9/7: Nice article by Bruce- Cubs Questions

[soccer10k]

"Plate discipline" does not mean eating all your veggies.

 

:lol: :lol:

[Bruce Miles]

OK, Vance, I'll mention Dierker one of these days. I like him, and from a media relations standpoint, he'd be great. He was in the radio booth, so he knows how to deal with the media.

As far as the other posts go as to why nobody else writes about this stuff (and if I can grasp some of it, it CAN'T be all that difficult), it seems that new ideas take a long time to catch on in the mainstream media. I've spent a lot of hours studying sabermetrics, and I'm still trying to get a handle on a lot of things. Most of us grew up with AVG, HR, RBI, and a lot of us haven't gotten beyond them.

You're seeing some changes now, but it's going to take time. Len Kasper does a really nice job with this without overwhelming the casual viewer.

I'll keep after it.

[JeffH]

Bruce, watch your back.

 

I imagine Andy is planning to have you whacked even as we speak.

 

You may want to hire someone to taste your food when you go out to eat.

[JeffH]

"Plate discipline" does not mean eating all your veggies.

 

Not mine, so I can't take credit:

 

Hendry plate discipline = not going for fourths at Golden Corral...

[RegulusBlue]

Would the Cubs consider a platoon of Jacque Jones and Matt Murton in right field and get a bopper for left field?

 

Had me until this. What filth. How can he clamor about OBP, but suggest sitting our third best OBP guy?

 

.296/.360/.429/.789

 

This is a good line for a young player who is just now discovering his power (the slg is trending up). I can't believe that we absolutely HAVE to have Carlos Lee or his clone in LF. Murton is an [expletive] bargain for his production. Why don't we just platoon Jones with Moore/Mabry/RH Power Guy? I think we have a .825 OPS guy right here.

 

If the power continues to develop, you found a 5-6 hitter. If not, put that .360 OBP in the 2-slot. I wonder how many runs that would have added, especially with Aramis destroying the world right now?

 

Bruce loses credibility in my book for this one. Lamenting OBP and then ignoring it are standards of Dusty and Company, not our very own voice in the media.

 

/disappointment

[TruffleShuffle]

Would the Cubs consider a platoon of Jacque Jones and Matt Murton in right field and get a bopper for left field?

 

Had me until this. What filth. How can he clamor about OBP, but suggest sitting our third best OBP guy?

 

.296/.360/.429/.789

 

This is a good line for a young player who is just now discovering his power (the slg is trending up). I can't believe that we absolutely HAVE to have Carlos Lee or his clone in LF. Murton is an [expletive] bargain for his production. Why don't we just platoon Jones with Moore/Mabry/RH Power Guy? I think we have a .825 OPS guy right here.

 

If the power continues to develop, you found a 5-6 hitter. If not, put that .360 OBP in the 2-slot. I wonder how many runs that would have added, especially with Aramis destroying the world right now?

 

Bruce loses credibility in my book for this one. Lamenting OBP and then ignoring it are standards of Dusty and Company, not our very own voice in the media.

 

/disappointment

 

I wonder if someone with the sig "Archbishop of the Church of Murton" is a little biased on the subject?

 

He had a good month in August as far as power goes - but is this really indicative of a guy who is a real 5/6 hitter, or just a rare streak of power. The guy hit 24 minor league homers in 266 games, and has 10 in 122 games this year. Most likely, he isn't going to hit more than 20 HR next year, and the figure could be closer to this year's total (likely 14 or something).

 

His SLG in the minors was .451 and this year is .429. He just isn't a big power bat. I don't think the Cubs have enough power in the lineup with Murton in LF and Jones in RF, unless they sign someone like Soriano.

[Jon]

Plus, it would be the only way that Murton would get playing time AND the Cubs could conceivably have an average offense. An impact bat is required in one of the corner spots and they can't afford to start Jones against lefties, so it might be a good fit. I don't see Jones going anywhere, so if they can replace his .219/.239/.377 line with Murton's .302/.383/.457 line against lefties, they can put a major league average bat in RF.

