Matt Morris

[wolf stansson]

I didn't get to see the game tonight, and I haven't gotten to watch Matt at all since he was here in Phoenix where he looked great. Since the all-star break though he has sucked. If I go to a Cards forum for opinions I either would get "Morris sucks! Fill his spot in the rotation with Reyes! He's done! Back to 2004 form!" or "Morris is awesome. I love him. He is teh greates, just having a bad stretch". So Cub fans, I can always count on an objective to pessimistic point of view from you guys. What's the deal with Matty? Is it control, is it stuff, does it appear to be physical or psychological?

 

Basically try to tell me what you think his problem is without the requisite "He Sox so he should die because he threw behind kery woode and i hayt him because he Sox" responses.

 

The vast majority of you would obviously not reply like that, but if you were going to be blinded by your hate of Morris I'd rather not hear from you.

 

Thanks guys!

[ManEatingTarp]

He sucks.

[ManEatingTarp]

Just kidding. I think someone like Truffle (who is good with the stats) could break it down more, but he has been in a decline since the break. Last night he looked pretty good thanks to a D Lee homer that was foul. Then he got hit in the hand on a come backer and fell apart a bit.

[Marco4]

Just kidding. I think someone like Truffle (who is good with the stats) could break it down more, but he has been in a decline since the break. Last night he looked pretty good thanks to a D Lee homer that was foul. Then he got hit in the hand on a come backer and fell apart a bit.

 

I'd go with that. He looked solid until he got hit, and I think he should probably have left the game then. They highlighted one of the hits and how quickly he got out of the way of it. No guarantee he would have got to it before, but being hit certainly rattled him.

[illiniguy]

The problem is pretty simple LaRussa leaves him in 1 too many innings every game it seems. Last night he was hit pretty hard in the 5th but then Tony lets him bat for himself in a big spot and come back out for another inning. Then he takes a liner off of his hand, like God was telling Tony he was done, but he is still left in. He looked fine to me until he ran out of gas and was overextended. That final inning he really missed his spots and even walked Blanco, like Joe Morgan says "Morris isn't gonna walk anyone."

[UK1679666180]

He was getting hit before that liner from Burnitz, his problem is that with his FB he is having trouble getting ahead of hitters, they are either putting the ball into play early into the count or are getting ahead. The HR to Patterson was a cutter that missed in the zone, the HR to Lawton was a FB that was too far down the middle. The Cubs should've him harder, Morris threw the exact same pitch that Patterson hit for a HR to Walker and he hit a shallow fly to RF. Before the 6th, the Cubs had 8 hits thru 5 I believe and 2 HRs and could only manage 3 runs thru 5 which included runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs and Lee up in the 1st.

 

I don't know if he is fatigued, but his FB hasn't had the location it once did and that little cutter should only be a show-me pitch inside to LH'ers and not something they should throw backdoor to them. Hitters are focusing on his FB and laying the curve unless behind in the count, which is why it is important for him to get ahead. Lee did hit a hanging curve, though.

[ManEatingTarp]

I think Matt will benefit the most if Tony starts to rest the starters in Sept. After the callups are with the team, it wouldn't surprise me to see Mulder, Morris and Carp all miss a start or two.

I hope...

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Morris is a very good pitcher, he was just facing the wrong team. Before I get jumped on for being a homer, let me explain. Morris almost REFUSES to walk anyone. He will throw the ball over the plate no matter what. He was facing a team that REFUSES to take walks. These guys will swing at a bouncing pitch because Dusty feels a hit is better than a walk. He should've thrown a little more out of the zone to get our hitters to chase bad pitches. A few down and away sliders could do him a great deal of good against the Cubs. Throw the ball out of the zone, and our hitters will try to go get it. But instead he threw some over the plate, and our hitters were ready for 2 strike fastballs. He still looked good, but he could've dominated that game had he been willing to accept the occasional walk for trying to lure our guys out of the zone.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Last night Morris didn't look to sharp to me. Getting hit in the hand had a lot to do with the last 2 runs being given up, but it looked to me like he was missing in the zone quite a bit. I recall at least 3 or 4 Cubs hitters hitting high deep flyballs that they just got under. As for what is wrong with him, he just seems to be going downhill in every capacity. Before the break he was holding hitters to a .246 average with a 4.5 K/BB rate. Since the break, he's been getting hit more(.310 BAA), K'ing fewer guys, and walking more guys(2.1 K/BB). I don't watch him pitch, so I don't know if he's just wearing down, or there's something mechanically wrong with him(not that I could figure that out anyway), but he's definitely been a different pitcher in the second half. Also, I hayt him.

