Murton on the block?!

[SouthSideRyan]

Ummm, ladies and gentlemen--it was a little blurb in a non-chicago article. Does anyone think we might be overreacting just a bit--I dont want to trade Murton either, but to be fair for all we know neither does Jim Hendry. Let's at least wait until he is traded before we start to crucify him!

 

I was starting to think that I was the only rational person left on NSBB. I am amazed how some posters overreact to anything that happens to be whispered by someone. I have supported Hendry in the past, but I can't believe he would give up Murton for a relief pitcher especially since we seem to lead the league in quantity (not quality) of relief pitchers. As some posters have pointed out, Murton is the kind of player that you package with pitching prospects to get a big name player. I don't believe this rumor unless it is really an outstanding relief pitcher.

 

 

I was thinking the same thing. First, the over-reaction to a rumor. Second, that trading Murton would not be even close to the worst thing Hendry has done. If the Cubs were playing fantasy baseball, then Murton has has good value, but when you actually have to put a 9 man team on the field, mixing defense with offense, Murton has avg. value.

 

Yeah cause Murton gets tons of HRs, SBs, and RBI. I love that "fantasy baseball" has become code for when actually looking at stats.

[C.C.]

Murton was tried out in RF and he sucked.

 

Jesus, this is getting annoying.

 

He didn't suck?

[Rob]

Soriano will anchor LF for 7 more seasons, Pie is the heir apparent in CF and honestly, I don't see Murton producing enough offensively (or defensively) in RF to secure the job full time. BP projects him to hit 15 home runs in 507 PA. Even if he were to reach his 90th percentile he'd only hit 23 home runs with 35 doubles and 84 RBI. I think the Cubs will eventually trade him or relegate him to full-time bench player status (similar to right now except on a permanent basis). Considering the options, I wouldn't have a problem with trading him for something that can upgrade the ML roster.

 

Murton does the most important thing for a baseball player more often than anybody on this team besides DLee and as well as Aramis. This very second, he is a more complete offensive player than Floyd or Jacque, so I don't see how you can say he wont produce enough offensively.

[Rob]

Murton was tried out in RF and he sucked.

 

Jesus, this is getting annoying.

 

He didn't suck?

 

Murton is an above average LFer... it's not his fault Lou is a crappy manager and put the guy with the better arm in LF.

[Shawon12]

I'm not defending Soriano, but if I were a Cub pitcher, I much rather have Soriano out there than Murton. I like Matt, but he gives up more than he drives in. Again, if they only thing you care about is OBP and offensive stats, than Matt's probably your guy. Time will tell. We heard the same thing about Dubois.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

except dubois never did anything, and Matt showed all of last year he can be a good hitter if given playing time.

[C.C.]

Murton was tried out in RF and he sucked.

 

Jesus, this is getting annoying.

 

He didn't suck?

 

Murton is an above average LFer... it's not his fault Lou is a crappy manager and put the guy with the better arm in LF.

 

 

Huh? Your post made no sense?

[C.C.]

I'm not defending Soriano, but if I were a Cub pitcher, I much rather have Soriano out there than Murton. I like Matt, but he gives up more than he drives in. Again, if they only thing you care about is OBP and offensive stats, than Matt's probably your guy. Time will tell. We heard the same thing about Dubois.

 

Dubois and Murton are worlds apart. No comparison what-so-ever....

[Tracer Bullet]

Soriano will anchor LF for 7 more seasons, Pie is the heir apparent in CF and honestly, I don't see Murton producing enough offensively (or defensively) in RF to secure the job full time. BP projects him to hit 15 home runs in 507 PA. Even if he were to reach his 90th percentile he'd only hit 23 home runs with 35 doubles and 84 RBI. I think the Cubs will eventually trade him or relegate him to full-time bench player status (similar to right now except on a permanent basis). Considering the options, I wouldn't have a problem with trading him for something that can upgrade the ML roster.

 

If Soriano doesn't find his .900+ OPS pretty damn quick, he's going to be the $136m anchor that sinks the damn ship.

[Shawon12]

I'm not defending Soriano, but if I were a Cub pitcher, I much rather have Soriano out there than Murton. I like Matt, but he gives up more than he drives in. Again, if they only thing you care about is OBP and offensive stats, than Matt's probably your guy. Time will tell. We heard the same thing about Dubois.

