Everyone's favorite redhead to the Rockies

[cubbinalltheway]

Anybody know what Murton's minor league numbers were last year?

 

.277 BA .345 OBP .423 SLG .768 OPS at Sacramento with 1 HR and 13 RBIs

 

.298 BA .397 OBP .382 SLG .779 OPS at Iowa with 1 HR and 15 RBIs

2 home runs in the minor leagues for a corner outfielder.......... it's kinda amazing that he's still getting chances at this point.

[hardcorecubfan]

Bellhorn 2.0

 

Murton would kill for the career that Bellhorn.

 

Agrred, Bellhorn has a ring, how many Cubs can say that

[SouthSideRyan]

Anybody know what Murton's minor league numbers were last year?

 

.277 BA .345 OBP .423 SLG .768 OPS at Sacramento with 1 HR and 13 RBIs

 

.298 BA .397 OBP .382 SLG .779 OPS at Iowa with 1 HR and 15 RBIs

2 home runs in the minor leagues for a corner outfielder.......... it's kinda amazing that he's still getting chances at this point.

 

Probably because people aren't basing everything off of last year alone. Cause to do so would be really stupid.

[Derwood]

Bellhorn 2.0

 

Murton would kill for the career that Bellhorn.

 

Agrred, Bellhorn has a ring, how many Cubs can say that

 

5

[cubbinalltheway]

Anybody know what Murton's minor league numbers were last year?

 

.277 BA .345 OBP .423 SLG .768 OPS at Sacramento with 1 HR and 13 RBIs

 

.298 BA .397 OBP .382 SLG .779 OPS at Iowa with 1 HR and 15 RBIs

2 home runs in the minor leagues for a corner outfielder.......... it's kinda amazing that he's still getting chances at this point.

 

Probably because people aren't basing everything off of last year alone. Cause to do so would be really stupid.

28 HR's in 900 career at bats... still not good for a corner outfielder.

[SouthSideRyan]

Anybody know what Murton's minor league numbers were last year?

 

.277 BA .345 OBP .423 SLG .768 OPS at Sacramento with 1 HR and 13 RBIs

 

.298 BA .397 OBP .382 SLG .779 OPS at Iowa with 1 HR and 15 RBIs

2 home runs in the minor leagues for a corner outfielder.......... it's kinda amazing that he's still getting chances at this point.

 

Probably because people aren't basing everything off of last year alone. Cause to do so would be really stupid.

28 HR's in 900 career at bats... still not good for a corner outfielder.

 

So ~18 or 19 over a full season. Coupled with the ability to take a walk, it's not a wonder he's getting chances at all. He's never going to be a star corner OF, but what exactly separates Murton from Jose Guillen or comparable other fringe starting OFs in the majors? He's ideal as a 4th OF off the bench.

[The Other 15]

Anybody know what Murton's minor league numbers were last year?

 

.277 BA .345 OBP .423 SLG .768 OPS at Sacramento with 1 HR and 13 RBIs

 

.298 BA .397 OBP .382 SLG .779 OPS at Iowa with 1 HR and 15 RBIs

2 home runs in the minor leagues for a corner outfielder.......... it's kinda amazing that he's still getting chances at this point.

 

Probably because people aren't basing everything off of last year alone. Cause to do so would be really stupid.

28 HR's in 900 career at bats... still not good for a corner outfielder.

 

So ~18 or 19 over a full season. Coupled with the ability to take a walk, it's not a wonder he's getting chances at all. He's never going to be a star corner OF, but what exactly separates Murton from Jose Guillen or comparable other fringe starting OFs in the majors? He's ideal as a 4th OF off the bench.

He's ideal as a 4th OF off the bench

I wouldn't say ideal. I'd say that's his ceiling. Let's face it, he's not getting 600 PA from anybody so to say he's a 18 or 19 hr guy is a reach. If he sticks with a team he'll likely get 250 or so PA in a limited role and he'll do OK.

[SouthSideRyan]

He got ~250 PAs in '07 in the 4th OF role and put up 281/352/438. You aren't getting much better out of a 4th OF

[The Other 15]

He got ~250 PAs in '07 in the 4th OF role and put up 281/352/438. You aren't getting much better out of a 4th OF

You probably aren't going to get that from him again but, whatever, I'm done with Matt Murton. I've had too many of these discussions about how he just needs the right situation etc. I hope he's found it.

[SouthSideRyan]

He got ~250 PAs in '07 in the 4th OF role and put up 281/352/438. You aren't getting much better out of a 4th OF

You probably aren't going to get that from him again but, whatever, I'm done with Matt Murton. I've had too many of these discussions about how he just needs the right situation etc. I hope he's found it.

 

I know you said you're done but maybe another Murton hater can chime in. What is it about his '08 that causes you to think he can't replicate his '07? What is it about his '08 that causes the other guy to ignore the rest of his major and minor league career and say that he doesn't deserve a shot(at what I'm not sure...doesn't deserve a ST invite? doesn't deserve a bench spot? Doesn't deserve a starting role on a non-terrible team, fine, but it's not like the guy is Joey Gathright.

