Soriano to DL; Patterson to Chicago

[AlwaysaCub]

Matt Murton has perfected the swinging bunt!! You got to make room on the roster for that skill set!

 

If they bring up Patterson it just gives them more flexibility. They have Johnson who can play left and they obviously feel Dero and Fontenot are better hitters than the Big Murt. Well at least they both have more power.

 

Johnson is a platoon player. Look at his L/R splits. One thing this injury should NOT do is parlay a platoon player into an everyday spot.

 

I think the real reason why Murton isn't called up is because he has very similar splits as Reed. Which begs the question, why did we sign Reed when we already have Murton?

 

For the record...Murton and Johnson's career splits:

 

Murton vs. RHP: .280/.346/.425/.771

Murton vs. LHP: .326/.399/.510/.909

Johnson vs. RHP: .267/.328/.382/.710

Johnson vs. LHP: .309/.373/.461/.834

 

So Murton is obviously the better player.

 

Why don't we just trade for Frank Thomas and play him in left? He has better r/l splits than both of those guys, and since that's apparently all that matters, he'd be an all-star left fielder.

Edited April 16, 2008 by AlwaysaCub

[RedFlash]

You not trading Murton until the "right deal." Ok I get it, I do.

 

But you won't call him up, because he's neither a leadoff hitter, a CF, or a lefty?

 

My advice for the Cubs would be either trade Murton, or give him a legit shot. They are slipping him silly, by keeping him in the minors.

[UMFan83]

Matt Murton has perfected the swinging bunt!! You got to make room on the roster for that skill set!

 

If they bring up Patterson it just gives them more flexibility. They have Johnson who can play left and they obviously feel Dero and Fontenot are better hitters than the Big Murt. Well at least they both have more power.

 

Johnson is a platoon player. Look at his L/R splits. One thing this injury should NOT do is parlay a platoon player into an everyday spot.

 

I think the real reason why Murton isn't called up is because he has very similar splits as Reed. Which begs the question, why did we sign Reed when we already have Murton?

 

For the record...Murton and Johnson's career splits:

 

Murton vs. RHP: .280/.346/.425/.771

Murton vs. LHP: .326/.399/.510/.909

Johnson vs. RHP: .267/.328/.382/.710

Johnson vs. LHP: .309/.373/.461/.834

 

So Murton is obviously the better player.

 

Why don't we just trade for Frank Thomas and play him in left? He has better r/l splits than both of those guys, and since that's apparently all that matters, he'd be an all-star left fielder.

 

...because we don't already have Frank Thomas..?

 

I'm not sure what your argument is.

[bukie]

Why don't we just trade for Frank Thomas and play him in left? He has better r/l splits than both of those guys, and since that's apparently all that matters, he'd be an all-star left fielder.

 

Yes, let's simply ignore the fact that Murton actually plays left field defensively, then your analogy is perfect.

[SouthSideRyan]

Matt Murton has perfected the swinging bunt!! You got to make room on the roster for that skill set!

 

If they bring up Patterson it just gives them more flexibility. They have Johnson who can play left and they obviously feel Dero and Fontenot are better hitters than the Big Murt. Well at least they both have more power.

 

Johnson is a platoon player. Look at his L/R splits. One thing this injury should NOT do is parlay a platoon player into an everyday spot.

 

I think the real reason why Murton isn't called up is because he has very similar splits as Reed. Which begs the question, why did we sign Reed when we already have Murton?

 

For the record...Murton and Johnson's career splits:

 

Murton vs. RHP: .280/.346/.425/.771

Murton vs. LHP: .326/.399/.510/.909

Johnson vs. RHP: .267/.328/.382/.710

Johnson vs. LHP: .309/.373/.461/.834

 

So Murton is obviously the better player.

 

Why don't we just trade for Frank Thomas and play him in left? He has better r/l splits than both of those guys, and since that's apparently all that matters, he'd be an all-star left fielder.

 

It's a little known fact that Matt Murton in fact only has 1 leg and 3 fingers on his right hand. It is fairly well known that Reed Johnson traces his lineage back to Ozzie Smith.

 

IT'S LEFT FIELD. It's not like Murton is Daryle Ward out there, and it's not like Reed Johnson is even as good as Soriano out there. Going with the obviously inferior offensive player because of his defense in the least important defensive position on the field is so Hendry.

[Guest]

What a hilariously stupid, and yet typical Cubs move. Good job, guys.

[frostwyrm]

I'd like the Cubs to say exactly where Murt is on the OF depth chart. There are definitely 5 OF's in front of him, and probably DeRosa, and possibly Ward. That makes Murt no higher than the 6th OF, most likely the 7th, and possibly as low as 8th. Why is he still around?

 

Soriano

Fukudome

Pie

Reed

EPatterson

DeRosa?(Fontenot at 2B)

Ward?

[wvcbxl]

I am stunned, just stunned...

[UMFan83]

Why do I feel like the longer we wait to hear word of the severity of the injury, the worse its going to be? I'm sure we'll find out in the pregame.

[RedFlash]

I'd like the Cubs to say exactly where Murt is on the OF depth chart. There are definitely 5 OF's in front of him, and probably DeRosa, and possibly Ward. That makes Murt no higher than the 6th OF, most likely the 7th, and possibly as low as 8th. Why is he still around?

 

The fact they have Murton behind a couple of INFs who can play OF, speaks volumes....