 

But Hendry already knew how terrible Jones was against lefties when he signed him to a 3-year deal, so it won't happen. He also doesn't realize/admit his mistakes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Jones v. RHP: .310/.357/.528/.884

Murton v. LHP: .302/.383/.457/.840

 

There's nothing being sacrificed with that platoon, only production gained. I don't like it in RF though, I'd prefer Jones moved to LF rather than Murton coming to RF.

[CubColtPacer]

Plus, it would be the only way that Murton would get playing time AND the Cubs could conceivably have an average offense. An impact bat is required in one of the corner spots and they can't afford to start Jones against lefties, so it might be a good fit. I don't see Jones going anywhere, so if they can replace his .219/.239/.377 line with Murton's .302/.383/.457 line against lefties, they can put a major league average bat in RF.

 

But Hendry already knew how terrible Jones was against lefties when he signed him to a 3-year deal, so it won't happen. He also doesn't realize/admit his mistakes.

 

Jones is already major league average for right field-adding Murton to the mix would make RF decidedly above average.

[JeffH]

Leave Murton alone in LF.

 

Add a monster RH platoon bat in RF, like Craig Wilson.

 

Get a CF with some power.

 

Find a second baseman that can lead off effectively.

 

Easier said than done, especially with Buffet Boy at the helm.

[RegulusBlue]

Hell yes I am biased, but so should you be.

 

You have just claimed that Murton isn't a power bat after 1.5 seasons. The man is 25 years old! Murton is not a problem on this team. Conventional baseball wisdom IS (i.e. the Left Fielder has to hit 35+ HRs), with you as its conduit.

 

Here is a list of ACTUAL problems to keep you happy:

 

We have two or three starters for next year.

Our 'closer' is a turd sandwich.

We have absolutely no offense wherever Cedeno and Izturis roam.

Glendon Rusch.

We're gonna resign 43, and Jones won't play this well ever again.

Prior has a Wood-esque injury. Wood does, too.

Aramis may be gone because we didn't redo his contract to keep him happy.

Hendry has two more years, barring a miracle.

 

There are more. Meanwhile, please don't be our manager.

[Sammy Sofa]

I love the idea of Murton platooning with Jones/acting as the 4th outfielder with the idea he'd take over RF once Jacque was gone. I'm confident he would have honed his game and increased his power enough to do so and contribute to whatever bopper we get for LF. I like Murton, but I'm sorry, he's not the answer as the starting LF next year. I'd much rather see Jones gone and they pick someone else there, but as it stands it looks like LF and 2nd are most likely and most easily upgraded significantly to make a real impact.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

OK, Vance, I'll mention Dierker one of these days. I like him, and from a media relations standpoint, he'd be great. He was in the radio booth, so he knows how to deal with the media.

As far as the other posts go as to why nobody else writes about this stuff (and if I can grasp some of it, it CAN'T be all that difficult), it seems that new ideas take a long time to catch on in the mainstream media. I've spent a lot of hours studying sabermetrics, and I'm still trying to get a handle on a lot of things. Most of us grew up with AVG, HR, RBI, and a lot of us haven't gotten beyond them.

You're seeing some changes now, but it's going to take time. Len Kasper does a really nice job with this without overwhelming the casual viewer.

I'll keep after it.

 

Thanks. I'd love to have Dierker in the dugout.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Leave Murton alone in LF.

 

Add a monster RH platoon bat in RF, like Craig Wilson.

 

Get a CF with some power.

 

Find a second baseman that can lead off effectively.

 

Easier said than done, especially with Buffet Boy at the helm.

 

Similar idea, but I like getting a good RF and moving Jones to LF w/ Murton, getting that 2B that leads off, and playing Pie.

[Mark Priors Calves]

This made me laugh

 

Nice seeing abuck's old friend, CubfaninCA posting on BCB.

[CuseCubFan69]

Leave Murton alone in LF.

 

Add a monster RH platoon bat in RF, like Craig Wilson.

 

Get a CF with some power.

 

Find a second baseman that can lead off effectively.

 

Easier said than done, especially with Buffet Boy at the helm.

 

Similar idea, but I like getting a good RF and moving Jones to LF w/ Murton, getting that 2B that leads off, and playing Pie.

 

I read that quickly and thought you wanted Murton to play 2nd!

