let the whining about playing time begin...

[Backtobanks]

Maybe Lou can use his powers of persuasion to convince Soriano that not only should he bat in the middle of the lineup, but he should play RF too. Assuming it wouldn't affect his offense, Soriano in RF makes the most sense. A future OF of Murton, Pie, and Soriano would provide decent defense at the corners, spectacular defense in CF, and strong arms in CF and RF.

[Abe Frohman]

Murton's arm strength is not a joke. That 15 inning game he threw a strike to home from deep RF. He doesn't have a traditional RF's arm, but he doesn't have a noodle like people are implying.

He obviously doesn't have a noodle, but he doesn't have a Howitzer either. I am sure he could cut it, and I am all for it if playing RF keeps him in the lineup - but my point is that he is suited better for LF than RF.

 

The reason RF arm strength is overrated, is how many bases is a poor armed RF gonna make compared to a good armed RF? I'd rather have the stronger arm in LF than RF as I think there are just as many chances for a LF to throw a guy out stretching a double or trying to score as there are for a RF to 2nd, 3rd, and home based on the fact that more balls go to LF than RF. The fact that it's a golden rule of baseball means nothing. There's a lot of asinine golden rules of baseball. Dusty is a golden rule of baseball type.

 

Having a stronger armed guy in RF is absolutely NOT asinine. Have you ever made that throw from deep right to 3rd base? If you can hit that on a line, you have talent. Soriano could do that, so I have always wondered why they were not working him out in RF in Spring Training.

 

If you think about it, late in a close game is when a player is REALLY going to consider when and when not to run on an OFers arm. When you have a Dawson, Vladimir Guerrero, or any other strong armed RFer - you are going to stay at 2nd instead of running on him. You can't tell me that is not invaluable.

[hardcorecubfan]

I am ticked I haven't been getting enough playing time also. As said I do hope Lou can convince Sori not to lead off

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Uh, they could have Pie, Murton, Veal, Gallagher, Jesus, Buddha and Tim if it would bring Cabrera here.

Even if that meant the demise of NSBB? :D

 

I'd gladly read cubs.com every day if it meant the Cubs would win a world series.

 

I'd stop reading

[abuck1220]

Murton's arm strength is not a joke. That 15 inning game he threw a strike to home from deep RF. He doesn't have a traditional RF's arm, but he doesn't have a noodle like people are implying.

He obviously doesn't have a noodle, but he doesn't have a Howitzer either. I am sure he could cut it, and I am all for it if playing RF keeps him in the lineup - but my point is that he is suited better for LF than RF.

 

The reason RF arm strength is overrated, is how many bases is a poor armed RF gonna make compared to a good armed RF? I'd rather have the stronger arm in LF than RF as I think there are just as many chances for a LF to throw a guy out stretching a double or trying to score as there are for a RF to 2nd, 3rd, and home based on the fact that more balls go to LF than RF. The fact that it's a golden rule of baseball means nothing. There's a lot of asinine golden rules of baseball. Dusty is a golden rule of baseball type.

 

Having a stronger armed guy in RF is absolutely NOT asinine. Have you ever made that throw from deep right to 3rd base? If you can hit that on a line, you have talent. Soriano could do that, so I have always wondered why they were not working him out in RF in Spring Training.

 

If you think about it, late in a close game is when a player is REALLY going to consider when and when not to run on an OFers arm. When you have a Dawson, Vladimir Guerrero, or any other strong armed RFer - you are going to stay at 2nd instead of running on him. You can't tell me that is not invaluable.

 

that happens, what, once every two weeks?

[Abe Frohman]

that happens, what, once every two weeks?

 

It happens. No one knows when.

[muntjack]

Someone needs to be dumped. One of Murton/Jones/Floyd has got to go.

 

Personally, I'd trade Murton. Like it or not, Soriano has LF locked up for years to come. Murton looks horrible in RF. If he was an above average offensive corner outfielder, I wouldn't complain, but he's not.

 

I've been saying this for about a month now. Don't get me wrong, I love Matt Murton, and I still think he'll be a very productive player, but there is just no room for a RH bat in the outfield.

 

1. Like most managers, Lou believes in putting as many LH in to face RHP as is possible.

 

2. Izturis, Jones and Floyd are the only LH hitters that play (semi) regularly.

 

3. Jones and Floyd are the only REAL threats from the left side

 

=

 

4. Jones and Floyd will be in the lineup against 90% of RHP & will almost certainly NOT be traded. ( Jones could be if Pie continues to destroy AAA, but that does nothing for Murton)

 

We would have to acquire a big time LH SS or 2B if we want to see MM play regularly, this season or in the future. And there is no big time LH SS or 2B available.

 

I just don't understand this at all. We don't need more LH bats. We need guys that can hit LHP (or, preferably, guys that can hit both LHP and RHP). The fact that Lou wants more LH bats is just an old traditional stupid thing managers do. It doesn't matter what side of the plate you stand on, what matters is how well you can hit the pitching.

 

One of my biggest problems with trading Murton is it leaves us with an OF of Soriano, JJ, and Floyd. Floyd is no longer an everyday player anyway. But JJ and Floyd both struggle something awful against LHP. When we face a LHP, we're either going to have Soriano, Pagan, DeRosa(?) in the OF or we're going to have to suffer through 3/4 ABs from JJ or Floyd against LHP - which are near automatic outs (Floyd's OBP against LHP hasn't been above .300 since 2003; it's been since '04 for JJ, but that year his SLG against LHP matched his OBP (.329 v. .328 - yikes)). Our bench isn't deep enough to have 2 platoons, especially if we trade Murton.

 

Murton can hit both LHP and RHP. He doesn't slug as well (based on last year's stats) against RHP, but his OBP is still very good (.356). Put him in the 2-spot against all comers for a year and see what happens.

 

 

Dude, I completely understand this. My point was that the organization does not.

[SouthSideRyan]

that happens, what, once every two weeks?

 

It happens. No one knows when.

 

Guys trying to score from 2nd on basehits to LF happens more often.

[Abe Frohman]

Hmmmmmmmm.

[VicCub]

Maybe Lou can use his powers of persuasion to convince Soriano that not only should he bat in the middle of the lineup, but he should play RF too. Assuming it wouldn't affect his offense, Soriano in RF makes the most sense. A future OF of Murton, Pie, and Soriano would provide decent defense at the corners, spectacular defense in CF, and strong arms in CF and RF.

 

I agree with you backtobanks. Why can't Murton/Floyd play LF, Jones in CF w/ Pagan for late innings, and Alf in RF?