Hendry On Murton/Cedeno

[USSoccer]

These are good issues. These are issues that we've wanted for a while -- to have our own young position guys come. Corey [Patterson] was a guy on the come and has hit a big speed bump in the road this year with the kind of year none of us expected, including himself. Murton and Cedeno have proven they're going to be everyday Major League players. Nothing would make me happier if they could come to camp and fulfill that obligation soon, and that would enable us to put other resources elsewhere

We're not going to hand it to them. Sometimes in this game, you can't base all your evaluations on September callups. The thing I like about them is they've handled themselves in clutch situations, like Murton did [Friday night against Houston]. You don't get to Brad Lidge very often. [Murton] started that [ninth] inning. He's worked hard. He had a couple poor defensive games, and the last week or so he's been out there killing himself working on his defense. I think he's got all the intangibles to be a quality player.

 

 

He knows that neither were September callups, right? Murton had 135 AB's! It's not like some rookie callup who had 50 AB's and the league didn't really see him. Murton played with the club for about 2 months...

[LoneStarCubFan]

These are good issues. These are issues that we've wanted for a while -- to have our own young position guys come. Corey [Patterson] was a guy on the come and has hit a big speed bump in the road this year with the kind of year none of us expected, including himself. Murton and Cedeno have proven they're going to be everyday Major League players. Nothing would make me happier if they could come to camp and fulfill that obligation soon, and that would enable us to put other resources elsewhere

We're not going to hand it to them. Sometimes in this game, you can't base all your evaluations on September callups. The thing I like about them is they've handled themselves in clutch situations, like Murton did [Friday night against Houston]. You don't get to Brad Lidge very often. [Murton] started that [ninth] inning. He's worked hard. He had a couple poor defensive games, and the last week or so he's been out there killing himself working on his defense. I think he's got all the intangibles to be a quality player.

 

 

He knows that neither were September callups, right? Murton had 135 AB's! It's not like some rookie callup who had 50 AB's and the league didn't really see him. Murton played with the club for about 2 months...

 

Depending on the context of the question I've got no problem with that statement. If the reporter asked him a general question about all the young guys that played in September that's a perfectly acceptable answer.

[USSoccer]

Here was the question:

 

MLB.com: Among the other players to be evaluated are rookies Matt Murton and Ronny Cedeno. Are they ready?

[Derwood]

Corey [Patterson] was a guy on the come

 

Who on the what now?

[RockTheIvy]

Corey [Patterson] was a guy on the come

 

Who on the what now?

 

Jive turkey.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I'm starting to think that JH needs to hit the road along with Dusty, Neifi, Macias, and Patterson.

 

Forget Spring Training, let's go with Spring cleaning.

 

We're going to trot out almost the same team next year and hope injuries don't kill us yet again.

[Mizzou]

Murton and Cedeno have proven they're going to be everyday Major League players.

 

I think this quote is far more important than anything else.

[biittner77]

These are good issues. These are issues that we've wanted for a while -- to have our own young position guys come. Corey [Patterson] was a guy on the come and has hit a big speed bump in the road this year with the kind of year none of us expected, including himself. Murton and Cedeno have proven they're going to be everyday Major League players. Nothing would make me happier if they could come to camp and fulfill that obligation soon, and that would enable us to put other resources elsewhere

We're not going to hand it to them. Sometimes in this game, you can't base all your evaluations on September callups. The thing I like about them is they've handled themselves in clutch situations, like Murton did [Friday night against Houston]. You don't get to Brad Lidge very often. [Murton] started that [ninth] inning. He's worked hard. He had a couple poor defensive games, and the last week or so he's been out there killing himself working on his defense. I think he's got all the intangibles to be a quality player.

 

 

He knows that neither were September callups, right? Murton had 135 AB's! It's not like some rookie callup who had 50 AB's and the league didn't really see him. Murton played with the club for about 2 months...

 

Seems to me this quote is 98% positive regarding Cedeno and Murton. The part about Lidge suggests that Murton's success is not just Sept. call up success but is genuine. The Sept. call up grain of salt is from when these guys hit the same guys they faced in AAA. That Murton getting to Lidge-the best closer in the NL Central, at least top 10 in MLB if not top 5- sticks in his mind says a lot.

[somechick]

I don't see anything wrong with what Hendry said. He is saying that while you can't just rely solely on September to judge the future of a young player (whether it be a good or bad September), those two have done everything they could to prove they are ready. Part of the reason those two did so well is because they were out to prove they deserved to be here. Hendry wants that same intensity from them coming into next year because despite their success thus far, they both still have a lot to learn at this level. You gift rap a starting spot for them, and you run the risk of another Bobby Hill. I personally don't see that happening with either of these two but then again, I am not with them every day. I want them starting and think they bring an intensity and energy severely lacking in this team, but I also want them to continue to adjust and get better. What it comes down to is Hendry is praising them for what they have done well, and for working on what they need to work on and that they need to keep doing so. And he is right.