 

But hey, I heard the Cubs might call up Tony Thomas to send Soto down, simply because they need another 2B in the lineup.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Another element not explored is that maybe Hendry is trying to build trade value for E-Patt, a 2-week audition should do the trick. With Murton, for better or worse, there clearly is not a strong market for his services, or he'd have been traded by now; he's not doing the Cubs any good in Iowa. But maybe with E-Patt, Hendry senses an opportunity. And after all, it IS for only 12 games or so.

 

FWIW, when I saw Patterson in Arizona this spring, he looked GREAT.

[Sammy Sofa]

With Murton, for better or worse, there clearly is not a strong market for his services, or he'd have been traded by now.

 

What are you basing this on? Outside of Gallagher and Pie, Murton's name is the only one that's come up as a Cubs "young player" that multiple teams are definitely interested in.

[RegulusBlue]

So much Matt Murton love, it's really pretty simple. His SLG so far in Iowa is below 300. THREE HUNDRED. Jose Macias could beat that number.

 

A guy that (a) can only play corner OF, (b) can't play it well, and © hits groundballs with no power, has (d) little value at the major league level. He can take a walk. Terrific. Trade him to Oakland, Beane will love him.

 

His OBP is .442. If you had to pick slugging or OBP to add to this team, which would you pick?

 

 

Thanks for playing.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd like the Cubs to say exactly where Murt is on the OF depth chart. There are definitely 5 OF's in front of him, and probably DeRosa, and possibly Ward. That makes Murt no higher than the 6th OF, most likely the 7th, and possibly as low as 8th. Why is he still around?

 

Soriano

Fukudome

Pie

Reed

EPatterson

DeRosa?(Fontenot at 2B)

Ward?

 

Fuld probably makes him 9th. That's all Hendry is saying is that this team is so incredible that a "starting LF" is 9th on our depth chart.

[erik316wttn]

Murton must be pissed right now. I don't blame him.

 

Up yours, Hendry.

[cubbyvirus00]

See my sig. Hendry you giant tool.

[CubmanPi]

I worked in a cave for 12 hours today, and as I was on my tirade about how stupid Soriano is, I was comforting myself internally with the thought of Murton finally getting a little playing time, and if nothing else, proving a little trade value until Sori comes back. I didn't even consider the possibility that there was another option that even someone as dumb as Hendry could fathom.

 

I feel ashamed.

 

 

 

 

P.S. Screw you, Hendry.

[Backtobanks]

This is why we are never going anywhere with a monkey like Hendry as a GM. Absolutely terrible GM!

 

Here we go again, jump all over Hendry and give Lou a pass. All of these negative posts about Hendry's decision to call up Patterson over Murton are ridiculous. I'm sure Lou told Hendry who to call up. For all of Hendry's flaws, allowing the manager to make all of the personnel decisions might be his biggest flaw.

[Mizzou]

The more I think about this, the more it pisses me off. You've got a guy in Murton who clearly knows how to hit major league pitching. I don't think anyone will disagree with me when I saw that he should be playing in the majors, whether it be for the Cubs or for another team. If the Cubs truly don't feel that he's a fit for their team, what better time than now to showcase him to other teams? And if they do feel that he can be a good guy to have on the roster, again, what better time than now to let him play? This is a really puzzling move to leave him in Iowa.

[rawaction]

How hurt is Hoffpauir? I wonder what would have happened if he had been healthy and playing in AAA. I could handle Hoffpauir over Murton. I can handle Patterson over Murton provided he is used properly (i.e. playing everyday).

[Illini Iceman]

How hurt is Hoffpauir? I wonder what would have happened if he had been healthy and playing in AAA. I could handle Hoffpauir over Murton. I can handle Patterson over Murton provided he is used properly (i.e. playing everyday).

 

I can't believe they would promote him to sit. My guess is that he starts most games with DeRosa in LF except against some lefties where Cedeno may get starts. If he proves he can hit at this level it frees them up to do with DeRosa what they wanted when they were going after Roberts and gives them the leadoff hitting lefty Lou seems to covet. If he can't cut it they go back to DeRosa at 2B.

 

Not surprising the reaction here given so much Murton love on the board. Personally if EPatt is any good I don't see how he is any of a downgrade from Murton. Murton would just go right back down when Soriano comes back, at least by doing this the Cubs get a chance to better evaluate how ready Patterson is to play at the big league level.

[Garage Party]

Okay, Eric Patterson. Win me over.

[Geech]

IT'S LEFT FIELD. It's not like Murton is Daryle Ward out there, and it's not like Reed Johnson is even as good as Soriano out there. Going with the obviously inferior offensive player because of his defense in the least important defensive position on the field is so Hendry.

 

This.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The fact of the matter is Murton is a left fielder. Soriano is hurt. Soriano was our left fielder. Now he cant be our left fielder for at least 15 days. Now, our 2B is a left fielder. They could have just made things easier on everyone if they just brought up Murton, who as earlier stated, is in fact a left fielder.

[David]

Why do I feel like the longer we wait to hear word of the severity of the injury, the worse its going to be? I'm sure we'll find out in the pregame.

 

 

We heard about the severity a long time ago. Both the big stations have been reporting since early afternoon that his absence isn't expected to last longer than the 15 days of the DL stint.

 

Maybe we should update one of the thread titles so people are more likely to see what's up.