4/25 Brewers (Sheets) @ Cubs (Lilly) 1:20 PM WGN/WGN720

[Soriano12]

Lou, I appreciate you putting THE RIOT at shortstop finally, but Matt Murton deserves better than this...i mean if you're gonna put floyd in the two hole why not murton...i mean its not like floyd is hitting a lot of HRs to justify it...floyd=preston wilson when he bats in the two hole

 

Nuts and Bolts, Nuts and Bolts, Murton's gettin screwed

 

What I don't get is it seemed Lou was grooming Murton for that number 2 slot all Spring long. Who'd Murton piss off?

 

Maybe he is afraid the Sun might peek out today, that Murton, man...can't take the heat ya know?

[Banedon]

Any word on why Soriano isn't starting?

[C.C.]

Any word on why Soriano isn't starting?

 

It's wet out. That's my best guess...

[jersey cubs fan]

If he's really only going to play against LHP, then AAA is the best option.

 

It's a matter of days before Floyd and/or Jones play themselves out of the lineup - a la Izturis.

 

Weep not for Murton.

 

Unfortunately, he needs both to play themselves out of the lineup.

[muntjack]

murton getting the ol' rich hill treatment. pretty soon he'll get sent to AAA, then he'll come back and have a good last two months of the season (for the fifth place cubs). then he'll put up a .300/20/90 year next year and hendry can pat himself on the back for bringing him along at just the right pace.

 

If he's really only going to play against LHP, then AAA is the best option.

I'm really just shocked (I don't know why) that anyone would consider only playing Murton against LHP with this roster. Shocked. I shouldn't be surprised (and to some extent, I'm not) but it's absurd.

 

 

It really doesn't have that much to do with Murton.

 

It has to do with the fact that we have no left handed bats in the infield (save Izturis, and he doesn't count), so we have to get left handers in the lineup somehow (cubs organizational philosophy). That means the left handed bats HAVE to come from CF and RF, hence, no Murton.

[CubColtPacer]

Any word on why Soriano isn't starting?

 

Probably just precautionary-just come back from the injury, day game after night game, wet outside..sit him today, he gets 2 days more off, and he should be ready to go for the St. Louis series.

 

I haven't heard that this is the reason for sure though.

[Lefty]

...and hendry can pat himself on the back for bringing him along at just the right pace.

 

it is great news that theriot is at ss though. bout time.

 

Hendry will be gone by next year. So he may be patting himself on the back, but thankfully we won't witness it.

[jersey cubs fan]

murton getting the ol' rich hill treatment. pretty soon he'll get sent to AAA, then he'll come back and have a good last two months of the season (for the fifth place cubs). then he'll put up a .300/20/90 year next year and hendry can pat himself on the back for bringing him along at just the right pace.

 

If he's really only going to play against LHP, then AAA is the best option.

I'm really just shocked (I don't know why) that anyone would consider only playing Murton against LHP with this roster. Shocked. I shouldn't be surprised (and to some extent, I'm not) but it's absurd.

 

 

It really doesn't have that much to do with Murton.

 

It has to do with the fact that we have no left handed bats in the infield (save Izturis, and he doesn't count), so we have to get left handers in the lineup somehow (cubs organizational philosophy). That means the left handed bats HAVE to come from CF and RF, hence, no Murton.

 

Except none of that actually HAS to happen.

[Banedon]

Any word on why Soriano isn't starting?

 

Probably just precautionary-just come back from the injury, day game after night game, wet outside..sit him today, he gets 2 days more off, and he should be ready to go for the St. Louis series.

 

I haven't heard that this is the reason for sure though.

 

Makes sense, thanks.

[soapy]

If he's really only going to play against LHP, then AAA is the best option.

 

It's a matter of days before Floyd and/or Jones play themselves out of the lineup - a la Izturis.

 

Weep not for Murton.