[SAMMYWHO]

Somebody will probably prove me wrong, but it seemed like the first pitch was a fastball most of the time. Towards the end of the game he was barely breaking 90 unless those were all Cutters like UK pointed out. I watched the brains on ESPN and they never mentioned cutter just "Fastball with Movement"

[UK1679666180]

Somebody will probably prove me wrong, but it seemed like the first pitch was a fastball most of the time. Towards the end of the game he was barely breaking 90 unless those were all Cutters like UK pointed out. I watched the brains on ESPN and they never mentioned cutter just "Fastball with Movement"

 

Morris threw four pitches...

4 seam FB

2 seam sinker (maybe a split)

Cutter that broke like a slider except with late movement instead of sweeping movement.

Curve

 

I think he threw more sinkers as the game wore on and more 4 seamers early in the game.

[SAMMYWHO]

I was just thinking Cubs hitters were sitting on the fastball anytime they wanted to swing at the FIRST pitch. I'm thinking Nomar's double and C-Patt's homer. I think C-Patt hit a Cutter that didn't cut.

[UK1679666180]

The pitch to Patterson was supposed to back over the plate on the outside, probably to get Corey to either take it for a called strike, since Morris was down in the count, get Corey to try and pull it and ground to Grudzielanek, or hit a lazy fly ball to Rodriguez by having Corey drop the head of the bat. The pitch broke over the heart of the plate and Corey nailed it, had it been in the right location, Corey would've hit a ground ball to Grudzielanek like he did late in the game.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I thought he looked tired, his pitches never had much velocity, his breaking pitches were hanging, and the Cubs hitters were taking what he gave them. it seemed like even when he did hit the corners/sides of the strike zone, the Cub hitters were either fouling it off or hitting it fair...

[BigbadB]

I think someone like Truffle (who is good with the stats) could break it down more, but he has been in a decline since the break.

 

That's not a very nice thing to say about Truffle. :D

[indifferent]

I think someone like Truffle (who is good with the stats) could break it down more, but he has been in a decline since the break.

 

That's not a very nice thing to say about Truffle. :D

 

No doubt about it, Truffle's in decline. Although you could see it coming a mile away with his posting peripherals. :wink:

[BigbadB]

I think someone like Truffle (who is good with the stats) could break it down more, but he has been in a decline since the break.

 

That's not a very nice thing to say about Truffle. :D

 

No doubt about it, Truffle's in decline. Although you could see it coming a mile away with his posting peripherals. :wink:

 

But, the beauty of it is that it makes Truffle fit right in. The Cubs have a long history of signing people on the decline. :wink:

[Bull]

I think someone like Truffle (who is good with the stats) could break it down more, but he has been in a decline since the break.

 

if you can't be good with the ladies...

[TruffleShuffle]

I think someone like Truffle (who is good with the stats) could break it down more, but he has been in a decline since the break.

 

Thanks for the compliment :o

 

Anyway, I will go somewhat off stats and somewhat off of what I saw last night. He has improved in some categories this year, like HR/9IP, K/BB, and GB/FB. Still there are concerns. His BAA is easily the highest of any season in his career, and his OPS against is only slightly better than last season. His expected W-L record suggests he's the second luckiest pitcher in baseball this year, so don't let that 12-5 record fool you. His K rate is as low as it was last year, which doesn't bode well.

 

I think he's definitely a talented pitcher who was never really a #1 like he was being paid, but could have been a solid #2. I don't know that he has that kind of stuff any more. His breaking ball really flattened out a few times, and he was fortunately to have not given up two more runs on that hanger he threw to Lee. I'm not sure if the reports of his fastball sitting 91-94 mph were wrong or if he's lost velocity from when he returned from the DL, but either way, his stuff didn't look all that good to me. He could end up the rest of his career being kind of like the Greg Maddux we see today... a guy who is acceptible as a starter because he doesn't walk many people, but is too hittable to be considered anything better than a #3/4 starter.

[ManEatingTarp]

I think someone like Truffle (who is good with the stats) could break it down more, but he has been in a decline since the break.

