Q&A with Matt Murton courtesy of Cubs.com

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

There's a Q&A with Matt Murton on Cubs.com.

 

Link

 

I found this part to be the most interesting.

 

MLB.com: You finished with a .386 on-base percentage, and appear to have a God-given gift to see the ball well. How do you do it?

 

Murton: One, it is a God-given ability. Two, you can't always explain it. With pitch recognition, a lot has to do with your approach as a hitter. For me, I believe I have enough power to drive the ball to the middle of the field. I'm not up there looking to pull the ball. If you're up there looking to pull the ball, you're more susceptible to some off-speed stuff and you might chase it out of the zone more. I try to stay to the middle of the field. Some guys will guess hit, and in certain situations, I'm looking for a certain pitch. Most of the time, my approach at the plate is just see it and hit it.

 

I'm trying to recognize it as the ball comes out of [the pitcher's] hand. It's a matter of spin, location, and the more patient you are -- that's the biggest thing I want to get better at. My body knows it's a strike. I can tell the difference nine out of 10 times between a ball and a strike. They'll throw me a pitcher's pitch and it's a strike, and I feel I need to swing at it because I know it's a strike, instead of sitting on a certain location or certain zone where I can drive the ball better. [Michael] Barrett and I talked about that a little bit. When you're swinging your best, you're not afraid to go to a 2-0 count and take a pitcher's pitch for a strike and go 2-1. If you're a little overanxious, you'll get 2-0 and they'll throw a good fastball down and away and you'll want to swing, because it's a fastball in a hitter's count. The biggest thing is making sure you can get pitches you can drive.

[CuseCubFan69]

Just like I coached him to say! I think Murton is going to be in the big leagues for a long time. Maybe not a star...maybe he will be one but he will always make a team get better. Edited October 26, 2005 by CuseCubFan69

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I smile every time I see my game-used, autographed Matt Murton West Tenn Diamond Jaxx jersey.

[RynoRules]

He was already my favorite Cubs rookie since Prior. He's quickly becoming my fave player overall.

[BeerHere]

I love this quote:

 

I understand they're going to make certain decisions. What I did in those 2 1/2 months is all I can do, and I'll control what I can control. I gave it 100 percent every day. In the end, I did enough to show I can compete and be successful. There are things I can get better at, but I think that's true of any ballplayer. I know I'm dedicated and committed to do that. For me, in 2006, I'd love to get the opportunity to be the starting left fielder.

 

I hope so too kid, you certainly earned it. Go get em.

[YearofDaCubs]

I love this quote:

 

I understand they're going to make certain decisions. What I did in those 2 1/2 months is all I can do, and I'll control what I can control. I gave it 100 percent every day. In the end, I did enough to show I can compete and be successful. There are things I can get better at, but I think that's true of any ballplayer. I know I'm dedicated and committed to do that. For me, in 2006, I'd love to get the opportunity to be the starting left fielder.

 

I hope so too kid, you certainly earned it. Go get em.

With Dusty around he can earn and still be benched.

[TheDude]

I love this quote:

 

I understand they're going to make certain decisions. What I did in those 2 1/2 months is all I can do, and I'll control what I can control. I gave it 100 percent every day. In the end, I did enough to show I can compete and be successful. There are things I can get better at, but I think that's true of any ballplayer. I know I'm dedicated and committed to do that. For me, in 2006, I'd love to get the opportunity to be the starting left fielder.

 

I hope so too kid, you certainly earned it. Go get em.

With Dusty around he can earn and still be benched.

This is true of any manager.

[XZero771679666304]

I love this quote:

 

I understand they're going to make certain decisions. What I did in those 2 1/2 months is all I can do, and I'll control what I can control. I gave it 100 percent every day. In the end, I did enough to show I can compete and be successful. There are things I can get better at, but I think that's true of any ballplayer. I know I'm dedicated and committed to do that. For me, in 2006, I'd love to get the opportunity to be the starting left fielder.

 

I hope so too kid, you certainly earned it. Go get em.

With Dusty around he can earn and still be benched.

This is true of any manager.

 

But more likely with Dusty.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

There's no doubt he earned the right to play next season. I just hope the decision makers have realized that too.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I love this quote:

 

I understand they're going to make certain decisions. What I did in those 2 1/2 months is all I can do, and I'll control what I can control. I gave it 100 percent every day. In the end, I did enough to show I can compete and be successful. There are things I can get better at, but I think that's true of any ballplayer. I know I'm dedicated and committed to do that. For me, in 2006, I'd love to get the opportunity to be the starting left fielder.

 

I hope so too kid, you certainly earned it. Go get em.

With Dusty around he can earn and still be benched.

 

Because we all know that we can't have Murton "clogging the bases" with all those nasty walks. It's call hitting not walking.......

 

ok, ok.ok, enough sarcasm.

[SouthSideRyan]

I really have a hard time seeing even Dusty leaving Murton on the bench to start the year. I know Dubois was jerked around last year, but all Jason had to show he deserved the shot was years and years of minor league #s. I think minor league #s mean slightly more than nothing to Dusty. Murton put up a damn good 1/4 of a season in the majors, which should mean a lot to Dusty.