[The Other 15]

All right Evergreen Park, I'll play one more time.

 

What is about this guy that has people defending him like he's their brother? He doesn't do anything exceptionally well and hasn't performed when asked to in longer stretches. A complete "tweener" in every sense. I'm not a hater, just not memorized by his numbers achieved through sporadic playing time. He won't be anybody's starting corner OF. I could care less where he plays, or doesn't play, if it's a good team or a bad team, and I don't think Gathright has anything to do with Murton.

 

Rice, Marist, Rita or EPHS?

[SouthSideRyan]

All right Evergreen Park, I'll play one more time.

 

What is about this guy that has people defending him like he's their brother? He doesn't do anything exceptionally well and hasn't performed when asked to in longer stretches. A complete "tweener" in every sense. I'm not a hater, just not memorized by his numbers achieved through sporadic playing time. He won't be anybody's starting corner OF. I could care less where he plays, or doesn't play, if it's a good team or a bad team, and I don't think Gathright has anything to do with Murton.

 

Rice, Marist, Rita or EPHS?

 

Rice. You from the area?

 

My only point here is it seems as much as their is the perception of irrational Murton love, there's the same amount of irrational Murton hate.(Same with Pie, Cedeno, pretty much every young guy sans Soto, cause seriously it's Geovany Soto) Maybe it's just people sick of hearing how he should've been playing only to see him not be anything special when he got some time, but he's a major league hitter and was stuck in the wrongplace in a success cycle/wrong franchise for developing a hitter.

[The Other 15]

All right Evergreen Park, I'll play one more time.

 

What is about this guy that has people defending him like he's their brother? He doesn't do anything exceptionally well and hasn't performed when asked to in longer stretches. A complete "tweener" in every sense. I'm not a hater, just not memorized by his numbers achieved through sporadic playing time. He won't be anybody's starting corner OF. I could care less where he plays, or doesn't play, if it's a good team or a bad team, and I don't think Gathright has anything to do with Murton.

 

Rice, Marist, Rita or EPHS?

 

Rice. You from the area?

 

My only point here is it seems as much as their is the perception of irrational Murton love, there's the same amount of irrational Murton hate.(Same with Pie, Cedeno, pretty much every young guy sans Soto, cause seriously it's Geovany Soto) Maybe it's just people sick of hearing how he should've been playing only to see him not be anything special when he got some time, but he's a major league hitter and was stuck in the wrongplace in a success cycle/wrong franchise for developing a hitter.

Yes, Beverly.

 

Murton has been a lightning rod with Cubs fans and I'll bet he'll continue to be one weather he fails or succeeds this year. I don't know why people are so passionate one way or another about him. I know for my tastes, I got tired of watching him look at perfect hitters count pitches go by just to try and draw a walk. It got him into a deep funk in 2007 that he might not have recovered from.

[craig]

Beane may be really dumb, and traded Murton below market. But I usually assume that most trades reflect market and GM's don't trade guys for less than what other teams would be willing to offer.

 

It's probably a sad commentary on how murton's stock has dipped that he got traded for a 25-year-old prospect who was available but went undrafted in the Rule 5.

 

I hope Murton gets things going.

[badnews]

Murton hits the ball on the ground too much. Murton reminds me of a less good, right-handed version of Ben Grieve.

[Backtobanks]

Murton always struck me as a decent LF if given the opportunity. He will not produce "typical" corner OF power, but in the right situation he could play everyday. I think he's capable of .285-.295/.345-.360/.400-.450/.750-.810 with 15-20 HRs with regular playing time. The key would be to find a low-budget, low-expectation (Pirates, Royals, etc.) team or a team that had power in other places to compensate. He's not Manny Ramirez, but he could have a decent career.

[mcgoobs]

Murton would be a good platoon partner for someone who can hit RH-pitching. Don't know if Carlos Gonzalez is that partner, or if Murton is insurance in case Gonzalez struggles this year for the Rockies.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Murton would be a good platoon partner for someone who can hit RH-pitching. Don't know if Carlos Gonzalez is that partner, or if Murton is insurance in case Gonzalez struggles this year for the Rockies.

 

The problem being that lefty-masher corner outfielders are literally a dime a dozen. With no power and no defense, there's nothing to differentiate him from every right-handed corner OFer in AAA.

[BigbadB]

Murton's chances of landing an a 25 man roster spot are looking dimmer with the latest news that Ian Stewart will get some time in left field.

 

Not sure if I'm missing anyone from their current outfield crowd, but with Stewart, that makes it:

 

Hawpe

Ryan Spillborghs

Carlos Gonzalez

Seth Smith

Ian Stewart

Matt Murton

 

Dexter Fowler probably won't start with the big club, but he's going to factor in sooner rather than later.

 

Murton may need Helton to have another injury plagued season just to win the 5th outfield job.