[Larry Horse]

The part of the quote that bugs me is "if they could come to camp and fufill that obligation soon" and "We're not going to hand it to them".

 

I'm not quite sure how much more Murton has to show the brass. Unless a trade is in the works, I would let Murton start in LF next year. This would not be like breaking up some sort of dynasty.....IT'S THE CUBS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

[biittner77]

The part of the quote that bugs me is "if they could come to camp and fufill that obligation soon" and "We're not going to hand it to them".

 

I'm not quite sure how much more Murton has to show the brass. Unless a trade is in the works, I would let Murton start in LF next year. This would not be like breaking up some sort of dynasty.....IT'S THE CUBS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

 

I think he means as long as he doesn't pull a Bobby Hill and come in expecting to be handed the job and then proceed to stink it up.

[CuseCubFan69]

The part of the quote that bugs me is "if they could come to camp and fufill that obligation soon" and "We're not going to hand it to them".

 

I'm not quite sure how much more Murton has to show the brass. Unless a trade is in the works, I would let Murton start in LF next year. This would not be like breaking up some sort of dynasty.....IT'S THE CUBS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

 

I think he means as long as he doesn't pull a Bobby Hill and come in expecting to be handed the job and then proceed to stink it up.

 

Murton seems to be a hard worker and I doubt that he would pull a Bobby.

 

What the Cubs (Hendry+Baker) say over the off season means little to me and what they actually do during the season is what matters. We heard all these nice things about Dubois last year and where did that get him? I'm all for Hendry getting some quality players and making Murton earn it but if he gets more of the Macias/Holla types I see the 2006 being as big of a joke as 2005 was.

[Tim]

So much for having a young bench behind Murton & Cedeno to force Dusty's hand. Oh well, didn't expect that anyway. I'm hoping Cedeno is on the bench in 2006 anyway, so I'm not really one to talk here.

[dalgreen]

The part of the quote that bugs me is "if they could come to camp and fufill that obligation soon" and "We're not going to hand it to them".

 

I'm not quite sure how much more Murton has to show the brass. Unless a trade is in the works, I would let Murton start in LF next year. This would not be like breaking up some sort of dynasty.....IT'S THE CUBS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

 

September play from young guys can be overblown. What if Murton hits .210 with a .285 OBP in spring? I don't expect that to happen but there is a possibility, although slight, just as none of us expected the poor season from Patterson. I still would be fine if Murton is the 4th outfielder next year because that would mean (or at least I hope) we have some high OPS in the corner outfield positions. When Hendry brings up our farm system products, I hope he hasn't forgotten that Murton isn't a Cub farm product. You can tell from his plate discipline. I'll be glad when we can produce position players from our farm like we have in our pitching like Zambrano, Wood, Ohman and Wuertz.

[mg420]

So much for having a young bench behind Murton & Cedeno to force Dusty's hand. Oh well, didn't expect that anyway. I'm hoping Cedeno is on the bench in 2006 anyway, so I'm not really one to talk here.

 

a young bench like theriot, greenburg & fontenot? i would love to see that myself but i'm not holding my breath either.

[mg420]

The part of the quote that bugs me is "if they could come to camp and fufill that obligation soon" and "We're not going to hand it to them".

 

I'm not quite sure how much more Murton has to show the brass. Unless a trade is in the works, I would let Murton start in LF next year. This would not be like breaking up some sort of dynasty.....IT'S THE CUBS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

 

September play from young guys can be overblown. What if Murton hits .210 with a .285 OBP in spring? I don't expect that to happen but there is a possibility, although slight, just as none of us expected the poor season from Patterson. I still would be fine if Murton is the 4th outfielder next year because that would mean (or at least I hope) we have some high OPS in the corner outfield positions. When Hendry brings up our farm system products, I hope he hasn't forgotten that Murton isn't a Cub farm product. You can tell from his plate discipline. I'll be glad when we can produce position players from our farm like we have in our pitching like Zambrano, Wood, Ohman and Wuertz.

 

spring training play can also be overblown. i think murton still gets a shot if he hits .210 in ST. he has all the tools to be a .300 25 hr outfielder imo.

[frostwyrm]

So much for having a young bench behind Murton & Cedeno to force Dusty's hand. Oh well, didn't expect that anyway. I'm hoping Cedeno is on the bench in 2006 anyway, so I'm not really one to talk here.

