Murton to start and bat 5th today (7/14)

[WindyCity]

Happy Day!

 

Per ESPN1000, Murton will not only start today, but he will bat 5th! :D

 

Here's the rest of the lineup:

 

Hairston

Walker

Lee

Ramirez

Murton

Burnitz

Neifi

Blanco

Prior

 

I wish Cedeno was getting the start, but I'mjust happy Murton gets the start today and isn't buried in the 8-hole.

[radarluv1]

is prior blancowned for good? i thought barrett has caught him this year. i dont know another reason for keeping mike's bat out of the lineup. good to see murton getting some attention, but i fear he is just a single 0-4 from rusting on the bench ala dubois. no matter how many walks or pitches he sees. i hope miles is right on the pressure from above dusty is feeling to start the youngsters.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Let's go Matt. But that 7,8,9 is weak. Anyone think we should hit Prior 7th in that line-up?

[goonys evil twin]

Is Redman starting today for Pittsburgh?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

is prior blancowned for good? i thought barrett has caught him this year. i dont know another reason for keeping mike's bat out of the lineup. good to see murton getting some attention, but i fear he is just a single 0-4 from rusting on the bench ala dubois. no matter how many walks or pitches he sees. i hope miles is right on the pressure from above dusty is feeling to start the youngsters.

 

It only took an 0-2 on Saturday for him to get Dubois'd.

 

Goony, Redman is starting today.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

Is Redman starting today for Pittsburgh?

 

Yes. The Pirates also have Zach Duke, another lefty, going on Saturday.

[Buford T Justice]

Hopefully Neifi can do what he did on Sunday..Can't wait for August though..

[Chris]

Happy Day!

 

Per ESPN1000, NSBB Correspondent Murton will not only start today, but he will bat 5th! :D

 

Fixed :wink:

[Evers2Tinker2Chance]

Any one think that there is pressure from on high to play Murton?

[Roast]

Any one think that there is pressure from on high to play Murton?

 

That was hinted at by Bruce Miles when he wsa last here. He called this a "crucial moment in hendry and dusty's relationship"

 

He's giving him a chance to play the kids, if he doesnt, the relationship may go sour.

[frostwyrm]

Any one think that there is pressure from on high to play Murton?

 

Nah, lefty starting today. Wait til we hit a stretch of righties. Murton will be glued to the bench same as Cedeno, who is in a really bad situation, as he's getting skipped even vs. lefties

[Hacking Out Machine]

Any one think that there is pressure from on high to play Murton?

 

Nah, lefty starting today. Wait til we hit a stretch of righties. Murton will be glued to the bench same as Cedeno, who is in a really bad situation, as he's getting skipped even vs. lefties

 

That's too bad for Cedeno too, because about the only time that Neifi even resembles a useful offensive player is when he's facing lefties. He's got a .480 SLG against them this year, as opposed to a .350 range against righties. Against lefties, he's actually borderline useful, since he definitely has proven himself defensively with his great range. Against righties, Neifi is beyond helpless. Too bad Ronny doesn't bat lefty. Actually, even as a righty, he can't be any worse than Neifi right? Not that Dusty would be astute enough to even notice Neifi's splits...

[Coach C]

Let's go Matt. But that 7,8,9 is weak. Anyone think we should hit Prior 7th in that line-up?

 

Wouldn't matter now. The 7-8-9 did a pretty good job today. :D

[Flames24Rulz]

here's a question. Once Pie is 100% healthy, do you think Hendry moves him up for Greenburg and have Felix platoon with Murton on an everyday basis?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Any one think that there is pressure from on high to play Murton?

 

Nah, lefty starting today. Wait til we hit a stretch of righties. Murton will be glued to the bench same as Cedeno, who is in a really bad situation, as he's getting skipped even vs. lefties

 

That's too bad for Cedeno too, because about the only time that Neifi even resembles a useful offensive player is when he's facing lefties. He's got a .480 SLG against them this year, as opposed to a .350 range against righties. Against lefties, he's actually borderline useful, since he definitely has proven himself defensively with his great range. Against righties, Neifi is beyond helpless. Too bad Ronny doesn't bat lefty. Actually, even as a righty, he can't be any worse than Neifi right? Not that Dusty would be astute enough to even notice Neifi's splits...

