VanceJergins

It's a mistake to play Floyd over Murton? Not so far it isn't. The '07 regular season numbers disagree with you. This isn't the prospect development league. The Cubs are out to win ballgames. The only position players slugging .400+ are DLee, ARam, DeRosa (now injured), and Floyd. Floyd is one of the better hitters on this team right now and isn't costing us in the field. But I guess you're right, we should play Murton irregardless of performance on the field. You're really saying that Murton's 16 AB's and Floyd's 25 AB's can justify continuing to bench Murton, even though he has been very good the past 2 seasons? When he's looking absolutely lost and un-Murton-like at the plate? Absolutely. He's not working the count like he usually does and he's hitting weak dribblers that don't make it out of the IF. Face it, he's playing like crap and until he starts getting it figured out, Floyd should be starting over him (as Floyd is one of the better hitters on this team right now). First of all, its 16 scattered AB's. Second, how is he going to figure it out without playing?

Murton AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 04/03 - 04/30 77 12 22 4 1 2 34 16 10 13 0.286 0.368 0.442 0.809 05/01 - 05/31 84 13 24 3 0 2 33 4 8 12 0.286 0.358 0.393 0.751 06/02 - 06/30 66 8 16 0 0 0 16 1 4 11 0.242 0.286 0.242 0.528 07/01 - 07/31 49 9 18 2 1 0 22 7 6 4 0.367 0.429 0.449 0.878 08/01 - 08/30 82 12 26 5 0 5 46 22 6 8 0.317 0.364 0.561 0.925 09/01 - 09/30 92 15 31 7 1 4 52 10 11 16 0.337 0.425 0.565 0.990 10/01 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.500 04/03 - 10/01 454 70 138 21 3 13 204 60 45 64 0.304 0.372 0.449 0.821 Much more than I thought. At least this year, we have a backup that is capable of starting. Last year, we had the likes of Freddie Bynum backing up Murton. I like Floyd as well. I think he's a good hitter in the situation that we have given him. But I still think Murton is getting the shaft here. I agree. I would like Floyd to get some starts. Maybe 3/10 games with Murton getting 1 or 2 of those games in RF. I think Floyd has a to offer to this team, but I think Murton is the better/younger/healthier option and should get the bulk of the playing time.

He's always hit. He hit at every minor league level and he hit his rookie year and the beginning of last year. The time he struggled last year was the only time he's struggled in his career. He was bound to break out of it. Just wanted to compare Murton's minor league stats to his major league stats: MI: .309 .380 .451 831 MLB: .303 .370 .462 832 The guy seems pretty consistent. Just let him play and you'll end up with a .300/.370/.450'ish guy, who might improve past that. Both of the years in the majors have been skewed statistically though-Murton was put in situations he could succeed when he was playing part of the time in 05 and 06, and he often sat against pitchers that he would likely struggle against. So in projecting a year for him that would have to be taken into account. In 447 PA's vs. RH: .289 .351 .431 .782 In 237 PA's vs. LH: .325 .401 .507 .908 He's better against LH, but very solid against RH and has had nearly double the PA's against RH. So its not like they just put him in there against LH.

It's a mistake to play Floyd over Murton? Not so far it isn't. The '07 regular season numbers disagree with you. This isn't the prospect development league. The Cubs are out to win ballgames. The only position players slugging .400+ are DLee, ARam, DeRosa (now injured), and Floyd. Floyd is one of the better hitters on this team right now and isn't costing us in the field. But I guess you're right, we should play Murton irregardless of performance on the field. You're really saying that Murton's 16 AB's and Floyd's 25 AB's can justify continuing to bench Murton, even though he has been very good the past 2 seasons?

He's always hit. He hit at every minor league level and he hit his rookie year and the beginning of last year. The time he struggled last year was the only time he's struggled in his career. He was bound to break out of it. Just wanted to compare Murton's minor league stats to his major league stats: MI: .309 .380 .451 831 MLB: .303 .370 .462 832 The guy seems pretty consistent. Just let him play and you'll end up with a .300/.370/.450'ish guy, who might improve past that.

I'm talking about the difference between perception and reality. When Murton got over 500 PAs last year and Cedeno had over 550, your assertions about the "Dusty method of helping out the young guy" just don't ring true. You have to look at who was available to replace them. Murton was often benched in favor of Pagan and Bynum (young, but not exactly prospects) and Cedeno was benched for Neifi. Imagine how few PA's they would have gotten if there were legitimate options to replace them.

