a doomsayer, but I really think the Cubs hitting coaches might have turned him for the worse. Cedeno was already a very aggressive hitter, so it would have been tough for them to warp him much, but Murton has REALLY changed for the worst in the last few weeks. His biggest strength was pretty obvious from the very start...he's a smart, patient hitter. But ever since that quote came out that the Cubs' coaches were trying to get him to be more "aggressive" he's been swinging and chopping a lot more, hacking at 1st pitches like his life depended on it and striking out a LOT more than even the sample size of last year indicated. I know, I know, he's still young and getting his "sea legs," but given the mentality and reputation of the hitting coaches on this team and how Murton has been offesnively the last few weeks, it worries me. I hope I'm just overreacting.

 

Fred, would you be able to pull the stats as to how many walks he's taken since April 1st, per game?

[srbin84]

I'm don't like blaming coaches for "ruining" players. Walker didn't change when he came here. In fact, I think he's put up better numbers than his career average. Lee and Barrett got better too.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm don't blaming coaches for "ruining" players. Walker didn't change when he came here. In fact, I think he's put up better numbers than his career average.

 

But there's an obvious difference between rookies like Murton and vets like Walker when it comes to being influenced/inspired/ruined/etc. by the coaches. And like I said, their coaching style isn't going to be bad for everyone. I think Cedeno's getting it going in that aggressive style. It just runs very contrary to how we had seen Murton achieve so much early success. The coaches seem very one note in their attitude...it's aggressive or nothing.

Edited June 5, 2006 by Sammy Sofa

[Drew Doughty]

He's walking at about the same rate he did last year this season.. He is a first pitch hacker, IIRC, but otherwise shows good pitches. He is K'ing a bit more this year. I don't like his sub-400 SLG, that's what bothers me.

 

Unless you mean a different date than April 1st, he hasn't been significantly different from last year in that aspect.

[srbin84]

I'm don't blaming coaches for "ruining" players. Walker didn't change when he came here. In fact, I think he's put up better numbers than his career average.

 

But there's an obvious difference between rookies like Murton and vets like Walker when it comes to being influenced/inspired/ruined/etc. by the coaches.

 

I suppose, but I wouldn't trust my career with the advice of someone else if I could see their advice didn't help me.

[Sammy Sofa]

He's walking at about the same rate he did last year this season.. He is a first pitch hacker, IIRC, but otherwise shows good pitches. He is K'ing a bit more this year. I don't like his sub-400 SLG, that's what bothers me.

 

Unless you mean a different date than April 1st, he hasn't been significantly different from last year in that aspect.

 

That's why I was asking for the stats, actually. I fully admit it's a gut feeling on my part...and yeah, I meant May 1st, my bad. It seemed like during his time last year and the first month this year, he walked noticeably more. I could easily be wrong.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm don't blaming coaches for "ruining" players. Walker didn't change when he came here. In fact, I think he's put up better numbers than his career average.

 

But there's an obvious difference between rookies like Murton and vets like Walker when it comes to being influenced/inspired/ruined/etc. by the coaches.

 

I suppose, but I wouldn't trust my career with the advice of someone else if I could see their advice didn't help me.

 

Me neither, but then I think back to jobs where I was the "new kid" and often readily accepted what the bosses told me, even if it ended up not always being the best advice or directions.

 

I think the staff, like Dusty, are better suited to or prefer dealing with veteran players than rookies.

[CubsBullsBears]

Read the qoute in my sig. ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)

[Drew Doughty]

He walked 2 fewer times in May than April. There really wasn't a significant dropoff there. He's yet to walk in June and has struck out 5 times though.

[badger1679666666]

I'm don't blaming coaches for "ruining" players. Walker didn't change when he came here. In fact, I think he's put up better numbers than his career average.

 

But there's an obvious difference between rookies like Murton and vets like Walker when it comes to being influenced/inspired/ruined/etc. by the coaches.

 

I suppose, but I wouldn't trust my career with the advice of someone else if I could see their advice didn't help me.

 

Yes but with Busty and company, you won't play if you're not "aggressive"

[Warpticon]

April: 77 AB, 10 walks, 13 k

May: 84 AB, 8 walks, 12 k

 

Not a huge difference.

 

I expect a power surge from both Murton and Cedeno soon. They both have sub-.100 IsoPs, and I don't see any way that maintains itself. They're both more powerful than that.

[Sammy Sofa]

I hope so...I want to see Murton excel, it really seems like he's got the stuff. I just hate seeing mutts like Clines and Sarge running him into the groud and making him a hacker at the plate.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

I hope so...I want to see Murton excel, it really seems like he's got the stuff. I just hate seeing mutts like Clines and Sarge running him into the groud and making him a hacker at the plate.

 

Speaking of Sarge is he estranged from his son? Because he is definitely hitting for the Rangers this year.

[srbin84]

I hope so...I want to see Murton excel, it really seems like he's got the stuff. I just hate seeing mutts like Clines and Sarge running him into the groud and making him a hacker at the plate.

 

Speaking of Sarge is he estranged from his son? Because he is definitely hitting for the Rangers this year.

 

I always liked G.M. Jr. I've never seen a Cub play as hard as he did for us. Sure, he didn't put up great numbers with us, but I could name two or three guys who were on the roster when he was here and after he left that were less valuable than him.

[CDBears1259]

Everytime I watch ESPN, I see a G.M. Jr. reference on the crawl and I cringe at the thought of what might have been. They don't usually reference you there, if you're stinking it up and his name always seems to be up there. I really liked the way he played.

[AI]

Everytime I watch ESPN, I see a G.M. Jr. reference on the crawl and I cringe at the thought of what might have been. They don't usually reference you there, if you're stinking it up and his name always seems to be up there. I really liked the way he played.

It never would have been if Sarge Jr. would have stuck around. Jr. openly credits his recent success to the teachings of Rudy Jamarillo. If he had stayed, he'd simply be another braindead Cub hitter hacking at slop nightly.

[SouthSideRyan]

Of course it's not too late. Patterson was systematically ruined by the Cubs over the past 5 years and is thriving.(Please don't turn this into another CPatt thread) It seems that the Cubs coaches work quite well with veterans(Lee, Ramirez, Walker, Alou), but can't do it with guys who are still developing. It seems as if they can tweak a guy who already has his ways set and only needs minor assistance, but if somebody is learning on the job the staff's one track mind ruins him.

[Andy]

Murt will be fine. It's looking more and more like it's really more of a slump than anything. He is hacking at a couple too many first pitches for my liking, but we may be overreacting a little to every time he does that, so it seems like he's doing it more than he is. I'd let it go till the ASB before we really need to get concerned.

 

And he has to pick up the power - I knew he probably wouldn't have as much as he did last year but I still thought he'd push 20 dingers.