Regular playing OFs who have higher OPS than Burnitz

[neely crenshaw]

the problem with burnitz is not his performance. i think most people are happy with what he brought. he has actually outperformed my hopes. the first problem is that this may be the best he does. as was mentioned at 37, he probably drops in output.

the second and major problem is that he is the cubs best outfielder! at 60th best that means that basically every single team has 2 outfielders who have outperformed our best.

if we had a johnny damon in center and a basher in left then burnitz would be a nice player in right, he plays hard. it's not burnitz' fault that he is expected to be the big bomber in the outfield and hit 4-5. he has done what he can do, but he isn't that player. that is the cubs fault.

[RynoRules]

Can't see Griffey being on the block anymore, and Cincy's nearly impossible to deal with.

 

Manny's the guy to go after from that list. Perhaps Burrell will be available too. My guess is that Giles ends up in either LA, Anaheim or Boston. Heck maybe even St. Louis.

 

I agree in part - Many is my main target. I would then target Encarnacion as a relatively inexpensive RFer - good OPS, and good defensive RFer with a plus-arm.

[RynoRules]

Is there any obvious reason I'm missing as to why Matsui hasn't been mentioned? Is he assumed to be an automatic Yankee next year, will be be too expensive, or do posters here just not want him?

 

The gen. consensus here has been that Matsui will be Yankee next year unless he curses out Big Stein - may be even then.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Is there any obvious reason I'm missing as to why Matsui hasn't been mentioned? Is he assumed to be an automatic Yankee next year, will be be too expensive, or do posters here just not want him?

 

It's the Yankees or back to Japan, is the rumor I've heard. So don't consider Matsui as an option.

[Tim]

Is there any obvious reason I'm missing as to why Matsui hasn't been mentioned? Is he assumed to be an automatic Yankee next year, will be be too expensive, or do posters here just not want him?

 

The gen. consensus here has been that Matsui will be Yankee next year unless he curses out Big Stein - may be even then.

Unless I'm missing something, Matsui isn't a free agent next year. He only has three years of MLB experience, so the Yankees could simply offer arby and he'd have to re-sign with them or go back to Japan.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is there any obvious reason I'm missing as to why Matsui hasn't been mentioned? Is he assumed to be an automatic Yankee next year, will be be too expensive, or do posters here just not want him?

 

The gen. consensus here has been that Matsui will be Yankee next year unless he curses out Big Stein - may be even then.

Unless I'm missing something, Matsui isn't a free agent next year. He only has three years of MLB experience, so the Yankees could simply offer arby and he'd have to re-sign with them or go back to Japan.

 

He has an out clause I believe to become a free agent in his contract, but from what I remember it isn't an issue since he doesn't want to leave.

[Tim]

Is there any obvious reason I'm missing as to why Matsui hasn't been mentioned? Is he assumed to be an automatic Yankee next year, will be be too expensive, or do posters here just not want him?

 

The gen. consensus here has been that Matsui will be Yankee next year unless he curses out Big Stein - may be even then.

Unless I'm missing something, Matsui isn't a free agent next year. He only has three years of MLB experience, so the Yankees could simply offer arby and he'd have to re-sign with them or go back to Japan.

 

He has an out clause I believe to become a free agent in his contract, but from what I remember it isn't an issue since he doesn't want to leave.

Interesting. It would have to be an agreement for the Yanks to non-tender him if they can't agree to an extension.

[1908]

Interesting. It would have to be an agreement for the Yanks to non-tender him if they can't agree to an extension.

I know he's a free agent if he elects not to re-sign with the Yankees but I don't remember how it works. Without that clause, I'm almost positive he wouldn't be able to go back to Japan to play without permission from the Yankees. I suspect that's one of the main reasons he wanted it originally. That, and the fact he had to play 10 years in Japan to earn his free agency rights and didn't want to lose them for another 6 years.

[dalgreen]

First, an off-subject comment, Man, Griffey is really having a good year. He's quickly returning to elite status. That could be big for the Reds, because they could trade him, get good prospects in return, and not have to pay as much of his salary as once thought.

Why do you think Griffey would okay a trade? He's seemed pretty set on remaining in Cincinnati to date.

 

I think anyone is tradeable. Threaten to put him on the bench, and he suddenly becomes more open to moving on.

 

I heard that the Reds' owner(s) is looking to sell the team. A Cincinnati businessman is very much interested but told current ownership if Griffey was dealt he would no longer be interested in buying the team. I either heard it on a Reds broadcast or another team's broadcast whose team was playing the Reds.

[dalgreen]

Am I being paranoid for thinking that Hendry would be highly interested in getting Encarnacion? He just seems to be the type of player Hendry likes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Am I being paranoid for thinking that Hendry would be highly interested in getting Encarnacion? He just seems to be the type of player Hendry likes.

 

Is Encarnacion that bad a target? I would like Giles in conjunction with signing him, but he wouldn't be a terrible pickup depending on the contract.

[CuseCubFan69]

Am I being paranoid for thinking that Hendry would be highly interested in getting Encarnacion? He just seems to be the type of player Hendry likes.

 

I concur.

[goonys evil twin]

Am I being paranoid for thinking that Hendry would be highly interested in getting Encarnacion? He just seems to be the type of player Hendry likes.

 

Is Encarnacion that bad a target? I would like Giles in conjunction with signing him, but he wouldn't be a terrible pickup depending on the contract.

