Matt Murton revisited

[muntjack]

Just thought I'd take a 3/4 season review of our most promising young hitter.

 

Over the course of the current season, Murton has slumped, been platooned, been benched outright for a brief period, and been shuffled up and down the lineup.

 

 

He has had his approach at the plate questioned by coaches, and tinkered with by Sarge and Dusty.

 

He has posted the following line so far in 328 ABs:

 

.296/.358/.427/.785

 

For those who have been suggesting a Jones/Murton platoon in '07, here are Matt's #s against Righties in 226 ABs

 

.292/.346/.416/.762

 

For his short Major league career he is .302/.366/.455/.821

 

 

My personal take is that Murton's power has suffered somewhat due to adjustments suggested by the coaching staff. I'm not saying he has 40 HR potential, but I think he is certainly capable of slugging .480. He currently has the 2nd highest OBP% on the team.

 

He is still 24 years old.

 

For the record, I would really like to see Matt get 500+ ABs in LF next year. I see an .850 OPS season, and a perfect #2 hitter.

 

Unfortunately, I think Hendry will sign a left fielder and trade Matt for a bench player with power.

 

Your thoughts?

[rocket]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

[Soriano12]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

 

I'm a Murton fan...but, I don't care how hard he trained..he would be a nightmare in CF defensively.

[abuck1220]

moving murton or jones (more likely) to cf may be the only way the cubs can field a respectable offense next year.

[CubColtPacer]

I was all for a Jones/Murton platoon earlier in the season. Now, I would like to have Murton in left, a platoon partner for Jacque in right (where that position becomes a huge + for the team with the right platoon partner), and a n offensive 2nd baseman. I offer Pierre arbitration-if he accepts, sign him to a 1 year deal and prepare to have Pie in center in 2008-if he doesn't, pick up the draft picks for him.

[NewUserName]

I would rather have Matt Murton in LF next season then Carlos Lee which seems to be the popular choice. I agree that Murton will be a very solid major league player. I have a feeling unless he really picks it up the next couple of months he will not be given an opportunity with the Cubs though.

[Soul]

I would rather have Matt Murton in LF next season then Carlos Lee which seems to be the popular choice. I agree that Murton will be a very solid major league player. I have a feeling unless he really picks it up the next couple of months he will not be given an opportunity with the Cubs though.

 

He doesn't have the power though, and we're getting out-blasted just about every day out there.

 

I love Matty Murt, but I see no reason why he can't be a solid bench player in favor of a power-hitting LF. It's not like our bench doesn't need a TON of work. Every player doesn't have to be a starter to be a good Cub.

[rocket]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

 

I'm a Murton fan...but, I don't care how hard he trained..he would be a nightmare in CF defensively.

 

why?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think if Jones were moved to CF and a power bat were brought in for RF, we could live with Murton's SLG% in left.

[Soul]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

 

I'm a Murton fan...but, I don't care how hard he trained..he would be a nightmare in CF defensively.

 

why?

 

Not very good speed/range, not very good arm strength.

[Soul]

I think if Jones were moved to CF and a power bat were brought in for RF, we could live with Murton's SLG% in left.

 

I could live with that. I just don't think it's such a terrible thing to have a 24 year old play a little bench ball for a year or two if necessary. I don't view it as a bad thing, necessarily. Especially if it means bringing in a big power bat to complement Lee & ARam.

[rocket]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

 

I'm a Murton fan...but, I don't care how hard he trained..he would be a nightmare in CF defensively.

 

why?

 

Not very good speed/range, not very good arm strength.

 

i always thought murton had decent speed. agree on the arm strength (but we deal with that now with pierre), and range, well, i have to plead ignorant. but i think a winterball of playing cf and some coaching, he'd at least be competent out there, and at worst slightly below average. i'd say he'd do an equivalent job as jerry hairston given some training out there.

[Soul]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

 

I'm a Murton fan...but, I don't care how hard he trained..he would be a nightmare in CF defensively.

 

why?

 

Not very good speed/range, not very good arm strength.

 

i always thought murton had decent speed. agree on the arm strength (but we deal with that now with pierre), and range, well, i have to plead ignorant. but i think a winterball of playing cf and some coaching, he'd at least be competent out there, and at worst slightly below average. i'd say he'd do an equivalent job as jerry hairston given some training out there.

 

What do you think will actually happen? I ask because I have no clue. Are they going to give Pie the shot?