 

Thanks for the compliment :o

 

Anyway, I will go somewhat off stats and somewhat off of what I saw last night. He has improved in some categories this year, like HR/9IP, K/BB, and GB/FB. Still there are concerns. His BAA is easily the highest of any season in his career, and his OPS against is only slightly better than last season. His expected W-L record suggests he's the second luckiest pitcher in baseball this year, so don't let that 12-5 record fool you. His K rate is as low as it was last year, which doesn't bode well.

 

I think he's definitely a talented pitcher who was never really a #1 like he was being paid, but could have been a solid #2. I don't know that he has that kind of stuff any more. His breaking ball really flattened out a few times, and he was fortunately to have not given up two more runs on that hanger he threw to Lee. I'm not sure if the reports of his fastball sitting 91-94 mph were wrong or if he's lost velocity from when he returned from the DL, but either way, his stuff didn't look all that good to me. He could end up the rest of his career being kind of like the Greg Maddux we see today... a guy who is acceptible as a starter because he doesn't walk many people, but is too hittable to be considered anything better than a #3/4 starter.

 

See, I knew you could do it!

 

And all you other jokers, I GOT MY EYES ON YOU!

 

:D

[wolf stansson]

See this is exactly what I was worried about with Morris. In the first half he had the best walk rate in baseball (I think I read that somewhere) but he has obviously gotten tired. So not only is he not going to be as effective in the post season as we were all banking on early in the year, but with his "lucky" stats, he'll command a lot on the open market. I don't particularly want Suppan back and I definitely don't want Marquis back. Morris will probably command more than he's worth and unfortunately there is only one Anthony Reyes to come up and take a spot in the rotation and he has health issues.

 

We'll probably bring back Suppan with his 4mil option. This leaves Carp, Mulder, Suppan, and Reyes. Who is available on the FA market that the Yankees/Red Sox won't swallow up immediately. Couple the missing #2-3 starter in next year's rotation with 2 outfield spots to fill and Grudz being a FA and the Cardinals have a bunch of holes to fill. They plan to increase the payroll about 10mil with the new stadium revenue, but those are a lot of holes to fill. It should be interesting.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

What about Wainwright?

[wolf stansson]

What about Wainwright?

IMO, Wainright = Brett Tomko Jr.

[EastonBlues22]

See this is exactly what I was worried about with Morris. In the first half he had the best walk rate in baseball (I think I read that somewhere) but he has obviously gotten tired. So not only is he not going to be as effective in the post season as we were all banking on early in the year, but with his "lucky" stats, he'll command a lot on the open market. I don't particularly want Suppan back and I definitely don't want Marquis back. Morris will probably command more than he's worth and unfortunately there is only one Anthony Reyes to come up and take a spot in the rotation and he has health issues.

 

We'll probably bring back Suppan with his 4mil option. This leaves Carp, Mulder, Suppan, and Reyes. Who is available on the FA market that the Yankees/Red Sox won't swallow up immediately. Couple the missing #2-3 starter in next year's rotation with 2 outfield spots to fill and Grudz being a FA and the Cardinals have a bunch of holes to fill. They plan to increase the payroll about 10mil with the new stadium revenue, but those are a lot of holes to fill. It should be interesting.

Suppan is well worth the option for a couple of reasons. First, his production is a relative bargain at today's inflated pitching prices...almost anyone who's capable of putting up similar numbers that can brought in to replace him would command more money. Second, he's durable...there's a lot to be said for not missing starts, and he hasn't had less that 31 starts since 1999. Third, he's not a dominant pitcher, but he's not intimidated by pitching in big games or against another team's ace. That's also a nice quality to have...just in case.

 

Right now I'm not sold on either Mulder or Marquis. Mulder has been radically inconsistent...but we have him signed for another year, so I'm sure we'll keep him around to see if he can straighten things out. Marquis seems to just pitch stupidly sometimes, and I think he's starting to really get under the skin of the coaches. He's got the talent to me a solid middle of the rotation guy...but does he have the head to harness it? He could either be a solid investment of a waste of money. Honestly, I think the same goes for Morris, except he doesn't have the attitude problems. He was absolutely dominating in the first half, and he has looked awful since...not the best way to set up for an offseason contract. I'd think I'd rather take a flyer on Burnett's health than Morris and his inconsistency if they are both high price tag individuals. I think the bullpen here would help keep Burnett's PC down and his massive leap in GB/FB this year has to be intriguing to the Cards coaching staff...

[wolf stansson]

Well obviously I'd love to sign Burnett, over anyone else available but good luck keeping him out of pinstripes.