 

Cedeno on the other hand, I'm sure Dusty thinks hasn't proven himself yet and will be left to rot.

[YearofDaCubs]

I really have a hard time seeing even Dusty leaving Murton on the bench to start the year. I know Dubois was jerked around last year, but all Jason had to show he deserved the shot was years and years of minor league #s. I think minor league #s mean slightly more than nothing to Dusty. Murton put up a damn good 1/4 of a season in the majors, which should mean a lot to Dusty.

 

Cedeno on the other hand, I'm sure Dusty thinks hasn't proven himself yet and will be left to rot.

I really have come to the conclusion that you can expect everything from Dusty. He is that bad.

[treebird]

I really have a hard time seeing even Dusty leaving Murton on the bench to start the year. I know Dubois was jerked around last year, but all Jason had to show he deserved the shot was years and years of minor league #s. I think minor league #s mean slightly more than nothing to Dusty. Murton put up a damn good 1/4 of a season in the majors, which should mean a lot to Dusty.

 

Cedeno on the other hand, I'm sure Dusty thinks hasn't proven himself yet and will be left to rot.

 

i agree with ryan.

[TenzilKem]

Murton only got consistent playing time because two vets (Lawton and Hollandsworth) were traded and another (Hairston) got injured. Even then, he hit 8th in the lineup more than once.

 

Hendry will probably sign a veteran left-handed hitting outfielder with every intention of the guy being a backup and pinch-hitter. Dusty will then start him against all righties and lefties that the vet has hit fairly well in the past. If the vet has a hot couple of weeks at the plate, he'll have a guaranteed starting job for the rest of the year.

 

I really hope I'm wrong.

[rocket]

i hate dusty as much as the next guy, but i'm thinking murton proved himself in dusty's eyes.

[Andy]

Matt "Leprechaun" Murton should unconditionally be the starter in LF. In fact can we please get Hendry to say to Dusty that he will fire him if Baker does not play Murton at least 100 games this year, barring injury or complete failure to keep up his production? Murton was routinely benched at the end of the year last year although he had already earned his place. He should be, without question, the starting LF and the number 2 hitter next year.

 

Really enjoyed the interview. This kid is quickly becoming one of my favorite Cubs for the way he takes care of business on the field and conducts himself extremely well off of it.

[USSoccer]

i hate dusty as much as the next guy, but i'm thinking murton proved himself in dusty's eyes.

 

I'm going to agree with Rocket. It's diffrent than Dubois, who had maybe 25 major league AB's with which to judge him. Murton had 150, and played very well. Dusty respects production out of youth (albiet he needs it at a high level to make him shake dumb platoons), so I would expect Murton earned some stripes in Dusty's eyes. Expect a situation better than what Hee Seop Choi got, with Murton playing against all but the very toughest RHP.

[CubsWin]

i hate dusty as much as the next guy, but i'm thinking murton proved himself in dusty's eyes.

 

I'm going to agree with Rocket. It's diffrent than Dubois, who had maybe 25 major league AB's with which to judge him. Murton had 150, and played very well. Dusty respects production out of youth (albiet he needs it at a high level to make him shake dumb platoons), so I would expect Murton earned some stripes in Dusty's eyes. Expect a situation better than what Hee Seop Choi got, with Murton playing against all but the very toughest RHP.

I agree with USSoccer who is agreeing with Rocket. It all comes down to production out of the young guys for Dusty. Basically, he manages out of fear. If a player doesn't have a proven track record of not being an embarrassment to his manager at the major league level, then he is going to have a very short leash with Dusty. That said, I would think that Murton's performance this season has earned him the shot Hollandsworth got this season. Dusty will likely give Murton a solid month or so of starts regardless of how he performs. But if he does what Todd did during April of '05, then Dusty will start experimenting.

 

Again, he is going with the guy he thinks will give him the best shot to win that day. But the criteria he uses to determine who will give him the best shot to win seems pretty wonky to me.

[CubsWin]

Back on topic, I loved this Q & A. I was very impressed with Murton.

 

I also came away impressed with Hendry's ability to get him included in the Nomar deal. The Cubs gave up very little in comparison to what they got in that trade.

 

Maybe Giles should sign with San Diego. Hendry seems to do a lot better with trades than his free agent signings. :wink:

[SouthSideRyan]

Me and Tree totally got screwed out of that agreement chain.

[CubsWin]

Me and Tree totally got screwed out of that agreement chain.

Sorry, dude. :P

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Me and Tree totally got screwed out of that agreement chain.

 

No kidding. I'd blame Rocket for that.

 

And I agree with SSR and Tree.

[Bull]

Me and Tree totally got screwed out of that agreement chain.

 

No kidding. I'd blame Rocket for that.

 

And I agree with SSR and Tree.

 

oooh oooh!! I want to agree with someone!

[USSoccer]

Me and Tree totally got screwed out of that agreement chain.

 

No kidding. I'd blame Rocket for that.

 

And I agree with SSR and Tree.

 

 

Hey!