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm in love with the idea of platooning Murton with Jacque and then Murt just takes over RF fulltime as soon as Jacque is gone. By then, hopefully, Pie's in CF and a big masher has been picked up for the long run in LF.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

 

I'm a Murton fan...but, I don't care how hard he trained..he would be a nightmare in CF defensively.

 

why?

 

Not very good speed/range, not very good arm strength.

 

i always thought murton had decent speed. agree on the arm strength (but we deal with that now with pierre), and range, well, i have to plead ignorant. but i think a winterball of playing cf and some coaching, he'd at least be competent out there, and at worst slightly below average. i'd say he'd do an equivalent job as jerry hairston given some training out there.

 

What do you think will actually happen? I ask because I have no clue. Are they going to give Pie the shot?

 

I think they'll try to re-sign Pierre. :puker: Then, I think they'll look to replace Murton or Cedeno with a power bat, maybe Soriano.

[Soul]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

 

I'm a Murton fan...but, I don't care how hard he trained..he would be a nightmare in CF defensively.

 

why?

 

Not very good speed/range, not very good arm strength.

 

i always thought murton had decent speed. agree on the arm strength (but we deal with that now with pierre), and range, well, i have to plead ignorant. but i think a winterball of playing cf and some coaching, he'd at least be competent out there, and at worst slightly below average. i'd say he'd do an equivalent job as jerry hairston given some training out there.

 

What do you think will actually happen? I ask because I have no clue. Are they going to give Pie the shot?

 

I think they'll try to re-sign Pierre. :puker: Then, I think they'll look to replace Murton or Cedeno with a power bat, maybe Soriano.

 

Maybe Pierre won't start so terribly. That would soften the blow greatly. Although his noodle arm is just so frustrating for me.

[rocket]

Don't get me wrong, I know there's no chance Murton is in CF next year. That's what I want though.

 

I'm sure Pierre is back next season

[USSoccer]

If it came down to having Cedeno at 2B and Lee in LF, or Murton in LF and Soriano at 2B, I'd overpay Soriano and enjoy a high OBP out of one position and SLG% out of another.

[Warpticon]

If it came down to having Cedeno at 2B and Lee in LF, or Murton in LF and Soriano at 2B, I'd overpay Soriano and enjoy a high OBP out of one position and SLG% out of another.

 

The funny thing is that you could have used Soriano in both scenarios.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Trade Murton, play Pie

 

playing both + having Izturis and maybe Cedeno cripples your offense. Felix will be better.

[YearofDaCubs]

I think if Jones were moved to CF and a power bat were brought in for RF, we could live with Murton's SLG% in left.

Agreed.

[RynoRules]

I wish the Cubs would make Murton train extra hard and learn to play CF for next year, and upgrade at LF next year with some sort of big bat. Then let Murton bad leadoff next season.

 

I'm a Murton fan...but, I don't care how hard he trained..he would be a nightmare in CF defensively.

 

why?

 

Not very good speed/range, not very good arm strength.

 

i always thought murton had decent speed. agree on the arm strength (but we deal with that now with pierre), and range, well, i have to plead ignorant. but i think a winterball of playing cf and some coaching, he'd at least be competent out there, and at worst slightly below average. i'd say he'd do an equivalent job as jerry hairston given some training out there.

 

Have you ever seen him go back on a ball in LF? It ain't pretty. I like the guy, but I don't think he could hack CF with all of that territory to cover. I'd like to see him in a platoon. His arm strength isn't great, and saying "well we deal with Pierre's lack of arm strength" doesn't mean we should make the same mistake twice.

[mg420]

as i said before, i think the OF for 2007 is going to be set with murton, pierre & jones. if pie can stay hot in aaa next year, they might end up trading jones and sticking felix in rf.

[mg420]

I think if Jones were moved to CF and a power bat were brought in for RF, we could live with Murton's SLG% in left.

 

with baker gone next year and murton playing every day, i dont see why his slugging % wouldnt go up significantly from this year. he can easily be a .300+ 25 hr guy in 2007 imo.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I think if Jones were moved to CF and a power bat were brought in for RF, we could live with Murton's SLG% in left.

 

with baker gone next year and murton playing every day, i dont see why his slugging % wouldnt go up significantly from this year. he can easily be a .300+ 25 hr guy in 2007 imo.

 

Because he's not that good.