 

Neifi vs. Righties

April: .367/.392/.490/.882, 51 PA's

May: .258/.280/.348/.628, 92 PA's

June: .224/.239/.282/.521, 87 PA's

July: .194/.188/.226/.414, 31 PA's

 

Neifi vs. Lefties

April: .375/.412/.813/1.225, 17 PA's

May: .263/.263/.474/.737, 19 PA's

June: .250/.250/.417/.667, 24 PA's

July: .286/.333/.387/.720, 15 PA's

 

While he has been better against lefties, I'd still say that Cedeno could at least produce the low 700s OPS v. LH that Neifi is likely to put up the rest of the season.

[frostwyrm]

Any one think that there is pressure from on high to play Murton?

 

Nah, lefty starting today. Wait til we hit a stretch of righties. Murton will be glued to the bench same as Cedeno, who is in a really bad situation, as he's getting skipped even vs. lefties

 

That's too bad for Cedeno too, because about the only time that Neifi even resembles a useful offensive player is when he's facing lefties. He's got a .480 SLG against them this year, as opposed to a .350 range against righties. Against lefties, he's actually borderline useful, since he definitely has proven himself defensively with his great range. Against righties, Neifi is beyond helpless. Too bad Ronny doesn't bat lefty. Actually, even as a righty, he can't be any worse than Neifi right? Not that Dusty would be astute enough to even notice Neifi's splits...

 

Neifi vs. Righties

April: .367/.392/.490/.882, 51 PA's

May: .258/.280/.348/.628, 92 PA's

June: .224/.239/.282/.521, 87 PA's

July: .194/.188/.226/.414, 31 PA's

 

Neifi vs. Lefties

April: .375/.412/.813/1.225, 17 PA's

May: .263/.263/.474/.737, 19 PA's

June: .250/.250/.417/.667, 24 PA's

July: .286/.333/.387/.720, 15 PA's

 

While he has been better against lefties, I'd still say that Cedeno could at least produce the low 700s OPS v. LH that Neifi is likely to put up the rest of the season.

 

Sample size vs. lefties for 2005 is too small. Looking at Neifi's 3 year splits shows that he can hit a few more homers vs. lefties, and by "a few" I mean few enough to count on the fingers of one hand. Otherwise there's no real difference. Neifi just plain sucks.

[biittner77]

here's a question. Once Pie is 100% healthy, do you think Hendry moves him up for Greenburg and have Felix platoon with Murton on an everyday basis?

 

I'm not sure how they could justify benching Hairston for Pie at this point. They really need to keep Pie where he is until they are definitely going to play him full time.

[Flames24Rulz]

here's a question. Once Pie is 100% healthy, do you think Hendry moves him up for Greenburg and have Felix platoon with Murton on an everyday basis?

 

I'm not sure how they could justify benching Hairston for Pie at this point. They really need to keep Pie where he is until they are definitely going to play him full time.

 

no i dont want Hairston benched...but if Felix can play CF, im sure he can play LF and therefore he could platoon with Matt once he is 100% healed.

[CoolHandLuke]

I'm not saying that platoon wont happen, but I will be pretty upset if it does happen. Pie has a huge amount of work to do on his plate discipline and basestealing. The earliest I want him given a shot to earn regular playing time is in 2007.

[Flames24Rulz]

I'm not saying that platoon wont happen, but I will be pretty upset if it does happen. Pie has a huge amount of work to do on his plate discipline and basestealing. The earliest I want him given a shot to earn regular playing time is in 2007.

 

true. the only reason i bring this up is because Felix was going to be called up if he didn't get hurt in the first place. That being said, i think he'll be the next guy they call up once he is 100% healthy.

[biittner77]

I'm not saying that platoon wont happen, but I will be pretty upset if it does happen. Pie has a huge amount of work to do on his plate discipline and basestealing. The earliest I want him given a shot to earn regular playing time is in 2007.

 

true. the only reason i bring this up is because Felix was going to be called up if he didn't get hurt in the first place. That being said, i think he'll be the next guy they call up once he is 100% healthy.

