Murton as trade bait?

[TheDude]

Hey, why not? I've seen more from this guy in 3 weeks than fricking Ronny Cedeno has shown me in 5+ months. And there isn't a young superstar waiting on the free agency market. Sure, I'd take Ray Durham for a season, but he'll get a 3 year deal somewhere, which is too much risk. I'd go with Ryan and let him lead-off.

 

I can see that approach being used in a mid or low market team. But I don't see the Cubs or any other large market team gambling on more than one young non-stud position player in the everyday lineup (the Mets with Reyes and Wright are an exception, because those two are exceptional players).

 

The Cubs will be expected to reload instead of rebuild.

 

In other words, I think Murton has an edge over Theriot as that one guy to gamble on, unless Murton pushed out for a power LF. Then maybe Theriot gets the job. In order to consider both Murton and Theriot, you'd have to really improve SS and CF, but the market for those positions is tighter than LF and 2B, and the current GM has a love affair with guys already on the roster at those positions (Izturis and Pierre).

 

if thats the way the cubs think they they deserve to lose. they only thing they should be "expected" to do is win. if they havent learned yet that they arent going to win by signing high priced free agents instead of looking to their own system, there is little hope for the future imo.

 

I'm sorry but this point is a bit naive. Big market teams don't build from within these days. If you're a $100+ million team, you can afford to run with 4 or more $10 million plus players and slot and handful (maybe 4-5) roster positions for cheaper, productive youth.

 

It's an entirely diffeent discussion as whether or not you or I can respect this approach, because personally, it's not the approach I want to root for as a fan. But reality is what it is.

 

On a big market team, assuming no injury replacement scenarios, only the cream of the farm system has a shot to break through, and these names are usually names people recognize from hype.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm sorry but this point is a bit naive. Big market teams don't build from within these days.

 

I agree with most of your point, however, smart big market teams do indeed build from within. They are just more capable of keeping those building blocks and surrounding them with outsiders at the same team.

[tspain]

Hi everyone. I have not logged in and posted for quite awhile, although I have read here most every day.

 

I remember hearing Bob Brenly say that Matt Murton would win a batting title. I know he is very high on Murton. Did anyone else hear that comment. Don't remember if it was during a game or on WGN sometime.

 

I sure wish Dusty would have played Ryan Theriot every day at 2B so we would know whether he could handle the duties next season. Instead, even when he has started and done well, he is benched the next day, for a no hit, no field, player. Go figure.

 

Fire Dusty.

 

Pastor Tom Spain

[JeffH]

It would be extremely stupid to trade Matt Murton for what you could likely get in return.

 

As such, I expect the Cubs to do it.

[SCCubbieFAN]

I don't know if this has ever been suggested in this or any other thread but does anyone think Murton can handle center? He has decent speed and reminds me a bit of a young Jim Edmunds.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I don't know if this has ever been suggested in this or any other thread but does anyone think Murton can handle center? He has decent speed and reminds me a bit of a young Jim Edmunds.

 

His defense in LF is average at best. In CF he would be among the NL's worst defenders.

[Rob]

I don't know if this has ever been suggested in this or any other thread but does anyone think Murton can handle center? He has decent speed and reminds me a bit of a young Jim Edmunds.

 

His defense in LF is average at best. In CF he would be among the NL's worst defenders.

 

The only fielding stat I trust has him coming in at 12 runs better than the average LF... a very significant margin.

[SouthSideRyan]

Curious, Rob, what fielding stat is that? As I said, I don't really trust defensive metrics, as every one I've checked out seems to have 5 glaring WTFs on them.

[MPrior]

Not that this thread was ever supposed to be about what to do with Murton and Theriot next year, but here are my thoughts:

 

Hendry should do his best to keep Murton starting in LF next year. Only the opportunity for a very significant, long-term upgrade (Cabrera, Dunn) should change that, I feel. I believe he will continue to improve, and could very possibly become a very good hitter - and he's already producing at a decent rate as it is.

 

Theriot should probably not be starting. I know he's been great for us so far, but his MiL numbers strongly suggest that he won't keep it up. It is possible (although unlikely), however, that he's turned a corner somehow and will continue to produce, so I think he should get as much playing time as he can as the principal utility infielder next year. On top of that, 2B is going to be one of the easiest positions to upgrade this offseason, as there are several reasonable (and not so reasonable) FA 2B on the market.

 

That said, if Hendry can pull off significant upgrades in SS and/or CF (say, Andruw Jones or Vernon Wells in CF, or Tejada - yeah right - at SS) or move Jones to CF and land a big-time RF, then Theriot could certainly compete for a starting job.

[Rob]

Curious, Rob, what fielding stat is that? As I said, I don't really trust defensive metrics, as every one I've checked out seems to have 5 glaring WTFs on them.

 

FRAR and FRAA... you can probably grab them over at baseballprospectus without needing a subscription.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Davenport translations aren't very good.

[Rob]

Davenport translations aren't very good.

 

I trust them more than Range Factor or UZR.

 

What do you use?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Davenport translations aren't very good.

 

I trust them more than Range Factor or UZR.

 

What do you use?

 

UZR was the gold standard when it was still updated. There's several on BTF that use PBP data(count the rings, PMR, etc.) Range factor is garbage. There was a comparison someone did a while back about several different metrics, I'll try to find the link.

[Rob]

Yeah, I'd appreciate it if you could find that.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Yeah, I'd appreciate it if you could find that.

 

Crap, I can't seem to find it. I swear it's real though. You may not have liked it anyways, since they were using UZR as the basis of their comparison. The conclusion with regards to DT's is that they were the least accurate of the group, but I can't remember what other metrics were in there.

[Mephistopheles]

Rate2 and FRAR and DT fielding only uses data found in a box score. Clay Davenport likes that so he can find fielding figures for all-time.