 

dal, I would not* say you're paranoid.

 

cpatt, yes he would be that bad. .269/.317/.444 career line. He's 29 and coming off a career year, he'll get a decent size deal. Hendry overpays for mediocrity repeatedly. This would not be good. He's a younger JB who will get more money.

 

 

*edited to make it clear that I think that's a legit fear.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Am I being paranoid for thinking that Hendry would be highly interested in getting Encarnacion? He just seems to be the type of player Hendry likes.

 

Is Encarnacion that bad a target? I would like Giles in conjunction with signing him, but he wouldn't be a terrible pickup depending on the contract.

 

dal, I would not* say you're paranoid.

 

cpatt, yes he would be that bad. .269/.317/.444 career line. He's 29 and coming off a career year, he'll get a decent size deal. Hendry overpays for mediocrity repeatedly. This would not be good. He's a younger JB who will get more money.

 

 

*edited to make it clear that I think that's a legit fear.

 

Hmm, didn't realize how bad he had been prior to this year, although he has spent the last 5 years playing half his games in Pro Player or Dodger Stadium.

[CuseCubFan69]

He a younger right handed version of Burnitz with less power.

[goonys evil twin]

Hmm, didn't realize how bad he had been prior to this year, although he has spent the last 5 years playing half his games in Pro Player or Dodger Stadium.

 

And his away numbers have been no better.

 

And before anybody tries, don't compare him to Lee. Juan will be 30 when he starts next season. Lee was 28 when he came to Chicago, still in the range when guys improve. Lee was also productive, year-in year-out, consistently putting up solid numbers while in that pitcher's park. He was just 2nd tier. Juan has been anything from really bad to mediocre, and is just now having his first good season. He averages 38 BB and 114 K every 162 games played, and he's not a consistent 160 game kind of guy anyway. He's really just a 4th OF who can be inserted when needed.

[rawaction]

Hmm, didn't realize how bad he had been prior to this year, although he has spent the last 5 years playing half his games in Pro Player or Dodger Stadium.

 

And his away numbers have been no better.

 

And before anybody tries, don't compare him to Lee. Juan will be 30 when he starts next season. Lee was 28 when he came to Chicago, still in the range when guys improve. Lee was also productive, year-in year-out, consistently putting up solid numbers while in that pitcher's park. He was just 2nd tier. Juan has been anything from really bad to mediocre, and is just now having his first good season. He averages 38 BB and 114 K every 162 games played, and he's not a consistent 160 game kind of guy anyway. He's really just a 4th OF who can be inserted when needed.

 

I hate Encarnacion with every fiber of my being. I don't know what has happened this year, but he's a bad baseball player.

[ConstableRabbit]

Is there any obvious reason I'm missing as to why Matsui hasn't been mentioned? Is he assumed to be an automatic Yankee next year, will be be too expensive, or do posters here just not want him?

 

The gen. consensus here has been that Matsui will be Yankee next year unless he curses out Big Stein - may be even then.

Unless I'm missing something, Matsui isn't a free agent next year. He only has three years of MLB experience, so the Yankees could simply offer arby and he'd have to re-sign with them or go back to Japan.

 

He has an out clause I believe to become a free agent in his contract, but from what I remember it isn't an issue since he doesn't want to leave.

 

Thanks. That's too bad.

[Jehrico]

Murton doesn't appear likely to turn into an All-Star, but I think it is realistic to assume that he can be a serviceable "3rd" OFer for years to come.

 

I'd disagree with that. Everything he's shown so far is that he could end up being another Tony Gwynn or Kirby Puckett type hitter. He'll never put up Vladesque power numbers, but the guy is simply a pure hitter. I love watching his approach at the plate. He's doesn't have the power to be a prototypical all-star corner OFer, but that never stopped Gwynn or Puckett from being all-stars.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Murton doesn't appear likely to turn into an All-Star, but I think it is realistic to assume that he can be a serviceable "3rd" OFer for years to come.

 

I'd disagree with that. Everything he's shown so far is that he could end up being another Tony Gwynn or Kirby Puckett type hitter. He'll never put up Vladesque power numbers, but the guy is simply a pure hitter. I love watching his approach at the plate. He's doesn't have the power to be a prototypical all-star corner OFer, but that never stopped Gwynn or Puckett from being all-stars.

 

Good to see you back in the states Jehrico. Happy birthday as well!

[Jehrico]

Thanks, it's good to be back. Wish I could have come home in time to wait in line for playoff tickets, but I guess that just wasn't meant to be. Why couldn't we be in the NL West?

[neely crenshaw]

tony gwynn!!? why not just compare him to ty cobb....tony gwynn is arguably the best average hitter of our generation...i'll have to see more and puckett isn't he a 2 time mvp?

[CuseCubFan69]

tony gwynn!!? why not just compare him to ty cobb....tony gwynn is arguably the best average hitter of our generation...i'll have to see more and puckett isn't he a 2 time mvp?

 

I wouldn't compare Murton to Puckett and Gwynn as they both were a lot less selective than Murton is. If Murton can hit 300 and have a 380 or above OBP I'll be thrilled with him in left.

[Bull]

I know its a small sample size, but R/L splits are less than spectacular.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I know its a small sample size, but R/L splits are less than spectacular.

 

Check his splits from AA. Hitting RHP or LHP shouldn't be a problem, it's how many XBH he can get on the whole that will keep Murton from being a good corner OF.