Nice article on Murton

[NewUserName]

It is also hard to patient with any player who isn't established when the team is sucking. If you are winning, you can carry a guy and hope he hits. Tough to do when the sharks are screaming for blood.

 

 

This is failed logic. If this was the case than the Cubs ought to just get rid of their minor league system and use the saved money for free agents from other teams. Secondly Murton has proven to be a effective Major League player. Lou just runs him to the bench everytime he has a couple of bad games

[Sammy Sofa]

I think the Cubs need to better with their fulltime outfielders than Murton, Monroe or Floyd next year.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Murton got jobbed this year, but hopefully we can still use him as a trading chip this offseason. Unfortunately with the construction of the current roster the best chance of having a good offense is acquiring someone to play RF next year. Since Murton is no guarantee of the production we'd like(yes, even with his .800 OPS in '06), I'd rather they look to someone like Quentin(who is undervalued and plays world class defense in RF) for that gamble, or go get someone who isn't a strong defender but can mash(Burrell).

[NewUserName]

Murton got jobbed this year, but hopefully we can still use him as a trading chip this offseason. Unfortunately with the construction of the current roster the best chance of having a good offense is acquiring someone to play RF next year. Since Murton is no guarantee of the production we'd like(yes, even with his .800 OPS in '06), I'd rather they look to someone like Quentin(who is undervalued and plays world class defense in RF) for that gamble, or go get someone who isn't a strong defender but can mash(Burrell).

 

 

I like this move and would support it fully. For some reason I suspect that the Cubs will be looking in the inexpensive veteran free agent bin though. I would have no problem with the Cubs just giving the job to Murton, I just dont think its going to happen.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Murton got jobbed this year, but hopefully we can still use him as a trading chip this offseason. Unfortunately with the construction of the current roster the best chance of having a good offense is acquiring someone to play RF next year. Since Murton is no guarantee of the production we'd like(yes, even with his .800 OPS in '06), I'd rather they look to someone like Quentin(who is undervalued and plays world class defense in RF) for that gamble, or go get someone who isn't a strong defender but can mash(Burrell).

 

I'd like to look toward Fukudome.

[Sammy Sofa]

Murton got jobbed this year, but hopefully we can still use him as a trading chip this offseason. Unfortunately with the construction of the current roster the best chance of having a good offense is acquiring someone to play RF next year. Since Murton is no guarantee of the production we'd like(yes, even with his .800 OPS in '06), I'd rather they look to someone like Quentin(who is undervalued and plays world class defense in RF) for that gamble, or go get someone who isn't a strong defender but can mash(Burrell).

 

I'd like to look toward Fukudome.

 

Moi aussi.

[NewUserName]

Murton got jobbed this year, but hopefully we can still use him as a trading chip this offseason. Unfortunately with the construction of the current roster the best chance of having a good offense is acquiring someone to play RF next year. Since Murton is no guarantee of the production we'd like(yes, even with his .800 OPS in '06), I'd rather they look to someone like Quentin(who is undervalued and plays world class defense in RF) for that gamble, or go get someone who isn't a strong defender but can mash(Burrell).

 

I'd like to look toward Fukudome.

 

Moi aussi.

 

 

I would be in favor of this also. Will the Cubs have enough payroll to get him though.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Murton got jobbed this year, but hopefully we can still use him as a trading chip this offseason. Unfortunately with the construction of the current roster the best chance of having a good offense is acquiring someone to play RF next year. Since Murton is no guarantee of the production we'd like(yes, even with his .800 OPS in '06), I'd rather they look to someone like Quentin(who is undervalued and plays world class defense in RF) for that gamble, or go get someone who isn't a strong defender but can mash(Burrell).

 

I'd like to look toward Fukudome.

 

Moi aussi.

 

 

I would be in favor of this also. Will the Cubs have enough payroll to get him though.

 

I think that might depend on who the new owner is. Maybe Toyota will buy the Cubs...

[Peoriaman]

Murton with 3 hits last night. Good start on the road to more playing time.

[TheDude]

Murton looked better last night, but his trouble, along with Pie, has been over-aggression at the plate. I don't recall 2006 swinging at the first pitch nearly as often as 2007 Murton. And there are times both these kids hack at the first pitch when a guy is struggling to find the plate, thereby doing the pitcher a great favor.