Give me a break. Dusty started Murton 122 times in left field last season. That's more than 75% of the time !! By "young guy", I wasn't just referring to Murton. And besides, when Murton was struggling last year, thats exactly what Dusty did. He barely played him and gave him scattered at bats. Nice attempt at a save there...... but there were only 3 instances all season where Murton did not start for more than 2 consecutive games. Twice he sat for 3 games in a row, and once for 4. The kid got over 500 PAs last year. Now..... you wanna talk about Cedeno ?? What are you talking about? "Dusty's method of helping out the young guy" is an obvious reference to Dusty's management of young players. If you want to take it as me only referring to Murton so you can pull out your obscure stats, then so be it. And where I'm specifically referring to Murton is when he was struggling last year. What are the dates for those times when Murton sat for multiple games? Is it during the stretch where he struggled? If so, then what I am saying is true. Dusty has a history of poorly handling young players and Murton was one such example. I don't know how you can prove it was poorly handled. Murton was struggling, Dusty sat him down for a few games and then platooned him for a while, and when Murton started to hit well again. Some people could even make the argument that Murton sitting down was the best thing for him in order for him to get back on his game. Even if you don't want to go that far though, I certainly don't see how it hurt him last year-if it had, he should have continued to slump with the lack of playing time. That's not what happened though. He's always hit. He hit at every minor league level and he hit his rookie year and the beginning of last year. The time he struggled last year was the only time he's struggled in his career. He was bound to break out of it.

Give me a break. Dusty started Murton 122 times in left field last season. That's more than 75% of the time !! By "young guy", I wasn't just referring to Murton. And besides, when Murton was struggling last year, thats exactly what Dusty did. He barely played him and gave him scattered at bats. Nice attempt at a save there...... but there were only 3 instances all season where Murton did not start for more than 2 consecutive games. Twice he sat for 3 games in a row, and once for 4. The kid got over 500 PAs last year. Now..... you wanna talk about Cedeno ?? What are you talking about? "Dusty's method of helping out the young guy" is an obvious reference to Dusty's management of young players. If you want to take it as me only referring to Murton so you can pull out your obscure stats, then so be it. And where I'm specifically referring to Murton is when he was struggling last year. What are the dates for those times when Murton sat for multiple games? Is it during the stretch where he struggled? If so, then what I am saying is true. Dusty has a history of poorly handling young players and Murton was one such example.

Give me a break. Dusty started Murton 122 times in left field last season. That's more than 75% of the time !! By "young guy", I wasn't just referring to Murton. And besides, when Murton was struggling last year, thats exactly what Dusty did. He barely played him and gave him scattered at bats.

I agree. I said the same thing in the game thread today. I think Hill is the ace until Zambrano proves otherwise.

Agreed. I would much rather give Cherry a chance than keep my fingers crossed every time Ohman or Eyre pitch.

What ticks me off is that Lou is using Dusty's method of helping out the young guy. Give him scattered late inning at bats to help get his stroke back. I would like to point out that this is not a good method.

Wuertz has had 2 great seasons in a row and is on track for another great one but I still bet Eyre is used in more crucial situations.

So have there been any updates?

Reminds me of another Cubs manager. so i guess you guys would be satisfied if murton started but we were losing?? How does the poor-fielding old dude with a .746 OPS help us win more than starting Murton would? im not saying he does, but constantly complaining about it when we're up 7 runs seems a bit dumb IMO. Unfortunately that only counted for 1 win so we're still 4-6.....Nothing to complain about there. Also, if we put Blanco as a starting pitcher and we happened to win a game, would there be nothing to complain about?

Reminds me of another Cubs manager. so i guess you guys would be satisfied if murton started but we were losing?? How does the poor-fielding old dude with a .746 OPS help us win more than starting Murton would? im not saying he does, but constantly complaining about it when we're up 7 runs seems a bit dumb IMO. Unfortunately that only counted for 1 win so we're still 4-6.....Nothing to complain about there.

Reminds me of another Cubs manager. so i guess you guys would be satisfied if murton started but we were losing?? How does the poor-fielding old dude with a .746 OPS help us win more than starting Murton would? Its pretty obvious from out statements that we don't care if the Cubs to lose just so long as Murton starts.

Reminds me of another Cubs manager. so i guess you guys would be satisfied if murton started but we were losing?? Yes, exactly. You cracked the code. My goodness....BRILLIANT!

Lou wants to help Murton get his stroke back with scattered late inning appearances......Brilliant.

Does the sample size argument only work when it is directed toward Floyd? Floyd is old and past his prime. Murton has his best years ahead of him and he's already pretty solid. Don't need sample sizes to see this stuff. My guess is that Lou wants Floyd's power in there while Aramis is out. If Floyd was hitting for power that might make sense.

He has a career line of .302/.369/.457. That's pretty good and I'd rather have him as the primary starter than Floyd.

Does the sample size argument only work when it is directed toward Floyd? When did Murton become the LF of the future? When he stopped being the LF of the now? Its ridiculous. A .313 OBP in 15 AB's doesn't even qualify as a slump. Especially when its not regular playing time.

Does the sample size argument only work when it is directed toward Floyd? Murton is suppose to be the main LF'er.

Are we going to need Wuertz to put out another fire?

He doesnt have any XBH, dude. He needs to bust out of his slump before he gets to play again.