 

Dubois and Murton are worlds apart. No comparison what-so-ever....

 

Time will tell how different they are. My money is on Murton having a slightly better career... Murton's a little longer, but if he get's traded, he put his new manager in the same situation.

[JeffH]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the ship sunk a long time ago.

[C.C.]

I'm not defending Soriano, but if I were a Cub pitcher, I much rather have Soriano out there than Murton. I like Matt, but he gives up more than he drives in. Again, if they only thing you care about is OBP and offensive stats, than Matt's probably your guy. Time will tell. We heard the same thing about Dubois.

 

Dubois and Murton are worlds apart. No comparison what-so-ever....

 

Time will tell how different they are. My money is on Murton having a slightly better career... Murton's a little longer, but if he get's traded, he put his new manager in the same situation.

 

Murton is far better in every single offensive category. I don't even have to look it up...

[Rob]

Murton was tried out in RF and he sucked.

 

Jesus, this is getting annoying.

 

He didn't suck?

 

Murton is an above average LFer... it's not his fault Lou is a crappy manager and put the guy with the better arm in LF.

 

 

Huh? Your post made no sense?

 

Murton belong in LF, where he is above average.

 

Soriano belongs in RF, where his arm is more useful.

 

It's not Murton's fault Lou can't manage his team correctly and he's playing out of position. Would we blame him if he were having trouble playing SS?

[wilk]

Murton is an above average LFer... it's not his fault Lou is a crappy manager and put the guy with the better arm in LF.

 

Soriano belongs in RF, where his arm is more useful.

 

Rob, the difference between left and rightfield is not only your arm. It's a little ridiculous to act as if it is. Soriano would be much worse in right than he is in left. Soriano's problem is getting a good read on the ball and taking the right route. This is significantly more difficult to do in rightfield.

 

First of all, in all of those days games the sun is going to be in the rightfielder's eyes most of the time. Therefore, in Wrigley the rightfielder must rely on anticipation much more so than sight. This is something Soriano has a very difficult time with.

 

Secondly, the most difficult ball for Soriano to judge is the opposite field slice. Obviously this would be a much more frequent adventure in rightfield considering the ratio of RHB:LHB. There's also plenty who say that ball off a righty bat tails more making it even more difficult but that's rather arbitrary.

 

In rightfield, Soriano would have to take the hits that give him the most trouble much more often and with obstacles to make it even more difficult...

 

His arm is the only thing that would be any good in right. In terms of team construction, there's no doubt you'd want Soriano in center or right longterm--and there might be enough to improve and turn him into one-- but right now it's very clear why he isn't in rightfield and it's certainly not because some dummy didn't think about it.

Edited May 23, 2007 by wilk

[rocket]

maybe wayne krivsky secretly runs the cubs

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I'd rather have Sammy in RF.

[NewUserName]

Last season he had an 809 OPS and a 365 OBP when given enough playing time. There is no reason he couldn't produce those #s, even surpass them if given a chance to play on a regular basis.

 

Do you really need me to give you a gigantic list of players who had a similarly good season in their rookie or sophomore year only to flop afterwards? Once again, I'm a fan of Murton and only somewhat playing devil's advocate here, but let's be realistic. His numbers last year do not mean "there is no reason" it won't happen this year with regular play.

 

 

Yes I would. I know this was back from page 2, but players who put up plus .800 OPS in their first full season arent as prevelent as you or obviously the Cubs think. I also would like to point out that probably at least half the players on last years all-star team were not as good in their first full season.

[wilk]

Yes I would. I know this was back from page 2, but players who put up plus .800 OPS in their first full season arent as prevelent as you or obviously the Cubs think. I also would like to point out that probably at least half the players on last years all-star team were not as good in their first full season.

 

It was rhetorical. I'm not going to compile a list of everyone who had an .800 OPS in their first full season worth of at-bats. Besides, I only said someone who had a similarly good season only to not quite duplicate the season. That's different. But, anyway, some guys who had an .800 OPS in the first season and then never top that season would be Ben Grieve, Eric Hinske, Khalil Greene, Junior Spivey, Jody Gerut, Lew Ford, Terrmel Sledge, Chris Singleton, Ron Belliard... there's plenty more. And of course half the players on last years All-Star team were not as good in their first full season as they are now. I think that's common sense and unrelated.