 

I hope Murton gets a real shot in 2008 somewhere, but I don't see it for the Cubs. He's one of the pieces that will be traded for a 'big bat'.

[frostwyrm]

I can't see any chance of Murton coming back for 2008. It's stupid that he wasn't moved months ago.

[Rob]

I can see Jimbo doing something really stupid like trading Murton for a Dannys Baez type... at which point I will be forced to lynch him.

[cubfan1955]

Murton has no value at this point so I'm not sure what you expect Jim to get for him.

[Rob]

Murton has no value at this point so I'm not sure what you expect Jim to get for him.

 

He has more value to this team than another fungible middle reliever with a hefty payroll cost does. I don't want Jim to try to get anything for him... I'd rather we just hold onto him and get some production.

[seanimal]

Murton has no value at this point so I'm not sure what you expect Jim to get for him.

 

His SNLDVAR (Support-Neutral Lineup-adjusted Discussion Value Against Replacement) on this board is through the roof.

 

That's gotta count for something.

[NCCubFan]

I can see Jimbo doing something really stupid like trading Murton for a Dannys Baez type... at which point I will be forced to lynch him.

And you would then get a ticker-tape parade in your honor. :D

[Peoriaman]

Murton has no value at this point so I'm not sure what you expect Jim to get for him.

 

His SNLDVAR (Support-Neutral Lineup-adjusted Discussion Value Against Replacement) on this board is through the roof.

 

That's gotta count for something.

 

 

snicker.

[NewUserName]

Murton has no value at this point so I'm not sure what you expect Jim to get for him.

 

 

I bet Murton wouldnt clear waivers. As opposed to every other OFer on the Cubs.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

no way in hell would Murton clear waivers.

[Rob]

I can see Jimbo doing something really stupid like trading Murton for a Dannys Baez type... at which point I will be forced to lynch him.

And you would then get a ticker-tape parade in your honor. :D

 

Let's hope the District Attorney is a poster here...

[cubfan1955]

Murton has no value at this point so I'm not sure what you expect Jim to get for him.

 

 

I bet Murton wouldnt clear waivers. As opposed to every other OFer on the Cubs.

 

No, he probably wouldn't. He's young and cheap and has shown some patience at the plate earlier in his career. But any GM calling the Cubs about a trade are sure to point out his 2007 numbers, not his 2006 numbers. It would be pointless to trade him when his value is at the lowest in his career...which is why I suppose the Cubs will probably do it. They seem to enjoy trading them at the worst possible time. They would have been better off letting him rake AAA pitching for the remainder of the year and then trying to include him in a trade over the winter. It's pretty obvious at this point though he has no future with the Cubs.

[Peoriaman]

Please Matt, get one clutch hit with men on base. Please.

[SouthSideRyan]

Please Matt, get one clutch hit with men on base. Please.

 

You just leave this thread open on your desktop waiting for the oppurtunity?

[NewUserName]

Please Matt, get one clutch hit with men on base. Please.

 

 

Since it is a proven fact that a vast majority of players do not hit any worse or better in these situations than normal ones. Would it be appropriate to assume that Murton will improve to the norm in these situations. Kind of like it was appropriate to assume that Jones would improve in the 2nd half because he was not nearly as bad as he was in the first half

 

One thing that I find more and more strange as the season has progressed is Murtons complete inability to pinch-hit. Yet Piniella seems to send him up there quite a bit to pinch hit. I havent figured them but I would venture to guess that Murtons numbers as a starter are not really that bad. His pinchhitting numbers probably really pull them down.

[CubColtPacer]

Please Matt, get one clutch hit with men on base. Please.

 

 

Since it is a proven fact that a vast majority of players do not hit any worse or better in these situations than normal ones. Would it be appropriate to assume that Murton will improve to the norm in these situations. Kind of like it was appropriate to assume that Jones would improve in the 2nd half because he was not nearly as bad as he was in the first half

 

One thing that I find more and more strange as the season has progressed is Murtons complete inability to pinch-hit. Yet Piniella seems to send him up there quite a bit to pinch hit. I havent figured them but I would venture to guess that Murtons numbers as a starter are not really that bad. His pinchhitting numbers probably .3really pull them down.

 

Murton's numbers while in the game as an OF (pretty much only as a starter)

 

.275/.341/.388