Why Platoon Murton?

[bhogg]

I've read yet another article that suggest the cubs are considering a platoon player with Matt Murton.

 

I just don't see it. The guy had a great sophomore season and is poised to be even better this year --- especially with the increase in talent that surrounds him.

 

What do you guys think? Would a platoon be a good thing for him?

[soapy]

I've read yet another article that suggest the cubs are considering a platoon player with Matt Murton.

 

I just don't see it. The guy had a great sophomore season and is poised to be even better this year --- especially with the increase in talent that surrounds him.

 

What do you guys think? Would a platoon be a good thing for him?

I think some sports journalist just see a young guy, who makes a bare minimum (salary wise) and crushes lefties and just assumes he should be the one put in a platoon. However, anyone who has followed him closely can see that he's fine against RHP as well. I don't see a need to platoon him. Granted, if someone could be brought in cheaply who absolutely crushes RHP, I'm not against platooning him, I just don't think it's a priority or something that needs to be addressed. I'm much more interested in finding a platoon partner for Jones.

Edited November 22, 2006 by soapy

[Wheelimus]

Reason? None. Matts line against righties last year, .780 OPS, is good enough going forward, with him likely to improve.

 

Need? Perhaps. If Jacque Jones is still on your roster, and RF (Soriano) and CF (Lugo?) are taken, you can't ignore his .886 line against righties last year. That would be insane to do so. Combined, they would give you a near .900 OPS out of left field, which would rank pretty damn high in the league.

 

However, i'd rather put Lugo at short, Jacque in center, and let Matt start.

[MPrior]

It blows me away that people think to do this - in addition to not really being that helpful, it could very possibly stunt Murton's development, which seems to be coming along just fine. I'd like to see what he can do in another full season.

 

It would be one thing if there weren't any other areas of the team to improve - but platooning Murton is just stupid.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

The question is which Murton do we have for 2007. He had a horendous first half against righties and was at a .723 OPS clip against both. Then there was the second half Murton that was a .912 OPS hitter, including a great improvement against righties.

 

There are 2 things working against him; developing power (though he showed it in August and September) and the right handed dominated lineup. If he can have a first half like he ended last season, he deserves playing time. If he regresses, then he deserves to be a platoon/4th outfielder type.

[CuseCubFan69]

Who have the Cubs talked about as being the 4th OF?

[Drew Doughty]

Who have the Cubs talked about as being the 4th OF?

 

Floyd.

[CubColtPacer]

Who have the Cubs talked about as being the 4th OF?

 

I don't think the Cubs have talked about anybody-it was rumored a few days ago that Floyd might be the 4th outfielder in a platoon, but from the recent reports he probably wouldn't be considered for more than a bench role. The most recent reports speculate that Jones and Murton may platoon if the Cubs get another CF.

[Old Style]

Platooning Murton is a horrible idea.

[YearofDaCubs]

Platooning Murton is a horrible idea.

Endorsed.

[10man]

I think the few times that Lou has talked about Murton, he's been positive about his capabilities, and we know how much Hendry likes him. It's clear to me that Murton will get a clear shot to start the year in LF and i'm certain that he'll produce well enough to keep the job.

[NewUserName]

It has bothered me that people who are experts and are actually employed because of Baseball do not understand that a player usually takes 2 to 3 years or major league experience to develop into the player that he will become. The writers who write about the Cubs seem to think what you do in your first month in the Majors will be what you do for your career. Luckily Sandberg was able to rise above them. It seems in Chicago if you dont put up Rookie of the Year numbers you are tagged by the Media as no good and they would rather have Cliff Floyd, who isnt any better but has a name they know.

 

 

Sadly I think a couple of the pitchers who came up last year will be solid pitchers. Alot of members of the Chicago media have already deemed them no good.

[BigbadB]

Who is our current 4th outfielder? Angel Pagan or Freddie Bynum?

 

I'm a huge fan of Murton, but Murton can't beat this:

 

Floyd last 3 years against RHP: .277/.369/.498/.867

 

It doesn't necessarily have to be an exact platoon, but I'm all for adding Floyd and getting him some at bats against RHP.

 

Floyd not on the team< Floyd on the team

 

Not to mention the fact that if someone were to get hurt (most likely Floyd of the current bunch we have :D ), you have someone solid coming off the bench to pick up the slack.

 

Floyd is another guy who would not have much business batting against LHP, but Floyd might be a guy who could spell Derrek Lee at 1b occasionally as well.

[bhogg]

How do you know Murton can't beat that?

 

I don't know what his splits in the 2nd half were, but I'd venture to guess they were close to the line you just posted on Floyd.

 

You also have to figure that Lou and Perry won't be telling Matt to be more aggressive and generally fooling with his already great plate discipline.

 

Also, even though we're spending money left and right, we really don't need to spend money on Floyd. Murton is making the league minimum, so anything Floyd costs us could be spend on much needed pitching.

 

 

If Murton were closer to 28, k'd a bunch, and didn't show that much potential, we'd all be for platooning him.

 

 

If you platoon him, he'll maybe get 250 ABs. Based on what we've seen from him, doing that to him would be criminal.

[CuseCubFan69]

How do you know Murton can't beat that?

 

I don't know what his splits in the 2nd half were, but I'd venture to guess they were close to the line you just posted on Floyd.

 

You also have to figure that Lou and Perry won't be telling Matt to be more aggressive and generally fooling with his already great plate discipline.

 

Also, even though we're spending money left and right, we really don't need to spend money on Floyd. Murton is making the league minimum, so anything Floyd costs us could be spend on much needed pitching.

 

 

If Murton were closer to 28, k'd a bunch, and didn't show that much potential, we'd all be for platooning him.

 

 

If you platoon him, he'll maybe get 250 ABs. Based on what we've seen from him, doing that to him would be criminal.

 

Plus that Murton has to be better on defense and a better baserunner. I just don't know how happy Floyd would be if he was the guy that was only getting 250 AB's, that is if he were healthy.

 

Another thing that BbB pointed out that I'm worried about is Lee's health. What if he can't go back to his previous numbers and is a 25/280/340 type guy from here on? I would like some insurance for 1st too this year. I do not want to see a Mabry type there again for any amount of time.

[CubmanPi]

Platooning Murton is a horrible idea.

[bhogg]

I don't know that Murton's defense is a problem. There is no way for me to prove it or for anyone else to disprove it. That's one of those things that we'll just have to trust the organization on.

 

In my opinion, he's just an average fielder ---- hit him a fly ball and he'll catch it.

 

The more he patrols LF at Wrigley, the better he will get. RF and LF in Wrigley cannot possibly be easy to play.

[Warpticon]

How do you know Murton can't beat that?

 

I don't know what his splits in the 2nd half were, but I'd venture to guess they were close to the line you just posted on Floyd.

 

Overall: .390/.522/.911

 

I can't find second half righty splits, but I know it was better than the .295/.354/.426 he put up for the entire season against righties.

[Drew Doughty]

338/398/530 against righties in the second half

[Warpticon]

338/398/530 against righties in the second half

 

Wow, so he was better against righties than lefties in the second half? Yeah, definitely don't wanna platoon that guy.

[bhogg]

he hit .338 against righties?

 

un freakin real!

 

 

My mind is officially boggled as to why they'd consider a platoon.