 

That was the plan, I suppose but the situation is different. By the time Pie is healthy Patterson might have shown enough at AAA to get recalled. If Murton hits it will be hard to justify not playing him. The there's Dubois in the mix. He'll no doubt destroy AAA pitching (like going 3-4 tonight) and perhaps be a better option to rot the bench instead of Pie.

 

Baker has already said that he doesn't want to play Hairston in LF. So Baker either disrupts the lineup that has won 4 straight or he keeps Pie- a rookie that he doesn't want to play anyway- down on the farm.

[Illini Iceman]

I'm not saying that platoon wont happen, but I will be pretty upset if it does happen. Pie has a huge amount of work to do on his plate discipline and basestealing. The earliest I want him given a shot to earn regular playing time is in 2007.

 

true. the only reason i bring this up is because Felix was going to be called up if he didn't get hurt in the first place. That being said, i think he'll be the next guy they call up once he is 100% healthy.

 

That was the plan, I suppose but the situation is different. By the time Pie is healthy Patterson might have shown enough at AAA to get recalled. If Murton hits it will be hard to justify not playing him. The there's Dubois in the mix. He'll no doubt destroy AAA pitching (like going 3-4 tonight) and perhaps be a better option to rot the bench instead of Pie.

 

Baker has already said that he doesn't want to play Hairston in LF. So Baker either disrupts the lineup that has won 4 straight or he keeps Pie- a rookie that he doesn't want to play anyway- down on the farm.

 

I think the injury cost Pie his chance this year. At last count the Cubs are sitting at 39 on the 40 man roster and if Nomar is on schedule to return Aug 1 per recent reports then that will fill it up. Plus they have Williamson hoping to get back still this season. I can't believe that would use up another spot on the 40 man roster with Pie unless they are sure he is ready to come in and play every day right now. Of course, I am still a little confused why they would bother to add Greenberg as a bench guy when they could have just brought up Grieve who was already on the 40 man, so what do I know.

[brinoch]

I don't hold out much chance that Mutron will get any more of a shot than Dubois, or Cedeno received. From the Tribune.

 

Murton will play against left-handers, with Todd Hollandsworth starting against right-handers. Expect Hollandsworth back in the lineup Friday against Pittsburgh right-hander Josh Fogg. Baker said he wouldn't rush unproven players into a regular's role for fear he may shake their confidence if they don't have immediate success.

 

"You have to bring them along slowly unless they're like a Miguel Cabrera," he said. "But there aren't too many guys like that around. It's different per person."

 

Except that we know from experience that Murton won't play against all left-handers, because we need to keep Hollandsworth fresh. Just like Neifi needed to be kept fresh. And whatever other veteran who was under pressure from a rookie.

 

Unless Murton plays the majority of the time, this will likely be a terrible decision by Hendry.

[Jon]

I don't hold out much chance that Mutron will get any more of a shot than Dubois, or Cedeno received. From the Tribune.

 

Murton will play against left-handers, with Todd Hollandsworth starting against right-handers. Expect Hollandsworth back in the lineup Friday against Pittsburgh right-hander Josh Fogg. Baker said he wouldn't rush unproven players into a regular's role for fear he may shake their confidence if they don't have immediate success.

 

"You have to bring them along slowly unless they're like a Miguel Cabrera," he said. "But there aren't too many guys like that around. It's different per person."

 

Except that we know from experience that Murton won't play against all left-handers, because we need to keep Hollandsworth fresh. Just like Neifi needed to be kept fresh. And whatever other veteran who was under pressure from a rookie.

 

Unless Murton plays the majority of the time, this will likely be a terrible decision by Hendry.

Yeah, I think the Trib was being a little too optimistic. Muskat used the same quote and framed it this way:

 

Cubs.com[/url]"]Matt Murton, called up from Double-A West Tenn along with Greenberg last week, made his third start in left field on Thursday. Baker said he won't necessarily use a straight platoon between Murton, a right-handed hitter, and Todd Hollandsworth, a left-handed batter.

[gus_dog]

Murton pretty much non-chalanted that single and allowed those runners to advance, then the guy scored on a groundout.

 

Shoulda been a shutout.

 

Not a good play for a rookie to be making, IMO, because he really looked like a loafer.