 

Yeah it does seem pretty clear there will be some vets in the mix and Murton and Cedeno will have to beat them out for everyday jobs. I wonder what Hollandsworth-type trash Hendry will dig up for this role. It better be someone cheap, because if the vets make as much money as Burnitz it will be near impossible to get them on the bench, no matter their numbers.

[CUBZ99]

The part of the quote that bugs me is "if they could come to camp and fufill that obligation soon" and "We're not going to hand it to them".

 

I'm not quite sure how much more Murton has to show the brass. Unless a trade is in the works, I would let Murton start in LF next year. This would not be like breaking up some sort of dynasty.....IT'S THE CUBS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

 

September play from young guys can be overblown. What if Murton hits .210 with a .285 OBP in spring? I don't expect that to happen but there is a possibility, although slight, just as none of us expected the poor season from Patterson. I still would be fine if Murton is the 4th outfielder next year because that would mean (or at least I hope) we have some high OPS in the corner outfield positions. When Hendry brings up our farm system products, I hope he hasn't forgotten that Murton isn't a Cub farm product. You can tell from his plate discipline. I'll be glad when we can produce position players from our farm like we have in our pitching like Zambrano, Wood, Ohman and Wuertz.

 

I don't know about that statement. Cedeno and Theriot both showed plate discipline in their short stints and both are products of the Cubs system. I'm not saying the system is overflooding with them, but the farm is starting to produce more than previously.

[TheDude]

The part of the quote that bugs me is "if they could come to camp and fufill that obligation soon" and "We're not going to hand it to them".

 

I'm not quite sure how much more Murton has to show the brass. Unless a trade is in the works, I would let Murton start in LF next year. This would not be like breaking up some sort of dynasty.....IT'S THE CUBS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

These types of expressions are just rhetoric, standard coach/GM verse straight from the book. Don't read too much into it.

[dalgreen]

The part of the quote that bugs me is "if they could come to camp and fufill that obligation soon" and "We're not going to hand it to them".

 

I'm not quite sure how much more Murton has to show the brass. Unless a trade is in the works, I would let Murton start in LF next year. This would not be like breaking up some sort of dynasty.....IT'S THE CUBS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

 

September play from young guys can be overblown. What if Murton hits .210 with a .285 OBP in spring? I don't expect that to happen but there is a possibility, although slight, just as none of us expected the poor season from Patterson. I still would be fine if Murton is the 4th outfielder next year because that would mean (or at least I hope) we have some high OPS in the corner outfield positions. When Hendry brings up our farm system products, I hope he hasn't forgotten that Murton isn't a Cub farm product. You can tell from his plate discipline. I'll be glad when we can produce position players from our farm like we have in our pitching like Zambrano, Wood, Ohman and Wuertz.

 

I don't know about that statement. Cedeno and Theriot both showed plate discipline in their short stints and both are products of the Cubs system. I'm not saying the system is overflooding with them, but the farm is starting to produce more than previously.

 

I think you're using exceptions as the rule. I love Cedeno, but I think this is really the first time in his career that he's had a good OBP. Personally, I see Theriot as a career utility player. Hope I'm wrong, though.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think you're using exceptions as the rule. I love Cedeno, but I think this is really the first time in his career that he's had a good OBP. Personally, I see Theriot as a career utility player. Hope I'm wrong, though.

 

I agree with both those statements. I hope that Cedeno has figured it out and continues his success and I think that Theriot will be a utility guy who hits 220-260 but always has a decent OBP.

[Satch80]

I don't think it's unreasonable to reserve a decision on Murton. Hendry is implying that he must continue to improve his defense ( and he is) and he needs to work hard in the off season to compete for the job in the spring. It's not going to be handed to him.

 

Murton is hitting .380 (71 AB) against LHP and only .261 ( 69 AB) against RHP. Dusty platooned him for quite awhile, starting him only against LHP so his BA reflects equal AB against both. That won't be the case if he's the starter so we probably can't expect a .321 average. If his power continues to improve, the Cubs probably feel they can accept a .280-.290 hitter with average minus defense at the corner spot.

 

One other note: Murton hit .258 Day games (26) and .378 Night games (25). Ouch!

 

But Dusty's recent comment that you can't have poor defense in the infield because so many balls are hit there imply that the bats of Walker and Nomar are gone. Offense is going to have to come more from 1st,3rd and OF. Not sure what they plan to do about C but they certainly are going to rely on OF offense next year. This means that they probably will accept a bit of shakey defense from Murton but he's going to have to hit . If he can't hit RHP better than .261 and can't hit with corner power he'll find himself becoming a platoon player.