 

People have been saying this for weeks. What about Floyd's 301 OPS in the last week is keeping him in front of Murton?

[VanceJergins]

murton getting the ol' rich hill treatment. pretty soon he'll get sent to AAA, then he'll come back and have a good last two months of the season (for the fifth place cubs). then he'll put up a .300/20/90 year next year and hendry can pat himself on the back for bringing him along at just the right pace.

 

it is great news that theriot is at ss though. bout time.

 

At least Hill actually struggled for awhile. Murton's ML line is .301/.367/.453. There really isn't an excuse for it. By the way, I'm not defending the treatment of Hill.

[windycityfan]

Unfortunately, he needs both to play themselves out of the lineup.

 

Not necessarily. He's started in RF as well - in case Jones is the one off to the bench.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

If Theriot looks half way decent today at ss, they might as well send down ronny, and make cesar the "neifi perez super sub" because that kid shouldnt ever leave the starting lineup.

 

then again neither should murton.

[soapy]

Unfortunately, he needs both to play themselves out of the lineup.

 

Not necessarily. He's started in RF as well - in case Jones is the one off to the bench.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA........good one.

[muntjack]

murton getting the ol' rich hill treatment. pretty soon he'll get sent to AAA, then he'll come back and have a good last two months of the season (for the fifth place cubs). then he'll put up a .300/20/90 year next year and hendry can pat himself on the back for bringing him along at just the right pace.

 

If he's really only going to play against LHP, then AAA is the best option.

I'm really just shocked (I don't know why) that anyone would consider only playing Murton against LHP with this roster. Shocked. I shouldn't be surprised (and to some extent, I'm not) but it's absurd.

 

 

It really doesn't have that much to do with Murton.

 

It has to do with the fact that we have no left handed bats in the infield (save Izturis, and he doesn't count), so we have to get left handers in the lineup somehow (cubs organizational philosophy). That means the left handed bats HAVE to come from CF and RF, hence, no Murton.

 

Except none of that actually HAS to happen.

 

I completely agree with you, but I'm shocked at how many people are surprised by this. It is not a new development. I guarantee you that if Pie hit from the right side, he would be in AAA right now.

[abuck1220]

let's not knock the cubs' "at least one lefty in the lineup" philosophy. the cubs' offensive numbers over the past few seasons have showed one thing -- they know what they're doing.

[Rusch33]

Game not starting @ 1:20.

 

Rain delay.

[98navigator]

Rain delay

[Derwood]

gah. any ETA on first pitch?

[Shilzzz]

does the forecast look like it's going to get any better, or is this one going to get washed out?

[Derwood]

for those of you hoping for a rainout, there seems to be a window of no rain from about 2:30 to 6

[Soriano12]

does the forecast look like it's going to get any better, or is this one going to get washed out?

 

Nope. 2007 is a complete wash out.

[VanceJergins]

let's not knock the cubs' "at least one lefty in the lineup" philosophy. the cubs' offensive numbers over the past few seasons have showed one thing -- they know what they're doing.

 

=D> I got a very good laugh out of that. Well played.

[CubinNY]

Sorry if this is not topical,

 

I'm going to defend Lou a little here. I think he's tried and is still trying to make this team better, but like I wrote yesterday, he is a chess player who was given too many bishops and not enough castles. He can move these guys around all he wants but at the end of the game he still can't get them in a positon to win, becuase he never had the right pieces to begin with.

 

I think Lou wants SLG out of the outfiled. That is traditionally where a teams gets it. That's why Murton is sitting. I don't think he recognizes that the Cubs need to get guys on base. He's a traditionalist, just like Hendry.

 

Similarly, "you gotta' be strong up the middle". Izturis has a repuation as a golve man. That's why he's playing. A tradionalist through and through.

 

But I think Lou can be swayed by results. Let's just hope it is soon enough.

[98navigator]

According to The Score, Piniella says Murton isn't playing because he has a stiff back.