Murton vs. Moreland

by Nibbles on Dec 21, 2006 1:06 PM CST

I've been drawing this comparison ever since the season ended. Hair color aside, and Murton being faster, I've wondered why so many people are down on Murton? Defensively he isn't the best, but neither was Moreland, and he has a solid place in Cubs lore. I view both guys as solid players that love the game, and always seem to do the things a team needs to win. Murton will develop more power as he gains experience. Give Murton a chance.
And, as a side note, though I am generally against fights in baseball, Moreland was one of the best mound chargers. It would just go off in his head and he'd back in pads thinking he was a linebacker.

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Eh, I sure hope Murton turns out to be better

than Moreland. Moreland had good seasons in '83 and '85 but otherwise was a very mediocre player.

by VS on Dec 21, 2006 1:09 PM CST reply actions

It's the hair

Y'know, I'd just like to say that the first thing I thought when I saw Keith Moreland's picture on the home page today was, "Hey, he kinda looks like Matt Murton." So it's great you posted this diary.

I wish I had more to add. I was in grade school when Moreland played so, though I do remember him, I can't really say how good or bad he was compared with Murton. I'll let a more numbers-oriented person generate the comparison, which I hope one does.

I would definitely echo your sentiment, though. Murton is a solid player who can get on base and drive the ball, and who may very well generate some power as his experience grows. And I'd love to see him take a lasting place in Cubs lore someday.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Dec 21, 2006 2:18 PM CST reply actions

Murton

projects to be a very good player, obviously -- and I truly think he will eventually be the franchise player. I think Murton hits .300/25/90 next year -- and slowly progressing into a Brian Giles type player.

"Losing is my only fear"

by Unique on Dec 21, 2006 3:06 PM CST reply actions

yes!

i looked up his minor league numbers earlier in the fall and then numbers put up when the two were the same age (murton in the majors giles at triple a) and they are both very similar. Giles had power numbers very similar to murtons when he was younger, however, giles did have a bit more on-base skills. But all i n all i totally agree.

DON'T TRADE PIE!

by kylejo on Dec 22, 2006 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

All this

is why Cub management is trying its best to sideline Murton or (gulp) trade him. It's against the organization's philosophy to let young talent grow at Wrigley. They'd rather trade for someone like Cliff Floyd and let Murton warm the bench till they can find another team to take him.

I hope I'm proven wrong and that Murton gets every chance to start in left next year (which he absolutely deserves after the year he had in 2006). I'm convinced he can be a better player than Moreland, if the Cubs give him time.

By the way, this has nothing to do with Murton, because last year wasn't his first year, but Baseball Digest each year names its top-rookie team by position. Its team for 2006 didn't feature a single Cub. No surprise, really. The last Cub to make the Baseball Digest rookie team was Kerry Wood in 1998!

The last Cub position players to make the Baseball Digest rookie team? Joe Girardi, Dwight Smith and Jerome Walton in 1989!

That gives a sense of how little success the Cubs have had developing players and letting young talent grow. Why should anything be different with Murton?

by danimal15 on Dec 21, 2006 4:56 PM CST reply actions

I've got a feeling....

....that with Floyd's recent physical ailments, that Murton will get at least as many at-bats as he did last year.....even if their plan is to platoon him. I am still surprised that Floyd didn't retire. He was contemplating it around August of last season because of his persistent problems with remaining healthy. After all, the fans in New York called him glass.

...from a pile of lead paint chips emerged a Cubs fan:(

by santo for prez on Dec 21, 2006 7:20 PM CST up reply actions

Murton

will get his opportunity. There is no way that Cliff Floyd will be given LF by himself. I bet Murton will have over 400 AB's. Floyd will also get some 1st base time and DL time.

by rlpete on Dec 21, 2006 9:12 PM CST up reply actions

agreed

but I doubt we'd see the Floyd at 1B.

I'm just glad that we seem to be courting sluggers for the bench as opposed to freddie bynum types. speed kills (your chances)

by cashcowsquirtingsourmilk on Dec 21, 2006 11:35 PM CST up reply actions

Interesting.

I had assumed that one of the reasons Hendry was interested in Floyd was as an occasional backup to Lee at 1B.

1B is where Floyd suffered his first serious injury, a broken wrist that cost him most of a season.

I looked this up. Floyd has not played 1B -- not a single game -- since 1997. I doubt you'd see him there.

That said, that's one more reason NOT to sign him.

by Al Yellon on Dec 22, 2006 8:25 AM CST up reply actions

I thought that....

...is what they got Ward for. He has played over 200 games at 1B.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Dec 22, 2006 9:53 AM CST up reply actions

Ok...

...so I don't have the official stats but Floyd played 1b in the mid 90s a little over a hundred times. Ward has played the position around 200 times in the last few years.....based on their health and familiarity with 1b....I sure the hell hope that the Cubs don't expect to use Cliff Floyd at 1b over Ward.....I also hope that (if they sign him) they don't expect to start him over Murton.......We shouldn't be worried about paying him $5MM per year though.....he is WAY more than double the value of Neifi and look what he made.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Dec 22, 2006 7:13 PM CST up reply actions

another option

if we can't get somebody cheap in a trade, is to sign craig wilson. He can play LF, RF, and 1B. He's no lefty of course, but seems to be OK with bench roles, and would be a good one if it doesn't take much money. I always thought he'd be the perfect guy to spot Jones in RF against lefties because he hits 'em so well, but I guess that isn't the plan. Still, if he's OK with the bench it'd be a good pick-up.

by cashcowsquirtingsourmilk on Dec 22, 2006 8:16 PM CST up reply actions

floyd/murton

can anyone see floyd being happy sitting on the bench.5 mill for a bench player.not likely.will take time away from murton who should be the no.2 hitter.good contact hitter.everyone cubs included need to give murton a chance to see what he can do.hopefully pinella takes a liking to him. if jones goes then we wont have to bring this up again.i think murton is a solid hitter and will only get better.

by NOMAR on Dec 23, 2006 7:42 AM CST reply actions