Edited May 23, 2007 by wilk

[SouthSideRyan]

Murton was tried out in RF and he sucked.

 

Jesus, this is getting annoying.

 

He didn't suck?

 

No he didn't. Losing a fly ball and making a bad throw doesn't mean you suck in the field. Murton is averageish in RF.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

maybe wayne krivsky secretly runs the cubs

 

that would explain why he's doing such a crappy job with the Reds

[Rob]

Murton is an above average LFer... it's not his fault Lou is a crappy manager and put the guy with the better arm in LF.

 

Soriano belongs in RF, where his arm is more useful.

 

Rob, the difference between left and rightfield is not only your arm. It's a little ridiculous to act as if it is. Soriano would be much worse in right than he is in left. Soriano's problem is getting a good read on the ball and taking the right route. This is significantly more difficult to do in rightfield.

 

First of all, in all of those days games the sun is going to be in the rightfielder's eyes most of the time. Therefore, in Wrigley the rightfielder must rely on anticipation much more so than sight. This is something Soriano has a very difficult time with.

 

Secondly, the most difficult ball for Soriano to judge is the opposite field slice. Obviously this would be a much more frequent adventure in rightfield considering the ratio of RHB:LHB. There's also plenty who say that ball off a righty bat tails more making it even more difficult but that's rather arbitrary.

 

In rightfield, Soriano would have to take the hits that give him the most trouble much more often and with obstacles to make it even more difficult...

 

His arm is the only thing that would be any good in right. In terms of team construction, there's no doubt you'd want Soriano in center or right longterm--and there might be enough to improve and turn him into one-- but right now it's very clear why he isn't in rightfield and it's certainly not because some dummy didn't think about it.

 

I'm not debating that Soriano would have trouble in RF. But would your opinion of him change if he were the one forced into RF duty on the fly that he was ill-prepared for? Cause that's what your judging Murton on.

 

Bottom line, one of Murton or Soriano was going to get screwed, and Lou chose to stick it to the rook. I'm not debating whether that was right or wrong, but I'm saying it's unfair to judge Murton on the basis of being a true RF. He's only had a handful of innings to try and figure it out.

[wilk]

That's not what I'm judging Murton on. The only point on his defense is that it's not something sitting in his favor. Murton in right is not sticking it to him. He's in right because Lou believes he does those things I just explained you have to do in rightfield better than Soriano does. Yes Soriano has more speed and a better arm but we see these put to better use in left -- rather than speed without range and arm without chance like it might be in right. Murton isn't being judged on the basis of being a true RF per se but he clearly has less value TO THIS TEAM if rightfield is the only position available for him to play. He has good defensive anticipation and good offensive discipline but as an everyday rightfielder he'd need a better arm, more range and more power. It's too bad we can't merge Murton and Soriano into one RF.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Murton was tried out in RF and he sucked.

 

Jesus, this is getting annoying.

 

He didn't suck?

 

No he didn't. Losing a fly ball and making a bad throw doesn't mean you suck in the field. Murton is averageish in RF.

 

Maybe you missed everybody and their mother taking the extra base on his arm. That's not "average" for RF.

[abuck1220]

Murton was tried out in RF and he sucked.

 

Jesus, this is getting annoying.

 

He didn't suck?

 

No he didn't. Losing a fly ball and making a bad throw doesn't mean you suck in the field. Murton is averageish in RF.

 

Maybe you missed everybody and their mother taking the extra base on his arm. That's not "average" for RF.

 

and of course you have no evidence of this 'cept that you saw it a bunch, right?

[Guest]

Murton was tried out in RF and he sucked.

 

Jesus, this is getting annoying.

 

He didn't suck?

 

Murton is an above average LFer... it's not his fault Lou is a crappy manager and put the guy with the better arm in LF.

 

 

Huh? Your post made no sense?

 

Murton belong in LF, where he is above average.

 

Soriano belongs in RF, where his arm is more useful.

 

It's not Murton's fault Lou can't manage his team correctly and he's playing out of position. Would we blame him if he were having trouble playing SS?

 

YESSSSSSSSSS...Soriano to RF, Murton to LF.