CubinNY

I hope Hendry is watching this game and taking notes. 1. Koyie Hill is real bad 2. Angle Pagen is not the answer in CF 3. The Cubs need a power bat 4. They need to get some help sooner rather than later (at the deadline)

That's not his job, that's the job of the team president. Noted Amend point three to read: Hires a team president that fires Jim Hendry on day 1.

I don't really care who owns the Cubs as long as he/she/they 1. Puts an emphisis on modern analysis and player development. 2. Puts a product on the field that is competitive in the NL (not within the division). 3. Fires Jim Hendry on day 1.

Welcome. I'm going to take some heat for this, but Marmol might be a player that could get the Cubs a decent bat in a trade. I'm not saying that I'm advocating for him to be traded, but bullpens are are more tempramental than a 13 year-old cheerleader. I suppose the Cubs could put Dempster on the block, but he has to get healthy first.

Just to nitpick, but thats .100 points of SLG better then Murton. I'd say thats way better. Not in the limited number of ABs. That is the problem with cherry picking small data sets. It's probably the difference of a double or two.

I thought he was going back to play football.

Excellent post. The Cubs haven't developed any position players in a while now. The reasons are probably many, but among those are expecting players to start producing a maximum capacity right out of the gate while at the same time contiuning to play vetrans who suck.

Kroger is also looking pretty good too.

Hopefully he'll replace Samardzija in Peoria when it's time for Jeff to go back to ND. Haha, these posts were from July 16 and 17 of last year on the first page of this thread - and in less than a year, Billy Petrick is in the big leagues. Even funnier, I thought you were making a joke about Samardzija going back to ND to play football. If that makes any sense. ------- Unrelated, I don't see how it is possible for the Cubs are calling Samardzija's pitches. Anyway, what does it really matter? He's in the bullpen now. I thought he was starting again. Hasn't he won his last 2 starts? You are correct. I haven't been paying close enough attention.

Hopefully he'll replace Samardzija in Peoria when it's time for Jeff to go back to ND. Haha, these posts were from July 16 and 17 of last year on the first page of this thread - and in less than a year, Billy Petrick is in the big leagues. Even funnier, I thought you were making a joke about Samardzija going back to ND to play football. If that makes any sense. ------- Edit: Not paying attention makes me look foolish

I agree with J.R.

When Pie gets sent back down and if Murton doesn't get sent up, I'll wager better OPS from AAA than MLB in the outfield.

Floyd is/was more productive and hitting the ball much better than Murton. What does that have to do with defense? It has a lot to do with my entire post why Murton should not be playing. He elected to take one small part to disagree with instead of the entire post as a whole. I said Floyd and Pagan are better options right now...which they are. Floyd is a better option, temporarily true. Pagan, not true. Note: Pagan is hitting .231 is last ten games. And Floyd is at .250, I,ll take Murton. Do you think it's fair to judge Pagan in his last 10 games? I don't...he's exceeded my expectations this year and has hit the ball pretty well this year. Yet it is fair to judge Murton by 24 games? What is the cut off games to judge a player so we can have your brilliant ability too.

Another Murton excuse on this site? No way... This isn't little Johnny trying to make the varsity roster so let's please do away with the pressure argument. This is professional sports....I would sure hope there's pressure. Murton was given every opportunity to be a starting corner outfielder and he didn't produce. If you don't produce, it's Lou's job to insert someone else who will - which is exactly what he is trying to find. Murton is a light hitting corner outfielder with a poor arm, average speed and a major defensive liability every time he steps on the field. Just because he knows how to take a pitch and has "upside" he should be given the benefit of the doubt and let him play out of this prolonged slump? I thought the fans wanted this team to win now?? It's one or the other. http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/murtoma01.shtml Don't know where to begin.

This A-Rod talk reminds me of Nomar in 2004. At first I thought it was impossible to get Nomar. A little Deja Vu would be nice. Not that kind! Get your mind of the gutter. wait for it.

Murton played sporadically for 24 games in RF before being sent down. For any of you to be making these comments is just plain shortsighted and frankly pretty stupid. Twenty-four freaking games. In the last 30 days (May 12 to June 12) he was up he started 13 games and never started two games in a row after May 26. From that date he made exactly 4 starts in 14 days. He pinch hitted 7 times. His batting average as a PH was .188. Can any of you imagine what kind of pressure he was playing under when he has to know that any day the worst fear for a you ball player could be realized, and in fact was (being sent down). Murton was set up for failure. It's ridiculous to base an opinon on such scant evidence. And then to assume that becuase he was playing RF instead of LF he all of the sudden forgot how to play baseball is asinine. But if it makes you happy....

I agree, somewhat. Hendry must be proactive and get a SS, CF, or catcher. He cannot wait until the deadline. Also we have to hope for good health. I'm looking a your Aramis. Oh, and also Lee needs to start hitting some taters. So, in conclusion, the Cubs need some more offense and a lot of luck. I am starting to believe for the first time since 2003.

The most highly optimistic view would be that the Cubs really do value Murton highly, and see them as part of their future, but sent him down for two reasons: 1 - to get consistent ABs, and 2 - to get himself comfortable in RF someplace other than in the bigleagues. Now whether that interpretation has any validity is anyone's guess. But just because a young guy gets sent down, and a lesser player assumes his spot on the big club, doesn't automatically mean that the team doesn't value that young guy. What does Murton need to work on? The idea that RF is *that* much different than left is balderdash. The difference is longer throws to third and a different POV on the game. Murton doesn't have a great arm so he seems more suited to LF. The problem is the Cubs think they need to get a run producer out there. Maybe they do, but they also need guys to get on base too. Although I don't think the Cubs will do it, Soriano seems much more suited for RF and Floyd/Murton seem better suited for LF. I guess they don't want to switch Soriano again. Which brings me to my last point, Murton doesn't really have that much trade value as a stand alone. He's not going to be an elite outfielder and most teams want power from the corners. A team like the A's, Boston, or San Deigo might value Murton's skills but they are not likely to want to give up much to get him. I think the Cubs will have to package Murton with some other talent to get any value for him at all. The fact that you're asking this suggests that maybe you didn't see him playing RF much for the Cubs. He was bad, and looked uncomfortable there. It seemed pretty clear early on that OTJ training with the big club wasn't the most prudent approach to acclimating Murton to RF. I'm sure your eyes never lie.

Lots of teams announcers cannot stand the Cubs. I think they are jealous of the reach of WGN and all the loyal fans who follow the Cubs to away games. The Cubs are very lucky there are people like us. All it takes is a two week hot streak and we get thinking about the playoffs.

somanombatch

two away.

Hey sorry to get off task here, but I see you live in Holland. Do you happen to know what dates the Tulip festival will be this year? I want to take my wife up there, she's never been. Its the first or second week in May, so its done for this year. Tuliptime.com i think. If you end up coming sometime PM me and i can gave you some low down on some things to do or places to eat. Thanks. I grew up in Niles and went to the festival once when I was in college. Goodtimes.

another 0fer for Cesar. I have to believe he will be DFA or traded before long. He's real bad.

Hey sorry to get off task here, but I see you live in Holland. Do you happen to know what dates the Tulip festival will be this year? I want to take my wife up there, she's never been.

Fred you are a master on the keyboard.