Is Fontenot faster than Murton?

[Priorknowledge]

I got into a debate with a good friend about the Cubs' recent roster maneuvering. We were listing pros and cons of each player who was a bubble player and we hit a wall when discussing a certain aspect of Murton and Fontenot. Without disclosing what side of this argument I am on, I am curious to what the dedicated cubs fans of nsbb think.

[17 Seconds]

Fontenot and I don't think it's even close. I often hear people say Murton is fairly fast and I just don't get where that's coming from.

[Roast]

Fontenot and I don't think it's even close. I often hear people say Murton is fairly fast and I just don't get where that's coming from.

Probably the fact that he's fairly fast.

 

Granted, he's no Joey Gathright, but you don't get that many infield singles by being slow.

[17 Seconds]

I'd say the reason he gets infield hits is due more to the fact that he hits a lot of ground balls, not because of his speed.

[17 Seconds]

I can't believe someone has actually pick Murton already.

[Roast]

I'd say the reason he gets infield hits is due more to the fact that he hits a lot of ground balls, not because of his speed.

Well of course, but if he wasn't as fast he wouldn't beat nearly as many of them out. I'm not trying to say he's a speed racer, and I'm not even saying he's faster than Fontenot (I really don't remember how fast Fontenot is/isn't) - Im just saying he's got what seems to be above average speed.

[imb]

mike fontenot career high in SB: 16

 

matt murton career high in SB: 20 (and 18 in AA)

[Rob]

They're about even. I'd have to give a slight edge to Murton, though.

[series65cubsfan]

Isn't about the first step step though? (instinct) I have good reactions but run a 5.0 in the 40'. Murton is probably faster but can he grab the 'hot' corner? put me in front of a ping-pong table and we'll have a match. Then it becomes 'footwork' or fundamentals and that I don't have. Fudge, I pitched. A ball hit at me I'll grab with my pitching hand. So, who is faster? Are you looking at '40 speeds or who can position themselves to make the play? Big difference.

[17 Seconds]

mike fontenot career high in SB: 16

 

matt murton career high in SB: 20 (and 18 in AA)

 

That doesn't mean he's faster. Pie is faster than Brian Roberts but Roberts is a much better base stealer.

[17 Seconds]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/wrap.jsp?ymd=20070405&content_id=1880974&vkey=wrapup2005&fext=.jsp&team=away&c_id=chc

 

Click "top play" and then "Ramirez's RBI double."

 

Now tell me Fontenot isn't faster than that.

[CubColtPacer]

Regardless of who could win in a track meet, Fontenot is the overall better baserunner. Murton is way too hesitant, especially at third base.

[Skyballer]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/wrap.jsp?ymd=20070405&content_id=1880974&vkey=wrapup2005&fext=.jsp&team=away&c_id=chc

 

Click "top play" and then "Ramirez's RBI double."

 

Now tell me Fontenot isn't faster than that.

Yea no kidding, Fontenot has decent speed, Murton does not.

[Roast]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/wrap.jsp?ymd=20070405&content_id=1880974&vkey=wrapup2005&fext=.jsp&team=away&c_id=chc

 

Click "top play" and then "Ramirez's RBI double."

 

Now tell me Fontenot isn't faster than that.

Yea no kidding, Fontenot has decent speed, Murton does not.

 

Yes, one short clip of murton apparently being slow around third shows beyond all reasonable doubt that he has terrible speed.

 

Murton is terribly hesitant on the bases at times, but I don't know how you can deny that he has at least avg/slightly above avg speed. You simply don't get that many infield singles - no matter how many groundballs you hit - by being a slow runner.

[biittner77]

Are people voting no because they are about the same? I'd bet that Fontenot is fatser but not my as much as people think.

 

More importantly, the Cubs seem to believe Fontenot is faster based on the fact that they seemed OK with him batting 2nd but they were hesitant to put Murton in that slot.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

who cares? Murton would win in a fistfight

[TruffleShuffle]

murton had a SB and fontenot was CS today. looks like we have our answer.

[Sammy Sofa]

who cares? Murton would win because he's not completely useless

 

Fixed.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

murton had a SB and fontenot was CS today. looks like we have our answer.

there you go. if I had pudding right now, I'd have to throw it out because I don't like eating proof

[Magnetic Curses]

no one here knows that.

[CuseCubFan69]

mike fontenot career high in SB: 16

 

matt murton career high in SB: 20 (and 18 in AA)

 

It's gotta be the shoes.

[Skyballer]

I take back my earlier post, Murton isn't slow and is a better player than Fontenot. That said, Fontenot is faster.