 

 

I don't see Wilson leaving the Yanks. Personally I don't think there are enough AB's for Murton when he is platooned. I like him in left and I would like to see Jones go to CF and get a 25/280/400 type guy in RF. Or, keep Jones in right and trade for Andruw Jones...or get Soriano and find a dent OBP guy for CF to lead off because I'm worried if the Cubs get Soriano he may leadoff which would ruin the whole idea of getting. I can just see it now...."Well he's lead off in the past and had success doing it".

Edited September 8, 2006 by CuseCubFan69

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

This made me laugh

 

Nice seeing abuck's old friend, CubfaninCA posting on BCB.

 

The comments under it are even more comical. It's always fun seeing how those who have been banned get so upset later.

[Jehrico]

Sorry Bruce, but I'm going to depart from the masses on my opinion of this article. I generally love your articles, but I thought this the worst piece of work I've ever read from you.

 

It's easy to observe from outside and sharpshoot someone (like I'm doing now, yeah, I know, I'm a hypocrite). You didn't offer any answers, any insight as to why those questions exist, or how they're hurting the club going into the offseason, or what should have been done to prevent any of them. Granted, since I'm an avid reader of yours, I know you've addressed these things in the past, but as a stand-alone article possibly being read by someone who is not familiar with your work, the article really didn't serve much of a purpose other than to say "The Cubs have alot of issues" which should be common sense just by looking at their payroll and their record at the moment. I thought it was an empty, pointless article despite the fact that I share the same view on almost all of those points.

 

Again, I love your articles, just didn't care for this one. Maybe you are human for a journalist after all :wink:

Edited September 8, 2006 by Jehrico

[Jehrico]

This made me laugh

 

Nice seeing abuck's old friend, CubfaninCA posting on BCB.

 

The comments under it are even more comical. It's always fun seeing how those who have been banned get so upset later.

CubfaninCAs argument was pretty weak as well. Bruce advocated getting Giles because of his propensity of high OBP based on his walk rate, a trait that doesn't decline near as rapidly as power, and not because of his power. Also, he suggested Soriano was cheap last offseason. I don't think everyone would agree that BWilk and the others given up was exactly a "cheap" price to pay for him.

 

I never realized he was banned though. He does reke of biased animosity for this site now.

[KatJ]

•Do the Cubs now realize that if you get enough runners on base via hits and walks (yes, walks), you’ll score a lot of runs and win ballgames?

 

If nothing else, you'd think the Cubs' pitching staff would be able to relay this information to the hitters, as they've had a fair bit of first-hand experience with this as a PROBLEM.

[Bruce Miles]

Sorry Bruce, but I'm going to depart from the masses on my opinion of this article. I generally love your articles, but I thought this the worst piece of work I've ever read from you.

 

It's easy to observe from outside and sharpshoot someone (like I'm doing now, yeah, I know, I'm a hypocrite). You didn't offer any answers, any insight as to why those questions exist, or how they're hurting the club going into the offseason, or what should have been done to prevent any of them. Granted, since I'm an avid reader of yours, I know you've addressed these things in the past, but as a stand-alone article possibly being read by someone who is not familiar with your work, the article really didn't serve much of a purpose other than to say "The Cubs have alot of issues" which should be common sense just by looking at their payroll and their record at the moment. I thought it was an empty, pointless article despite the fact that I share the same view on almost all of those points.

 

Again, I love your articles, just didn't care for this one. Maybe you are human for a journalist after all :wink:

 

The whole purpose was to have a little fun and throw some questions out there. Sorry you missed the point. It ain't all supposed to be serious. If that's the worse piece you've read, I'll be glad to send you my whole archive.

[neely crenshaw]

Yes, that is a bit much.

 

How about, "The Bruce"? :D

 

bruce almighty?

[soccer10k]

This made me laugh

 

Nice seeing abuck's old friend, CubfaninCA posting on BCB.

 

The comments under it are even more comical. It's always fun seeing how those who have been banned get so upset later.

 

I read all of the comments underneath and they provided some good laughs. I didn't realize he was banned either.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Aww, I've missed CubfaninCA. Can we attack banned posters?