Murton & Paul O'Neill Comparisons

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ask BA[/url]"]Matt Murton has really impressed me during his short stint with the Cubs. Does he have the potential to develop into a Paul O'Neill type of corner outfielder? He gets on base, he's steady and while he won't hit a lot of homers, he'll drive in enough runs with his line-drive stroke. He has sneaky speed and plays decent defense. Is this just wishful thinking, or does Murton have a chance?

 

Kurt Volkman

Chicago, Ill.

 

Good news for Murton: The recent Matt Lawton and Todd Hollandsworth trades give manager Dusty Baker no choice other than to play Murton, who merely hit .339 while getting only sporadic playing time during his first month in the majors.

 

Murton, a 2003 supplemental first-round pick by the Red Sox, wound up with the Cubs in the Nomar Garciaparra trade last year. The Expos wanted three prospects to give up Orlando Cabrera in the deal, but they weren't interested in Murton. To get the deal done, Chicago GM Jim Hendry offered to take Murton and send infielder Brendan Harris to Montreal.

 

Kurt's Paul O'Neill comparison holds up pretty well, especially at the plate. In our Best Tools list for the Cubs during the offseason, we rated Murton as being the system's best hitter for average and having its best strike-zone discipline. He hits more for average than power, though he has size (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) and strength and can put on a show in batting practice. He won home run derbies at the Connie Mack World Series (1998), the Cape Cod League all-star game (2002) and the Florida State League all-star game (2004). Like O'Neill, Murton should settle in as a .290-.310 hitter with at least 20 homers a year.

 

Murton runs well for his size and plays a solid outfield, but he doesn't have O'Neill's arm. That's his lone weakness from a tools standpoint, and it limits him to left field. But he's a legit prospect who should be an everyday player in the majors—if Baker gives him the opportunity.

[TheDude]

Wow. That is some serious praise right there. Let's see how he looks over the next month.

[Tracer Bullet]

Too bad Dusty has already proven BA wrong - even w/o Holla and Lawton he will find a way to keep Murton firmly planted on the bench.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm hoping Baker can send Murton up a bunch of times to pinch hit because young players usually excel at doing that and it raises their confidence.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I hope Murton doesn't develop O'Neill's bitching and moaning.

[rawaction]

LOL. The Ex/Nats wanted Brendan Harris over Murton?

[Derwood]

I'm hoping Baker can send Murton up a bunch of times to pinch hit because young players usually excel at doing that and it raises their confidence.

 

"Dude, you got to get the young dudes into the right situations, dude! Dude!"

[cubbyvirus00]

Baker's getting stubborn in his old age.

 

He simply doesen't get it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

LOL. The Ex/Nats wanted Brendan Harris over Murton?

 

Even worse, now they can't use Harris because Bowden/Robinson are criminally stupid by sending out Castilla and Carroll(while Vidro was hurt). He's 25 now, he really deserves a shot.

[Tim]

LOL. The Ex/Nats wanted Brendan Harris over Murton?

 

Even worse, now they can't use Harris because Bowden/Robinson are criminally stupid by sending out Castilla and Carroll(while Vidro was hurt). He's 25 now, he really deserves a shot.

He's about to be passed on their 3B depth chart by Zimmerman. The worst thing that ever happened to Brendan was getting shifted to 3B.

[gus_dog]

Too bad Dusty has already proven BA wrong - even w/o Holla and Lawton he will find a way to keep Murton firmly planted on the bench.

 

Ya, you know, Macias deserves to play more..... #-o ](*,)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It would be nice to steal Harris back from the Nationals and use him in a utility role.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It would be nice to steal Harris back from the Nationals and use him in a utility role.

 

Fontenot's a comparable player.

[NewUserName]

Paul O'Neill might have bitched and moaned but the Yankees havent won a WS without him.

[sonicdethmonkey0]

is there any chance the cubs try to make murton into a center fielder?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

is there any chance the cubs try to make murton into a center fielder?

 

I hope not. He hasn't gotten that many innings at CF in the minors and he really can't handle it day in, day out. The Cubs OF defense would suffer.